New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-14

trap when he was . puppy, and nursed and
cured his broken leg. Yes, would give
much to have him with me now. Yet, how
could fret for this when l could gratefully
think and dream of the little one who would
soon have its place at our loving, cheerful
| hearth! And then, of course, 1 fell again to
| picturiDg the dear young face that had
| watched me from the open doorway, pale
| and wistful in the gaslight. What q merry
| night We ought to have been making of it
Annie and I-drOpping now and then into
| our favorite occupation of adding story
| after story to that Spanish castle founded
on our retirement from business with a
| princely competence. 1t was rather early,
perhaps, to make arrangements for the
event, but it was just as well to be in good
time. And when you are locking on into
the future-vague to the best of eyes
ism it just as easy to see things rose cOlored
as blue ! In these pleasant dreams drove
on until the mines were round, and drew
up my horse before the low public house
where was to meet the club. All the mem
bers had assembled in long, well-H2hted
room, with a sanded floor and an immense
fire roaring in the chimney. While / stood
before it, restoring life to my petriied feet
and fingers, looked round at the dozen
men who had their places at the table, and
voted them set of kindly, noisy fellows.
But as the evening wore on modified my
opinion. One or two we're sullen and moody,
thwarting every amendment, and drinking
great deal in a kind of gruff and greedy
| silence. One or two were bOisterous and
tinually from their lips, and bringing down
their fists heavily upon the deal table to en-
force their rough and noisy words. And
others were quiet, orderly men, with very
few words to say, and q very deliberate
way Of saying them. But, among them all
l noticed one more particularly; far above
his companions in cOrdiality and kindness,
quite the most pleasant. the most genial
and the most intelligent man there. He
respect which most of the others dis.
pensed with, and which is rare, in
| deed, among the Bog-mines. How could
/ help being glad when this man
drew the lucky lot, and won as beautiful an
English lever as one need wish to see But
with hearty cordially, the man offered to
have the lots drawn again he could wait
he said, and some Of his mates had set their
hearts on it. l negatived this proposal at
once, objecting strongly to it on principle
and the watch went slowly the round of
the table for admiration, while its owner
took this opportunity Of going out into the
ward to tell the Ostler-whO was q friend of
his-that he had won it. I did not wonder
at this at the time, but afterward under
stood it. l put up the eleven remaining
watches, and packed and tied the box.
was heartily welcomed guest-and the
steaming punch which followed it, drew
on my Overcoat again, and buttoned it
snugly and safely across my chest, with the
box in its long inner pocket. just then the
| ostler came in to me with puzzled face.
''My horse was lame" he told me; dead
lame and would not STIR
hot
But my exclamation of incredulity and
establishment were only met by the stOlid
| assurance that the horse was lame, and it
would be as much as his life was worth for
| me to take him out tonight. | simply
could not and would not believe it, and
fastened to the stable: most, if not all, of
the company following me. Well, there
the horse lay. dead lame" as the Ostler
had said. There was no chance Of his TAX
ing me home that night, at any rate. had
not lived through all my boyhoOd at
farm without understanding little about
horses, and felt certain that there had
been foul play here. ] could have sworn
that pick had been run into the flesh IN
der the knee, and knew that the animal
was useless indeed now. l could not prove
the deed, of course, but l felt almost as
confident of it then as l did four hours
afterward. when l could feel certain who
had done it.
sir" the landlord said. wen make You
as comfortable as possible"
Impossible" answered, thinking hun
dred thoughts at once.
"But isn't it a case of necessity. sir
There's no other conveyance in the place"
"No horse! !" I-exclained, knowing could
not for a moment entertain the proposal Of
staying.
''None at all, except my own pony, sir. l
couldn't possibly let yon have him. because
he's got to carry me twenty miles, as soon
as it's daylight. to spend Christmas day
with my old father"
asked, appealing in desperation, to the
miners Il will pay you anything you like
to ask me for the use of one tonight"
No; no one had horse at my disposal or
at their own either; and they could but
join in mine hosts persuasions to me to
sleep at the Miners Arms. "Even if the
horse is incapable in the morning, sir" they
ter in the daylight than now, in the dark.
There'll be plenty of snow directly, and it's
likely to be frightful night"
Not for one moment, though, did l hest
tate when thought of Annie; of the anx-
ious night she would spend waiting for and
vainly expecting me; of the dreary dawning
of the Christmas morning for her if l did
uOU Keep lily pTOuASc. 1fue, COuIu not Do
home at midnight to let in the Christmas
for her as l had promised, but the delay
was not my own fault, and at least might
let it in for her at dawn, and prevent it
breaking sadly and drearily for my my
wife. l never yet had shrunk from fifteen
miles walk, even in the dark; SO l said
good night to the miners with laugh,
which was intended to prevent their laugh
ing at what they evidently thought QuIx-
NH inf Sf btis al " VIII
they called good night, SIR cheerily after
me. ..
On and on / went, thinking busily as one
naturally does on a long, solitary walk.
But presently the snow began to fall; and,
though it was but light at first, the quiet.
pleasant thoughts were soon dispersed, and
so / sang aloud for company, shouting lus-
tily to keep myself warm as we'll as cheer
full. And, when was tired Of that. whis-
tied old, familiar airs, and improvised &C.
centric variations. Anything to shorten the
long, long stretch of whitening highway;
anything to deaden the cutting, piercing
blast of the night wind.
/ should think I had gone couple of
miles, when l heard footsteps on the road
behind me. My first impulse was to turn
and wait for the society OF any traveller
who might be jourDeying on my way. but
my second was to quicken my steps with a
nameless fear. This impulse l followed
resolutely, yet blindly, but as l fastened
on the steps behind me fastened too.
No house or human being was there with
IN sight or earshot. l had valuable prop
erty about me, and not even stick IN my
hand. l saw what random fool l had
been in starting at all from the Miners
Arms tonight. ! saw it all, with a fash of
pam and despair, as the steps behind
steadily gained upon me. l hurried on
IRVING TO ke1iavo 7 o,,1r l:ca -, laa.... r