Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-01-09

weary slKbt q pain ana SoTroW De1cre
she'd be willing to part with her child.'
"And serve her right, . baggagev'
replied her husband. "If there's law or
Justice in the parish, III have her in
the stocks before smother weeks out"
"Davy, Davy! pleaded the good wife,
'Sure you I've forgotten that It's New
Years Eve, and the words you were
reading but now. Oh master, don't be
angry over much tonight"
David was about to make q stern. re-
joinder, when his wife caught sightcf q
small locket Of gold and blue enamel,
which was hung about the child's neck
by ribbon. With cry a. II she had
received q blow, she gasped, "oh, David,
look at this! It's hers, it's Ally's, our
own child's!" g-;- III /
A fash Of indescribab1e emotion pass
ed for moment over David Hollis face,
and lip and eyelid quivered. But u was |
only for o moment, and the stern face |
hardened again, a shade paler, perhaps, I
but dark and stern as ever. When he 4
spoke it was slowly and distinctly.
don't know OF whom you speak. L |
had q child o. that name once, but che |
brought shame upon US. Take her who
will, she's none % mine.
"Eheis ourown flesh and blood, David ~
pleaded the old woman, in an agony Of
tears. 1.-THE Lord made her that, and
Otter words won't alter 1t. Oh! to think
that she should have been here, close by
our door, and out in the storm! Davy,
won't you-won't you fetch her back?"
David sat silent, sullenly gazing into
the fire.
"Davy, you call yourself Christian
man. You wouldn't turn dog to the
door on such a night as this, and yet you
III suffer your own child to be wander
ing on the moor, without place to lay
her head. "
"She can ask for shelter"
"Shelter! Likely that she who daren't
facs her own father and mother, 'ud seek
shelter o. strangers.
As she spoke she opened the cottage
door, which the moment the latch was
raised, was flung heavily back by the
wind, and torrent Of snow@pOured In.
Like the timid bird, valiant in defense Of
her feelings, the mothers gentle nature
rose to arms, and battled on behalf of her
child.
"Oh, David, shame on You! Have
| you the heart Of man to cit there. like
a stone image, when your own f1esh and
blood may be perishing ofeold and wei I?
Lord help me, / m but feeble old wo-
man, but my only child shan't die out
side my door, an me sittin' by the FIRE
within. -
With eager haste the old woman then
fetched pillow, and placing 1t upon the
hearthrug, laid the child upon it. Then,
her fingers trembling with excitement,
4 she lighted the candle in an old horn
lantern and throwing thick shawl over
her head, snatched up the cloak in which
the baby bad been wrapped. and rushed
to the door '.'i'.'
AS she reached it, David rose slowly
well Missus. If you re bound to 90,
reckon III have TO 90 to. But mind ye
this: II give the light o. love food and
shelter this one night; but never more
never more, remember. -ift - -
II IN her mother, David; remember
.. that, said the old woman, her affection
for her child overcoming even her wont
Cd awe of her husband.
"And remember iiought else tonight. y
David made no reply. Closing ths
cottage door, the old couple started on
, their quest. David was first to speak.
1--WE re on a wild-goose chase, missus
I reckon. How are we to tell which
way the wilful weHch has gomez"
"The Lord guide us |! /" said the old wo.
man desperately.
The two stood still on the wild moor,
. uncertain which way to turn ; all round
them, as far az the eye could see, q broad
white sheet of snow. Theirown cottage
was the only cottage near them and the
remaining houses of the village lay be-
,, hind it, quite in the opposite direction to
I that which the object of their pursuit
had taken. They gazed around them In
all directions, but the driving snow OBJ.
scured their vision. Not a trace was te
. be seen OF the object Of their search, and
there seemed no alternative but to give
up the quest. But the woman's wit
: outstripping the mans slow sense, leapt
to a solution of the difficulty. With the
eagerness of renewed hope, the old wo
man exclaimed
1--WE III find her yet, Davy; VII God!
help we III find her yet. Back to the cot
, master, will zee, and gil me the light.
Hurriedly the pair retraeed their steps
AS they neared the porch, the old woman
held the lantern close to the ground
carefully examining the snow. After ,
, few moments search, she exclaimed
, "Here assure 'nongh the print of Ally'
! little feet; I'd know 'em ina hundred
. Now, maister, we're in the right track
: thanks be to the good Lord that sent thu
snow. /" H5its thI gn
| Holding the lantern low, and guides
by its uncertain light, they followed thu
track of the small footsteps, already be
coming blurred and indistinct under th'
. falling snow. FearfulO losing the trac,
tncy COuiu ONcttu tlC WdiAuCt
{ er, they pressed on, weary aud painting
; but never hating, never wavering il
3 their onward course. They had rcachet
r q considerable distance from the cottage
but still no sign save the still advancin,
footmarks of her they sought.
Still pressing onward ,Davidspoke, will
| a strange tremor in his voice "Tell 'e
| what, Missus, there's some'at wish
r about this-where can the maid begoin,
Q % this side % the moor? There's 'nsve
a house for miles"
1 His wife made no reply. Still the.
4 pressed onward, onward Each couit
: hear the others breath as they pante,
, through the driving wind, which bley
t in their faces, buffsted them back, q
: though opposed to theirerrand of mercy
!, Suddenly a cry came from the old wo
' mans lips, a shrek SO shrill, SO hgoniz
t ing, that, for the moment, it alone wa
7 heard, and the moaning wind seemed
j by contrast, hushed into stiffness Sh
a clutched her husbands arm. A,t
0 "Oh, Davy, hurry on! You re tn
Y swiftest, hurry OH for dear life. On
Z God in heavenl she's making for tn
> Black Peol!" i -
Il With hoarss cry like that Of
y wounded animal. a CRY hardly less feai
n full, in his subdued anguish, than hi
! wife's agonized Shrek, David seized tn
Q Light, and bounded forward, the womal
Q following as best she might, her ham
t pressed to hor side, and her gray lock