Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-01-01


cd very slowly now, for she grew every
moment more anxious. Painfully she sat
and listened, rising very often to peer
from the window, though she could sec
nothing through the whrlng snow and
darkness.
1t was almost H. Her usually happy
face had become pale from anxiety, and
her heart beat with great, irregular thumps
But at that moment she heard movements
just without, and nothing doubling that
Ralph had returned, she flew to the spot,
raised the latch, and held open the door.
Imagine her CONSERVATION when, instead
Of her husband, one Of the neighbors who
lived some half mile beyond, tumbled
rather than walked in. He was generally
more or less intoxicated, and glance was
sufficient to show the now thoroughly
frightened woman that he was almost help
less. Before she could collect her senses
he had plunged upon the floor, where he
seated himself, and looking up with an idi-
otc leer, remarked:
Evenn', Miss Somervilo. Proper bad
night out. Amt Ralph got home YETI"
"Oh, | know now" and the fellow
brought himself up with what was intended
to be look of intelligence; Ralph got
tired out and stopped apiece back to rest"
Stopped to rest Tell me what you
mean" the wife almost shrieked.
The sharp tones seemed to bring another
portion of the fellows brain into play, for
he said, with more intelligence than he had
hitherto manifested: "You may hev no.
ticed that I've had suthiu to drink and |
guess I'm pretty well set up. But your
man was a deal worse nor me, and back
here aways he gin out"
And you left him to die in this dread
ful storm ?"
The fellow was alarmed at the change
which had come over the gentle woman.
She seemed now spirit Of fury to his
muldled vision, and he shrank back with a
deprocating air, as he said " Fact was, |
had all | could do to git myself along. If
I'd tried to do anything with him, why
we'd both got the worst of it."
Where did you leave him ?"
There was calmness in the tones, and the
fellow grew more assured as he replied
Fact ont is, can't say. Seems as though
twas a good ways, but then 1 know it can't
be. We'd come some ways on the-well,
he's back here piece"
That was all the poor woman could ex-
! pect to learn, and with the words her pur-
pose was formed Within a minute she
had assumed such outer wrappiDgs as came
first to hand, and passed through the door,
out into the fearful storm. The frail wo-
man had given place to the fearless heroine.
Her husband was out in that gale and cold
and storm. lie would perish there without
help. She might not save him, but she
could die in the attempt.
b Oh, that sacred love of woman for man
Through every trial it hopes, through every
sorrow it cheers and though unworthy
- and forgetful the object, it never wavers,
0 never ceases, but suffers on, hopes still,
prays ever, and even life itself is not too
c great sacrifice for the wor.an who truly
) loves.
y As Susan Someryille stepped outside the
door her clothing was caught by the gale,
;, she was hurried along for few yards, and
. plunged headong into a drift. But next
b moment she was upon her feet again, and,
l. having learned somewhat Of the force Of
e the blasts she was Drawing, the poor woman
struggled on through the piled-up snow.
% Guiding her movements by the dull outlines
of fences and woodland; stopping some-
" times to brush the enerustod fakes from
e her eyes, and to regain her breath; scan
1t ming every dark object with dreadful fear
y at her heart, she toiled on.
'r There he was at last, prone in her path.
Is She saw the outlined form, bent over it,
dashed away the driited snow, and knew
le that he still lived. But in all the boasted
Is strength of his manhood the foe Of his race
L. had overcome him, and he must have help
oi or perish. She tried to raise him; tried to
p waken him from the fatal stupor, but all
r. her efforts were vain. What was she to
ST do? lie must have help, and that soon, OF
le it would come too late.
IT 1t was about a mile to the nearest neigh
lt bors, but distance must not be considered
Or for moment. Scraping up with her bare
hands the snow about him, to break the
force of the gale, and printing upon the
cd clammy lips kiss which might be the last
nc on earth, she turned to struggle on.
or How that distance was passed she nevel
m could realize. Sometimes as she stumbled
be and fell it seemed as though she could moi
ut rise again, but finally the dark walls loOmeC
cd up, the light flashed from window, an(
with one more struggle she reached thu
W door. She could not find the latch. bu
ed her movements were heard, kind hanC
en- opened the door, and as she staggered il
to the warm air beat upon her, and she fell II
ed the floor while all about her faded int,
n. chaos
", Ralph is dying-by tho od-mill
Al. gate !" her lips barely articulatod, and thel
ad she knew no more.
as,