Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-11

white, that lowered twenty feet above
their heads. 1t became more and more
difficult to replenish their fires, even
from the fallen trees beside them, now
half hidden in the drifts. And yet no one
complained. The lovers turned from the
dreary prospect. and looked into each
others eyes, and were happy. Mr.. Oak
hurst settled himself coolly to the losing
game before him. The Duchess, more
cheerful than she had been, assumed the
care of Piney. Only Mother Shiptonn-
once the strongest of the party-scemed to
sicken and fade. At midnight on the
tenth day she called Oakhurst to her SIDE:
'Im going" she said, in voice OF
querulous weakness, "but don't say any
thing about it. Don't waken the Kids;
Take the bundle from under my head
and open it," Mr.. Oakhurst did so. 1t
contained Mother Shipton S rations for the
last week. untouched. "Giro em to the
child" she said, pointing to the sleeping
the gambler. That's what they call it,
down again, and turning her face to the
wall, passed quietly away.
The accordion and the bones were put
7,
When the body of Mother Shipton had
been committed to the snow, Mr.. Oak
hurst took the Innocent aside, and showed
him pair of snow-shoes, which he had
fashioned from the old pack saddle.
There's one chance in a hundred to save
her yet" he said, pointing to Pney; but
it's there" he added, pointing towards
Poker Flat. IF you can reach there in
= &, ell Cd
Tom Stimson, "Ill stay here" was the
curt reply.
The lovers parted with long embrace.
''lou are not going too, said the Ouch
ess, as she saw Mr.. Oakhurst apparently
waiting to accompany him. CAS- far as
the canon" he replied. He turned sud
denly, and kissed the Duchess, leaving
her palid face afame, and her trembling
limbs rigid with amazement. :.
Night came, but not Mr.. Oakhurst. 1t
brought the storm again and the whirling
snow. Then the Duchess, feeding the
fire. found that some one had quietly
piled beside the hut enough fuel to last
few days longer. The tears rose TO her
eyes, but she hid them from Piney.
The women slept but little. In the
morning. looking into each others faces,
they read their fate. Neither spoke; but
Piney, accepting the position of the
stronger, drew near and placed her arm
around the Duchess's waist. They kept
this attitude for the rest of the day. That
night the storm reached its greatest fury,
and rending asunder the protecting pines,
invaded the very hut.
Toward morning they found themselves
unable to feed the fire. which gradually
died away. As the embers slowly black
encd, the Duchess crept closer to Piney,
and broke the silence of many hours :;
'.Pihey, can you pray?" mo, DEAR
said Piney, simply. The Duchess. with
out knowing exactly why, felt relieved,
and, putting her head upon Piney's
shoulder, spoke no more And so reclin-
ing, the younger and purer pillowing the
head of her soiled sister upon her virgin
breast, they fell asleep.
The wind lulled as if it feared to waken
them. Feathery drifts of snow, shaken
from the long pine-boughs, flew like
white-winged birds, and settling around
them as they slept. The moon through
the riited clouds looked down upon what
had been the camp. But all human stain,
all trace of earthly travail, was hidden
beneath the spotless mantle mercitully
flung from above.
They slept all that day and the next,
nor did they waken when voices and foot
steps broke the silence of the camp. And
when plying fingers brushed the snow
from their wan faces, none could haye told
from the equal peace that dwelt upon them
which was she that had sinned. Even the
law of Poker Flat recognized this. and
turned away. leaving them still locked in
each others arms.
But at the head of the gulch, on one of
the largest pine-trees, they found the
deuce of clubs pinned to the bark with a
bowieknife. 1t bore the following, written
in pencil, in firm hand =
BENEATH THIS TREE
LIES TIE BODY