The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-08-11

their steps; and no alternative remained
but to walk on as fast as possible a.
Every moment the sky seemed to grow
darker and darker, while the snow fell fast
and silently. In an incredible short peri
cd of time, the ground and trees were
whitened over, while the sharp driving sleet
almost blinded them. Gertrude soon dis
covered that they had missed the right
path, but knew. not howto regain it; and
they wandered about for hours, until night
came on and found them entirely bewil-
dered in the mazes of that dreary wood.
At length poor Lily began to lose all hope,
and sinking down upon the snow, declar-
ed that she felt too tired to 60 any further.
1t was in vain that Gertrude endeavored
to cheer her, a fatal lethargy was stealing
over her senses. n.Ig.I. 'Ia q. p.
sob, Lilyl'' exclaimed her sister, "do
try and get up. 1t does not snow quite so
hard now, and perhaps we may be able to
find the path. We cannot be far from
home; atany rate we will be warmer walk
ing about" -
"Hush, dearest! only try and arouse
yourself. Lily, speak to me! Lily! Lily!"
There was no answer. ..H
"If she sleeps now," murmured Ger
trude, ':she will wake no more. O God,
be merciful! Save her-save us both!-
My poor motherl My dear Paul!'' And
the poor girl lifted up her clasped hands
and wept. She took off her warm cloak
and spread it over Lily-there was moth
iEg else she could do God alone could
help them. "His will be done, /" said Ger
trude. And as she knelt and prayed, a
strange calm came over her, and her
heart was filled with trust. "He knoweth
best" thought she. He will comfort them.
And yet, if it were His will to spare us a
little longer-we are so young to die; but
thy will, o God, not mine be be done!"
"The girls will not be home now," said
widow Hoffman to her son, as she glanced
at the clock, and then at the snow-covered
easement, as we'll as she could in the dark
ness, 81 am glad that | thought of their
staying at s. You can go to bed,
Eric, dear" '...' ..i B"
He obeyed her, and was asleep in a mo-
ment But his mother could not rest; SO
she opened her large clasped Bible and
read, pausing at intervals to listen to the
whisperings Of the snow as it drifted agaisnt
the window panes.
Poul Pendorpent, assured of the safety
of his beloved, went to bed, thinking what
merry walk they should have on the fol-
lowing day back from S., and how he
would tease Lily for venturing to doubt
his word. About ten minutes afterwards
he was suddenly aroused by some one
knocking at the door, and distinctly heard
the sweet voice of Gertrude bidding him
get up as quickly as possible, and toll the
chapel bell.
Paul was soon dressed, and went forth
wondering what should make Gertrude
summon him, and, above all, why they
had ventured home on such night
"Thank God, she is safe," murmured he.
"They must have heard Of the funeral at
S., and she came herself to tell nc,
that might know that she had returned
in safety. Dear, thoughtful Gertrude! 1t
was wild night for a funeral, anyhow"
added Paul, as he entered the little way
side chapel and began to toll the bell.
1t twas above year since the bell had
been heard before. Many started out of
their sleep at the sound of its melancholy
voice, and murmured hasty prayer;
others slept on and dreamed Of it. The
widow, as she sat alone in her little cham
Der, shuddered with strange fear. Ger
trude sprang up from the cold ground,
where she had been nesting close beside
her sister, and where she would, probably,
have soon slept, with a cry of joy. God
had heard her prayers, and sent the voice
of the way-side bell to guide her home
ward through the snow; and she knew, by
the sound that it could not be very far off.
The young girl felt endowed with super
natural strength, and lifting the slight form
of her sister in her arms-she would rath-
er have died with her than have left her
behind-she tottered forward in the direc-
ton from which the sound seemed to come.
Now she diverged from the right path, and
the voice of the bell grew fainter and faint
er; and then, again, it tolled more and
more loudly and distinctly, and she caught
glimpse of the light in her mothers cot
tage, it ceased altogether, as though it
knew its mission was ended,
Having rang the accustomed time, Paul
Vanderpant quilted the chapel, and pro-
ceeded homeward. The snow had ceased
to fall, and he saw, to his surprise, direct
ly before him, female figure, slightly
clad, and bearing, as it seemed, some
heavy burden. Slowly it toiled on, stag
gering beneath the weightit bore; atlength,
it sank within few PAGES of the widow
Hoffman S cottage. For moment, Paul
thought of the wild legend which Lily had
told him concerning the spirit Of the way
side chapel; but it was only for a moment
in the next he had sprang forward, and
was kneeling beside the forms of Gertrude
and her sister, w ..s
| We will not attempt to describe the
scene that followed, or endeavorto explain,
or to add a single remark of our own to