Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1848-10-07
THE ROMANCE OF THE
SHADES OF DEATH.
BY EDITH.


sake don't stand hestating any longer
: while ] am waiting in the cold The roat
is blocked up with snow, and the horse
will not and cannot drag the carriage an,
farther. "And Thorne Tyrrel rather impa
tiently disengaged his little wife from the
buffalo robes in which she was wrapped
and placing her upon terra frma, left hel
standing upon pile ofsnow drifts, where
like Noah's dove, she s'found not dry spot
for the sole of her foot"
They had halted before one of those rude
way houses SO common in the northern for
ests of Pennsylvania. Upon the roof, and
above the caves of the low wide piazza
running across its front, the snow was al
ready heaped in masses. and the unpainted
boards of its walls looked still blacker by
contrast. A door opening into an apart
ment, half parlor, half bar-room, had been
thrown back, and the glare of huge fire
that roared and cracked within, lcapt out
into the dusky twilight. A group of men
in the rough attire of the forest blocked the
entrance, and there stood gazing at the
wearled travellers, now commenting in
suppressed tones upon the beauty of their
equipage, now reprimandng the snarling
hounds, that at every approach of the new
ly arrived, bounded ferociously forward.
Meantime the master of the carriage, noun
ted upon its steps, had with some difficulty
succeeded in arousing its remaining occu-
pants. Three enormous dogs, bound together
by leash, sleepily arose, and persuaded to
exchange their luxurious couch for the icy
bed beneath, slowly followed the servant TO
whose care. they were entrusted. Guns.
rifles, powder-horns and shot-bags, ad Hbi-
fam were next drawn forth until at last, full
ly satisfied of the safety of his treasures,
their masterturned his eyes upon the little
creature who stood shverng at his side.
Lifting her in his powerful arms, as if she
had been an infant, he bore her rapidly
through the storm into the apartment that
shall in courtesy be christened parlor, and
then, drawing toward the fire sort of rude
lounging chair, placed her in it.
The hounds, freed from the leash, had
laid themselves upon the narrow strip of
carpet before the hearth, and Tyrrel, bend
ing down, talked to them in the quiet and
familiar tone with which one addresses a
rational being. They were specimens ofa
scarce and foreign breed, and the extreme
the nobler s Classes Of the brute CREATION the
indisputable warrant of natnre's aristocracy
drew from him many an admiring look,
MANY an enthusiastic commentator. One
crossed his feet as daintily as a lady ; one,
stretched at full length, his muzzle resting
upon the floor, beat his feathery tail from
side to side as he continued to hear the
sound of his masters voice, while third,
with single paw delicately folded beneath
his chest, his head majestically raised, his
round eyes fixed upon the flames, seemed
watching the red column of sparks that at
every fresh blast of wind rushed up the roar
ing chimney.
A few minutes had scarcely elapsed since
the entrance of the travellers, when a sound
of voices in earnest conversation issued
from side room, and Tyrrel was presently
summoned to take part in the debate. He
returned with an impatient tread and a
clouded brow. The host had declared his
inability to accommodate the whole party,
and al farm house three miles distant, the
dogs and servants were to find shelter for
the night. This Tyrrel hastily explained
to his wife, as he drew on his turred gloves
and buttones his overcoat more closely a.
bout him. But her terror was extreme.
"Ah for heavens sake, Tyrrel don't,
don't leave me alone with these bali sa-
wages Let Johnston take care OF the dogs
You can trust him this once. Don't go, ]
entreat YOU"
81 must" said her husband, resolutely
81 would rather fast until morning, or sleeE
by the wayside, than know that either Czal
or Juan were suffering; and the servants
are too tired to do their duty unless my
eve is upon them. ssDon't, Eva, brushing
her hand from his arm with an inperiou
gesture.
"Let me go with you, them" she persis
ted. 81 will walk through the storm rathe
than stay here. am quite ready; shall
; not detain you moment"
"Nonsense folly! remain where yo
are. You would come with me, and mus
take the consequences"
"Ah, Tyrrel, shall lose my senses !.
springing after him, as he walked towar
, the door.
"What will you have!" he said, turn
ing with movement ofangry Impotence
sshall / leave you one of the dogs shall
: unbuckle Czar?" ,..,
She hesitated, remembering, poor littl
thing, in what agony she had passed tn
e day with her proposed protector at NJ
!, feet, afraid to move, lest she should provol
= one of those lion-like growls, or even
. more palpable evidence of displeasure. b
when, as though to decide the question,
stretched his enormous limbs, and yawne
= displaying in that expression of ennui cor
Ii mon to man and beast, set of teeth, shal
as and glittering as VOLTS, she drew ba'
Il hand shook her head despairingly. Tyr
=. q. gazed upon her with undisguised co
hs tempt.
ssThat with my peculiar tastes shou
lin have married SO arrant coward" he sal
ed accompanying the ejaculation by disdai
~ full elevation to the shoulders. Again
~ prepared to leave the house, and this til