North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-05-16

or rather. it was all road for all vestige d
fences and wheel tracks had vanished
there was forest, forest everywhere.
The very character of the ground be-
meath his feet changed at every step he took
1t grew softer and softer, until he sank an
kle deep in mud and, suddenly, before he
could turn about, he fell in almost to bis
ampits. He had stumbled into quag-
mire A swift horror came over him
People had died before no~ in places like
this and it would he so dreadful to die
thus. and Katie never know what had be-
come Of him. lie struggled with the
strength of desperation to free himself, but
he might as well have taken it coolly. He
was held fast
Thus slowly the hours wore away The
night was ages long The sun had
never taken SO much time to rise in -
but probably it realized that nothing could
be done until it was up, and was not dis
posed to hurry.
As soon As it was fairly light, George
be9an to scream at the top of his voice, in
the hopr that some ote who might be 90
inc somewhere might hear him. He
amused himself in this way for an hour ;
and at the end OF that time you could not
have distinguished his voice from that Of a
frog close at hand, who had been doing
his very best to rival our hero.
At las, just as George was beginning
to despair, he heard voice in the dis
lance calling out
Halo, thert! is 1t you or frog 2"
''It's me" cried George, "and shall
he dead in ten minutes! Come quick |!
I'm into the mud up to my eyes y
Directly an old woman appeared, a sun
bonnet on her head and basket on her
arm. She was huckleberrying.
The land sake cried she, "you're in
for it, amt ye?"
Starved ye right! am glad of it =
Didn't We see the notice that the old man
put up that nobody must come huckle-
Deriving in this ere swamp
"lluckleberrying, indeed! l am after
my wife !"
Land sake! Your wife! Well, of
all things, declare l never y
"Shp oot. .on the wrong train, and so did
/; and expect she's at Margate, and
started from Groton last night to walk
there, and los, my way. Help me out do
that's dear woman
The old woman stcadicd herself By
tee. and being woman Of good muscles,
she soon drew George out--mud from
head to foot. He shook himself.
There, if you'll show me the way, LII
60 right Oh
N YOU won't either You'll 90 right
over to our house and have a cup of cofA
fee and something to eat, and suit OF
the old mans clothes TO put on while
Grv yours; and I'll send Tom over to
Marrate with the horse, and wagon to
bring your wife
You're a trump cried George, wiring
ing her hand. "God bless yon!-1ou
shah be well rewarded for yoor kindness"
Mrs. Starks' house was only little
way distant and to its shelter she took
George Tom was dispatched TO Mar
gate to hunt up Mrs. Jameson; and
George, arrayed in suit of Mr.. Starks
cIothes-buc swallow tailed coat, home
made gray pantaloons, cow hide boots,
and white hat with broad brim-for the
Starks were friends-felt like new man
They gave him good breakfast, which
did not come amiss; and, while Tom was
absent, the old lady made him lie down
on the lounge and take nap.
Tom returned about noon. lie had
secured the whole village, but found moth
ing. Only one passenger had LETT the
train at Margate on the previous day, and
he was an cd man with patent plasters
for sale.
Poor George was frcnzied. He rushed
out of the house and stood looking first
up and then down the road, uncertain
which way to wend his course. Suddenly
the train from Grnton swept past, and IA
white handkerchief was swinging from an
open window. and above tie handkerchief
George caught the CLEAN of the golden
hair AID blue ribbons! 1t was Katie be
yond a doubt. He cleared the fence at
bound, and rushed after the flying train.-
,,c ran. til he was ready to drop, when
Le cane upon some men with hand car,
who were repairing the road He gave
I. en- ten dollars to t. ke him to Groton.-
He was sure he could 6ld Katie there
But no! the train had not stepped at
all. THIS was the express for Buffalo.
But bystander informed him lady an
swcrlng the description he gave of Katie
had been seen the day before at Danville,
CRYING, and saying she had lost her hns-
band.
George dsrted off: He caught with
avidity at the hope thus held out, 1t
must be Katie Who else had lost her
husband
A train was just leaving for Dan
vile. He sprang on board, and suffered
an eternity during the transit, for ii was an
accommodation train, and everybody
knows about those horrible delays at eve
ry station.
But they reached Danville at last
George inquired for the lady who had