The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-03-19
BIDDEFORD, ME-, FRIDAY

nau IOunu place tO camp anu ComPosy
All this sThe Innocent" delivered rapidly
while Piney-a stout, comely damsei Oh
ilfteen-emerged from behind the pine
tree, where she had been blushing unseen,
and rode to the side of her lover. :.
Mr.. Oakhurst seldom troubled himself
with sentiment. Still less with prOPriety.
But he had vague idea that the situation
was not felicitOus. He retained. however,
his presence Of mind sufficiently to Kick
Uncle Billy. who was about to say some
thing, and Uncle Billy was sober enough
to recognize In Mr.. Oakhurst's kick, q SUI
perior power that would not bear triillng.
He then endeavored TO dissuadc Tom
Simpson from delaying further. but IN
vain. He even pointed out the fact that
there were no provision, nor means OF
making camp. But, unluckily, The IN
nocent met this objection by assuring the
party that he was provided with an extra
mule loaded with provisions, and by the
discovery of u rude log house near the
trail. 'Pincy cen stay with Mrs. oak
hurst said The InnOcent,' pointing TO
tie Duchess, and ! can shin for my
SELF
Nothing but Mr.. 0akhurst's admOnish-
ing foot saved Uncle BILLY from bursting
into q roar of laughter. As 1t was, ne
felt compelled to retire up the canon until
he could recover his gravity. There he
conilded the joke to the tall pine. trees.
with many slaps of his leg. cOntOrtlOns oil
his face, and the usual profanity. But
when he returned to the party. he found
them seated by n fire-for the air had
grown strangely chill and the sky over
cast-in apparently amicable CONVERSE
ton. Piney was actually talking In an ini-
pulsive, girlish fashion to the Duchess.
who was listening with All Interest ana
animation she had not shown for many
days. The Innocent was holding forth.
apparently with equal effect, to MIR. Oak
hurst and Mother Shipton, who was ac-
tually relaxing into amiabillty. Us this
yer ID pic-nicr said Uncle Billy, with
inward scOrn. as he surveyed the Sylvan
group, the glancing flre-light, and the
tethered animals In the fOregrOu' d. Sud-
deHly an idea mingled with the alcoholic
fumes that disturbed his brain. Ii was
apparently of n jocular nature. for hc
felt impelled to slap his leg again, and
cram his fist into his mouth.
As the shadows crept slowly up the
mountain. slight breeze rocked the tops
of the pine trees, and mOancd through
their long and gloomy aislcs. The ruined
cabin. patched and covered with pine
boughs, was set apart for the ladies. AS
the lovers parted, they uaffcctedly ex-
changed parting kiss, so honest antl
sincere that 1t might have been heard
above the swaying pines. The frail
Dutches aud the malcvOlcnt Mother Ship
ton were probably too stunned to remark
upon this last evidence Of simplicity. and
so turned without word to the hut. The
fire was rcplcnishcd, the men lay down
before the door, and In few moments
were asleep.
Mr.. Oakhurst was q light sleeper. To.
wards morning he awOke benumbed AMI
cold. As he stirred the diving fire, the
wind, which was now blowing strongly,
brought to his cheek that which caused
the blood to leave it-snOw!
He started to his feet with the intention
of awakening the sleepers, for there was
no time to lose. But turning to where
Uncle Billy had been lying. he found him
gone. A suspicion lcapcd to his brain
and 4 curse to his lips. He ran to the
spot where the mules had been tethcred
they were no longer there. The tracks
were already rapidly disappearing In the
snow.
The momentary excitement brought Mr..
Oakhurst back to the fire with his usual
caly,. lie did not waken the slecpers.
sThe Innocent slumbercd peacefully, with
smile on his good-humOrcd, frcckled
face: the virgin Piney slept beside her
Trailer sisters rs swcctly as though attend
ed by celestial guardians, and Mr.. Oak
hurst, drawing his blanket over his shOul.
ders. strOked his moustachiOs, and waited
for the dawn. IL came slowly In u whirl-
inc mist of snow flakes, that dazzlcd anu
confused the eye. What could be seen Oi
the landscape appeared magically chang
ed. He looked over the valley, and sum-
med up the present and future In two
words-'snowed in!'
A careful inventory of the provisions,
which, fortunately for the party, had been
stored within the hut, and so escaped the
ielonious fingers of Uncle Billy, disclosed
the fact that with care and prudence, they
might last ten days longer. THAT Is,
said Mr.. Oakhurst, soto roce THE limo
cent If you're willing to board us. II
you ain't--and perhaps you'd better not
we can wait until Uncle Billy gets back
with PROVISIONS For some occult reason,
Mr.. 0akhurst could not bring himself to
disclose Uncle Billy's rascality, and SO
offered the hypothesis that he had wan
dcrcd from the camp, and had accidcntal'
ly stampeded the ANIMALS. He dropped a
warning to the Duchess and Mother ship.
ton. who of course, knew the facts oi
their associates detection. They'll find
out the truth about us all, when they find
out anything lie added, significantly,
'and there's no good In frightening them
now." :.
Tom Simpson not only put all his
worldly store ut the disposal Of MIR. Oak.
hurst. but seemed to enjoy the prospect Ol
their enforced seclusion. 'well have n
good camp for week, and then thc snow
will melt, and we'll 20 back together
The gayety Of the young man, and Mr.
Oakhurst's calm infected the others.
THE Innocent with the aid of pine
bouyhs, extemporized n thatch for the
roofiess cabin, and the Dutchess directed
Piney I'm the arrangement of the INTERIOR
with a taste and tack that opened the blue
eyes of that provincial maiden to their
fullest extent. Il reckon now you're used
To fine things mt Poker Fiat said Piney.
The Dutchess turned away sharply To
conceal something that rcddened her
cheeks through It's professional tint, and
Mother Shipton requested Piney not To
chatter But when Mr.. Oakhurst re-
turned from weary search for the trail,
he heard the sound of happy laughter
echoed from the rocks. lie stopped IN
some alarm, and his thoughts first natur'
ally reverted to the whisky-which he
had prudently cached. And yet 1t don't
somehow sound like whisky said the
gambler. 1t WAS not until he caught
sight OF the blazing fire through tho still
binding storm, and the group around 1t,
that he settledto the conviction that 1t was
square num-
Whether Mr.. Oakhurst had cached hi:
cards with the whisky rs something de
barred the free access Of the community
| cannot say. II was certain that, lil
Mother Shipton's words, he didn't say
cards once during that evening. Happily
the time was beguiled by an accordeon
produced somewhat ostentatiously by
Tom Simpson, from his pack. Notwith'
standing some difficulties attending. the
manipulation Of this instrument. Piney
Woods managed to pluck several relne'