The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-07-31
J.. H. ola man who had first spoken.

afterwards, poor Captain Deer-been o'
the lake all his lifetime-got bewildere'
in the squalls and died out there all alon
in the dark and cold, and his folks settin
up to daylight expecting him! Oh,
was awfilSdreadful to think Of! bu
nothing to what It would be If womal
"a Young, tender, beautiful woman
tear, wet the hardy face Of the old noun
taineer, and he turned to dry it ON hi
coarse handkerchief.
At this moment the brisk jingle o
sleigh bells was heard at the door, and be
fore the eager listeners could spring for
ward to open it upon the new conner
Will Argensen entered, wrapped ms
buffalo robe. ~ :,
--wT AIN ready to attend you to Wolf
burn, il YOU still think Of going" he saic
addressing the lady. She arose quickly
at the sound of his voice, and accepting
the large blanket which the ticket master
kindly offered her as further protection
against the inclement weather, she follow
ed her conductor out into the dark, pierc'
| inc night, and was lifted into the sleigh
which awaited them. Argensen wrap
ped the buffalo closely around her and
attaching the large glass lantern, which
he had carried in his hand, to the front
part of the cutter he sprang in. The
horse was large powerfully built animal,
of dark iron gray, AMI his fiery eyes, as
well as his long slender neck, showed him
spirited as well as strong.
The eager crowd of idlers left their
warm quarters by the inside stove, and
gathered around the sleigh and its occu-
pants, some cxpostulating on the madness
of the twain in setting out OH such night
others wishing them God speed, and
amid the murinured acclamations, they
drove off.
Half mile on terra firma, and the
horses feet rang sharp and clear on the
solid ice of the Winnipisseogee. The
SUBMITS of the tall, blue mountains which
rose on either side OF our travellers, were
shrouded in an impenetrablc mist, and
the light wind which blew was insufficient
to break up the clouds OF rime that filled
the air.
Little or no conversationp passed between
the two, so recently thrown together
Argensen was occupied with thoughts Of
the perilous undertaking before them;
the lady with sad images OF her dying
mother-dying without the kiss of her
only child to smooth her passage through
the dark void between time and eternity I.
With anxious eye, the young mountain
ecr scanned the thickening air, and the
terrible thought would fit across his brain
If the squalls should rise.
Nearly four miles of the journey was
passed ovcrin safety. They had reached
the drcaricst part Of the road, and dark
ness became almost palpablc. Mountains
black as Erebus completely walled in the
shining track of ice, and by the pitching
of the cutter, and the careful progress OF
the horse, they knew that drifts Of snow
and bilges of ice obstructed the way
The wind steadily increased, and cul the
face like sharp iciclc. The breaths of
our travellers CONCEALED almost before they
left their bodies, and the dark sides of the
horse were covered with feathery frost.
The cold became intense, permcating
the thick buffalo skins as if they had
been mere cobwebs, and the delicate frame
of the young girl was chilled through.
Bravely she suppressed the dcathly shv-
ers that involuntarily stole over her, but
Argenscn felt the effort, and drawing his
arm around her, he said, in a low. earnest
tone" Lady we are strangers, but il is
no time to stand for ceremony, when one
is freezing Sit as close to me as posi-.
bic, and lay Your face here upon my
breast; the wind is rising to gale, and
the squalls will be upon us ere long"
With one powerful hand he guided
the horse; with the other one he held
close to his side the little, trembling form
of his companion; and the noble grey,
as feeling that everything depended on
their reaching the end of their journey
before the breaking Of the squall over
their heads, tore bravcly on.
In vain! in vain. in vain! The mad
wind bore along the ebon clouds with the
swittness of lightning, and scarcely more
than five miles of the way were passed
ere i, burst upon them in all its fury
The dreadful "white eye" enveloped them.
Hail and minute particles Of frozen snow,
in thick continuous sheets, blinded the
eyes of the brave Argensen, and shut out
the dim over-arching sky. The horse
drew up under the lee of wooded island,
anL could be induced to 90 no further
Argensen clasped both arms about his
paralyzed companion. Heavily, and
more heavily she leaned upon his shoulder,
and at length the fatal truth rushed over
him with appalling forec-thc sleep that
invariably precedcs death by freezing,
was upon her! He sprang up wildly.
"For the love Of Heaven, awake -
Rouse yourself. To sleep IS death n
A faint moan was the only response.
He tore Oft the Buffalo robes which en-
veloped her, and vigorously chafed her
cold hands, and breathcd upon her icy
lips. For time he feared that he held
only death in his arms but at last, by the
dim light Of the lantern, he saw fash
steal over her face, and her cyelids slowly
unclosed.
as it my mother holding me 7" she said,
dreamingly. then, as il remembering all,
she drew herself away from the arms that
supported her. Argenson soothed and
encouraged her, until the storm broke and
the clouds were swept away. A few faint,
struggling stars burst through the pillows
OF vapor, and like angels eyes, looked
down upon the wide desert Of snow
Two hours they waited there-two hours
Of agonizing suspense-ere the noble
horse could be made to pursue his way.
With more than brute instinct, he knew
the dangers of the way in the thick dark
ness and storm, and refused to subject his