Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-10-09

and pleasant canter on sure-iooteC
nag back to the station in the morning
The night, though cold, was dry, and
the moon was up. To be sure some
ominous clouds were gathering round
her, and she was not rising, but steadily
sinking and would soon be hidden behind
the hills. No matter should be fal
on my way before her light was gone
and those clouds, thought, were not
likely to change into what they promised
"a snow shower-till | was safely en-
sconced by old Carston's hospitable fire.
side. All went well enough for the first
half hour; and as the brisk walk made
the blood course warmer and warmer
through my veins, l thought how much
pleasanter this was than to be joIteG and
bruised in some such crazy numbering
old vehicle as the Longley Inn was cas-
pable of supplying over that rough, wild,
mountain road. But my anticipation of
the weather proved sorely deceptive.
Before the half hour had well gone by
the snow storm came down fierce and
fast, and the moon was no longer visible.
There was no help now however, but
all the more need to get to my journeys
end as soon as possible; so ! clutched
my stick with frmer grasp and quick
ened my pace. But the thick steady fall
of snow so darkened the air that l could
not see twice my arms length before me /;
and l had not been walking many min
uteS when the apprehension stole upon
me that | was fast losing my way. 1t
was a dangerous locality l was in just
then in the midst Of that snow-storm :;
for the road wound over bill and moor,
without wall or fence and where the
snow was rapidly covering heath and
path alike, to trace my rout with accura-
cy became impossible. Human life had
been sacrificed more than once, amidst
the snowdrifts, on that wild moorland,
and sheep innumerable had been lost.
10 make my danger greater, the place
was full of pitts and hollows, where min
ing spectators had tried to sink shafts
in former years. Should l wander off
the beaten track the chances were l
might meet a broken neck in one of those
eonlounded holes.
/ stumbled on at random. / had lost
ny bearings utterly; and in few min
ltes l knew as little where l was as if
[ had been suddenly set down bound
and blindfold in in the middle Of the
moor. was making my way, surely as
pest could through the snow drift; but
or all l know, l might be going in any
direction but the right one. Was l on
he beaten road, or was ! on the heath
Another moment cruelty settled my
loubts. One step more-my foot found
10 rest; and l fell headlong into a broad,
leep pit. Stunned by the fall, l lay
here l know not how long, Bruised
md giddy, I tried at last to regain my
eet when pang of exquisite pain shot
hrough my left arm the bone was
,roken. AS with my right hand l now
ried to steady myself and grope my way
ut of the hole, the agony l suffered was
ndescribable; yet my first thought was
D feel for the bag of gold, which was
till safely suspended from my neck.
rawled out of the pit, and pushed for~
Yard on chance more slowly this time
hough, and cautiously, for the terror of
hese vile holes was strong upon me now,
3ut l grew weaker every moment, and
vague and sickly alarm seized me.
suppose should swoon upon that moor
my head was giddy and my limbs un- {
ieady already; what but a dreadful
cath under the fast>falling snow awaited
le? AT this horrible thought cold |
weat suffused my whole body, and my
arched tongue Glove to my palate 10 {
~ last hour shall not forget the horror {
{ that picture of death which rose be- {
're my minds eye that night. The |
ain of my arm grew excessive every 1
oment; it hung by my side like a lead '
4 weight But, strange to say even J
ith the grim terror of death before me,
wild desire began to creep over me to a
E down upon the snow and rest. Had v
done so no doubt my last sleep would C
i've followed. But luckily just then a e
int glimmer of light caught my eye, f
Id with the eagerness of awakened a
,pe hurried toward it. In few min 4
es l found myself at the open door of E
wretched cabin, on the hearth of which ?
wood fire was burning. 4
Halo ? was the greeting 1 received 0
om rough voice, who the - are n
~, and what dye want here such 4
rbf ao fb;s ?, | Il