She was confident of finding help there.

The snowflakes clung to her hair and blew against her soft cheeks.

All she could see was her mother wringing her hands, and her father's white face.

When she burst into the house where the Colonel sat reading by the fire, she was so breathless at first that she could only gasp when she tried to speak.
"Come quick!" she cried.

"Papa Jack's a-dyin'! Come stop him!" At her first impetuous words the Colonel was on his feet.