g still as a
fierce blast struck him. Then, shaking himself like one trying to cast
aside an impediment, he moved forward with quicker steps, and kept
onward, for a distance of two or three blocks. Here, in crossing a
street, his foot struck against some obstruction which the snow had
concealed, and he fell with his face downward. It took some time for
him to struggle to his feet again, and then he seemed to be in a state
of complete bewilderment, for he started along one street, going for a
short distance, and then crossing back and going in an opposite
direction. He was in no condition to get right after once going wrong.
With every few steps he would stop and look up and down the street and
at the houses on each side vainly trying to make out his locality.

"Police!" he cried two or three times; but the faint, alarmed call
reached no ear of nightly guardian. Then, with a shiver as the storm
swept down upon him more angrily, he started forward again, going he
knew not whither.

The cold benumbed him; the snow choked and blinded him; fear and
anxiety, so far as he was capable of feeling them, bewildered and
oppressed him. A helmless ship in storm and darkness was in no more
pitiable condition than this poor lad.

On, on he went, falling sometimes, but struggling to his feet again and
blindly moving forward. All at once he came out from the narrow rows of
houses and stood on the edge of what seemed a great white field that
stretched away level as a floor. Onward a few paces, and then--Alas for
the waiting mother at home! She did not hear the cry of terror that cut
the stormy air and lost itself in the louder shriek of the tempest as
her son went over the treacherous line of snow and dropped, with a
quick plunge, into the river, sinking instantly out of sight, for the
tide was up and the ice broken and drifting close to the water's edge.

CHAPTER II.

"COME, Fanny," said Mr. Wilmer Voss, speaking to his wife, "you must
get to bed. It is past twelve o'clock, and you cannot bear this loss of
rest and sleep. It may throw you all back again."

The woman addressed was sitting in a large easychair with a shawl drawn
closely about her person. She had the pale, shrunken face and large,
bright eyes of a confirmed invalid. Once very beautiful, she yet
retained a sweetness of expression which gave a tenderness and charm to
every wasted feature. You saw at a glance the cultured woman and the
patient sufferer.

As he