Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-06-14
AIISCELLANY Y.
In lneldent Of Western Life.
ny ". =. DAVIES.

r place of shelter; but none was 10 be seen
l. only the trackless waste Of rollino lands
!, and far cH hills in the drec ion whittier h,
i was going-so far off that he feared he
Q never should reach them. With the de.
Z pariu"e OF light the snow leg fallino
5 + SER, the wind blew keener. the road ov,,
the prairie was soon hidden from view. anil
the traveller felt that he vas lost on tha
trackl IS waste, without star to guide him
across the dangerous country.
"lhis is terrible r said he, aloul. u
! fear much ! shall never come TO NV desti-
nation. If ! had but a compass and liohr
should not fear, for | could resist the ef-
FEET Of coo long enough TO reach the Hills,
and there ! should find human habi'at'o 'ons.
or at least the shelter Of rock. Now. I
may go IN circle till freeze. and he no
ncarrr help. " hal a fpol was TO leave
tie river sile and eros the prairie lust for
the sake Of u few miles more or lpss i,ur-
nry. No matter; ! must even battle il out
COW Heaven helping"
And battle il out he did. most manfully.
lie drew his cap down over his ears and
hrow. and lis fur collar up over his mouth
and thrusting his hands dcepcr into his
pockets. pressed on through the Welding
snow. The gloom increased, the wind came
sharper. and through his heavy clothes tie
traveller began 10 feel The effects Of The cold
I His feet gr W numb. lis arms chlfd. and
after an hours rapid wal ing, he .dlenly
paused.
How do know wlither am Going 2"
he exclaimed. Perhaps | have already
4 turned aside frcm The straight line. and AN
wandering on the verge Of destruction. O.
\ that could shake cf this drowsy feeling
4 that is stealing over me! know what Il
4 is-the precursor Of rrst in this winding
sheet Of snow. Great Heaven. am freez-
/ ing to ,leah = he shrirk, d. bonding fr-
ward with renewed energy. 'Ac.iun-
acion-action IS life, and lif: is too sweet
| to lose yet r
lie moved along with sprin. ins motion,
stamping Is feet vigorously a. every step.
and swinging his arms to keep the blood In
circulation. Yet with al his efforts. he
knew tlat thr angel Of draih Vas fulling
ii- white wings silently but surely around
I him
"Despaif not' he cried, mot while the
memory Of my Lowell wife and dear chill
/ drcn is left TO me. | will struggle on for
/ your sakes, AID 70 fight the storm-fpnd TO
the last extremity. o, just Heaven, for
/ the sake of the innocent ones whose only
stay is my right arm--hrlp me to resist
help me to triumpll"
At this moment he plunged into lol-
4 low his feet strobe over the ice, and he
/ heared the voice Of a streamLt singing Of
life and action leneaih its icy crust. Al
the same time the smell Of wood smoke sa-
lutcd his nostrils.
"Othou who reignest above" he eiacula-
ted, Il thank Thee that Thou last heard
my prayer! Help is mar me"
lie recel heavily onward through the
( binding snow, and saw Just before him a
low shed: one more struggle, and lie Tell
against it, In an instant he OWNED its
character. With a last desperate effort he
found the door, threw it ope7. aud lush;n,
in, flung himself at full length upon the
floor knowing only that he was in an at
mosnhere reeking with the fumes Of bacon.
and warm with the smoke which rose from
a pan Of smoihered Goals in the center of
the place. Il was settlers rude smoke
house. lefs to care for itself during The long
winters night, and the travellers grateful
heart sent up a tribute TO Heaven for this
place of refuge in the desert Of snow.
In large log cabin IN the valley Of the
streamlet, Milly Dean satalone. Her hus.
4 hand had gone to dis ant town and
the young wife was left with her btby.-
Accustomed to the solitude she felt safe.
and sat in contentment before tie llaz-
ing fire the flames lraped right iovfullv
up the chimney, and the green log sizzied
and cracked in the heat ike thing. of life.
Out doors, the wind was bowling drearilv.
and the snow falling heavily; bnt NlilIy
cared not, for it only made the fire more
cheerful.
There came a rappinc a the door.
allow strancei Who can that be NJ olr
door in This wild nigbt?7 She said to her
self, as she rose anil went into the little
entry.
The rapping was repeated.
"Who is there she asked.
For IIeavea's sake, let me in; am
freezing to deati p was tile reply
"Who are you: and how came Won in
this lonely place on such an evening as
thi, ?"
~ am traveller, from below | lost my
way ard am dying with cold. For PHYS
sake let me in or | shall pcrish!'
Milly hesitated She was alone, and it
was three miles to thenearest neigbbor's.-
What Should she do? She paused in per-
plexity.
20. save me--save mo | am dyingr'
we're the words which met her hearing
There was heavy fall against the sill, and
then low means. Her woman nature could
stand no more true to the instincts of her
being she unbarred the door and threw It
open. a closely mniiIed figure rreIcd by
her into the room, and shutting the door
she followed. On reaching the fireplace,
The stranger threw off his disguise and
stood erect and strong. without a sign Of
inconvenience from the effects Of the wealth /
or. Milly retreated from him in amaze
meni; but recovering herself and putting /
the best face on the matter, size tremulously
addressed the man -
Il am sorry, sir. you are so cold 1t Is /
a bitter night to be abroad. VIII you ST
by the fire p
And she pushed chair forward.
The man made no response, but siooping
over ran his fingers through the fire. Then /
turned and stared at her with look that /