Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-01-28
The Double Rescue.
OR, THE STRENGTH OF LOVE


as screening the pane with her hand from
the bright frclicht, she attempted, but in
vain to penctra Ito storm and darkness
without "GoG e he may be near" and
with this heartfelt petition, she turned from
,hc small window, seated herself and took up
her knitting.
Cheerful, homclikc was the aspect of that
humble apartment. Near the fire, whose
brisk blaze filled the room with a ruddy glow,
and streamcd far up the wide chimney, sang
the waiting tca-kettlc; while neatly spread
supper table occupied the centre of the floor,
which was secured to almost snowy whitcness
The face Of the only inmate of the dwelling
above mentioned, wore an anxious troub-
led - preston. Ever and anon, as the rude
blast ratified the latch of the outer door, she
paused in her work, and raised her eyes full
of hope and expectancy; then, when only
the grooming OF the ucighboring forest trees
met her listening car sighed and again strovc
by attention to her employment, to coninc
her thoughts, and claim her apprchensions
Slowly and distinctly, the tall clack 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 thousand uncagcd lions, and
seemed still increasing. Fearful indeed was
that evenings elemental warfare, over that
bleak Canadian plain
Vet he comes Not--my husband Mcr
ciful Heaven bctrl-. us ~ Tears gathered
in the eyes of the devoted wife, and fell like
rain upon her agitatcd bosom For souc
moments she stood indulging in their flow,
until her heart, like tightening ship, rose
to its woutcd place upon the pillows which
had threatened to ovcrwhclu.
Hope repeated her whispcrings and in
imagination the young wife bcheld the stur-
dy form OF her beloved, nobly brcasting the
storm, and step by step nearing his home in
safety. Already she seemed pouring for him
the fragrant stcaming beverage, and listen
ing to his expressions of thankfulncss for sur
rounding blessings. 1
She turned to the table, cut another slice
from loaf of inviting appearance, and laid it
upon the already laden plate. After rcplcn-
ishlng the fire she resumed her seat before it.,
and gazcd into the writhing flames, that hast
lily embraced the fresh fuel, aud with ser
pantike hiss swallowed the snowhakcs as
| they dropped into its rcd open Jaws
The minute hand of the clock had traverscd
half the distance arc nd the dial-plute. The
evening was fast waning, but the absent one
was still About noon OF that day, lie had
left home, on foot, intending to transact bust
ness in a village about five miles distant, and
return by nightfAl.
At that time, no signs of an immediate
storm were apparent, but as the day drew
near It's close, the clouds began to gather thick
and heavy, and the snow to fall in huge, feath-
cry flakes Faster and faster it descended
till the air seemed filed by one mighty ava
lanchc. Three hours had passed, and the
storm-god in all his terrible fury was yet
abroad.
At length, calmness could be maintained
by the waiting wife no longer. lIopc and
trust taltcrcd, died within her bosom. Start
ing from her chair, she paced the floor, wiring
ing her hands in agony; though her eyes
were fearless, and her pale lips mute rs if
sealed in death
Nain!ly did she endcavor to persuade her
self into the belief that the ficrcencSs of the
storm had prevented her husband from lcav-
ing the vllagc-Shc could not be deceived -
lie would never voluntarily abandon hcI.
thus to loneliness and awful unccrtainty-no {;
the assurance was all too undoubted, that the
cold and the tempest had ovcrpowcrcd him
on his way, and he had sunk amid the drift
ing SHOWS to perish. No wonder that her
check blanchcd to marble hue, and her eve
grew wild with terror
Suddenly she pauses, while every feature
speaks firm resolve. See, she hurricdly en-
vclopeS herself in cloak and hood, and now
with hrm steps moves towards the door. Tn
I on what has she determined Surely, she
will not expose that frail form to the strife that
RACES without That were an act of insanity
But yes; she lifts the latch, uncloscs the
door. On the instant furious gust drove a
portion of the snow which had accumulated
against the panncls to the opposite side of
the room Unable to compete with its rage,
the agonized wife shronk back, with low,
trcmulous moan; and applying her whole
strength to the door, forcing it again to its
place, between herself and the rough clements
without.
She waited but moment, however, the
next, she rushed forth, closed the door be-
hind her and was plunging wildly down the
snow-fillcd path. The storm was over, the
clouds wcrc beginning to break, and let down
the rays Of the moon whose broad disk had
just risen above tie horizon. But lille the
snow had ceased to fail, the cold had grown
more intense, and the wrath of the wind was
nothing spent.
Madly it swept across the extended plain,
converting it in aspect to a stormy sea, where
foam crested wave chase and dash upon each
other like wrangling demons. Onward toilcd
that solitary female, through the binding,
suffocating snow which was constantly being
hurled against her; though an occasional blast,
fierccr than the others, compelled der to halt
g. L