Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-02-19
Allscclloncol,s.
THE DOUBLE RESCUE
OR, THE STRENGTH OF LOVE.

"a dreadful nightly, a dreadful
night murmurcd the young wife with
a shuddcr, as screening the pane with
her hand from the bright irelight, she
attempted, but in vain, to penetrate the
storm and darkness without. ''God
grant he may be near" and with this
heartfelt petition she turned from the
window, seated herself and took up heI
knitting.
Cheerful, homelike was the aspect OF
that humble apartment. Near the fire,
whose brisk blaze filled the room with a
ruddy glow, and streamed far up the
wide chimney, sang the waiting tea
kettle; while a neatly spread supper
table occupied the centre of the floor,
which was secured almost to snowy
whitcness
The face of the only inmate of the
dwelling, the female above mentioned,
wore an anxious, troubled expression
Ever and anon, the rude blast ratified
the latch on the outer door, she paused
in her work, and raised her eyes full of
hope and expectancy, then, when only
the grooming on 1ysg4ithori4Ees fS5.sss
trees met her listening ear, sighed, and
again strove, by attention to her en-
ployment, to confnc her thoughts, and
calm her apprehcnsions.
Slowly and distinctly the tall clock at
the back part of the room, told the hour
of eight. The young woman put aside
her task. and once more went to the
window. The tempest had not in the
least abatcd, but ragged with the fury of
a thousand uncaged lions, and seemed
still increasing. Fearful indeed was
that evenings elemental warfare, over
that bleak Canadian plain!
'sYet he comes not-my husband
1Ierciful Heaven befriend usr' Tears
gathered in the eyes of the gentle, dcvo-
ted wife, and fell like rain upon her ag-
stood indulging their flow, until her
heart, like a liShtened ship, rose to its
wonted place upon the pillows which had
threatened to ovcrwhelm it.
Hope repeated her whisperings; and
in imagination, the young wife beheld
the sturdy form of her beloved, nobly
breasting the storm, and step by steI
nearing his home in safety. Already
she seemed pouring for him the fragrant
steaming beverage, and listening to his
expressions of thankfalness for surroun
ding blessings.
She turned to the table, cut another
slice from loaf of inviting appearance
and laid it upon the already laden plate
After replenishing the fire she resumed
her seat before it, and gazed into the
writhing flames, that hastily embraced
the fresh fuel, and with a serpent-like {
l. IL Al n L.
dropped into its red, open jaws.
The minute hand of the clock haG
traversed half the distance around tht
dial plate The evening was fast wan.
ing, but the absent one was absent still
About noon of that day he had lef
home, on foot, intending to transact bu
siness in village five miles distant, anC
return by nightfall
At that time no signs fan immediate
storm were apparent, but as the day
drew near its close, the clouds began t.
gather thick and heavy, and the snow t.
fall in huge, feathery fakes Faster ant
faster it descended, till all the air seem
ed filed by one mighty avalanche
Three hours had passed, and the storm
god in all his terrible fury was yet a.
bout.
AT length, calmness could be main
tained by the waiting wife no longer
Wspe and trust faltered, died within hel
bosom. Starting from her chair, sh'
paced the floor, wringing her hands il
agony, though her eyes were fearless
and her pale lips mute as if sealed il
death.
Yainly did she endeavor to persuad
herself into the belief, that the fierce
ness of tthestorm had prevented her hus
band from leaving the vilage-she coul
net be deceived. He would never vol
UNFAIRLY abandon her thus to lonelines
and awful uncertainty-no; the assu
rance was all too undoubted, that tn
cold and the tempest had overpowere
him on his way, and he had sunk ami
the drifting SHOWS to perish. No wor
der that her cheek blanched to marb
hue, and her eyes grew wild with terro
Suddenly she pauscs, while every ic;