Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-05-05

snow, she saw the tiny marks OF her pets
feet, and cut deeply into the bare ground
about the great rocks. So, searching
for the lamb, Leila went on until the
sun began to decline in the wintry sky,
and she stood on high elevation of land
far above the lonesome settlement.
Snowflake Snowflake why don't
you find me, Snowflake % cried the lit
tie girl wearily. and then she sat down
upon the edge Of a great precipice to
rest and wait for the coming Of her lamb.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Reade, thoroughly
alarmed at the non-appearance of her
child, made the forests to resound with
her vain cries. Marcus Wellman, re-
turning, near sunset, from hunting
tour, heard the agonizing voice of the
mother, and knowing that all was not
right, he threw down his game, and
sought, with all speed, the home of the
settler
"My child my child oh, Marcus,
bring me back my Leila p cried the half
distracted mother. as she caught sight
of the tall, 1.-THE form of the young cap
tive.
A few moments suficed to reveal the
truth to the boys comprehension, and the
heart of the mother leaped up in hope at
his words.
Madam, the Wild Deer comes not
back to the lodge of the Pequawkets un-
til he brings the White Dove to the wig
wan of her father
He made wild but graceful obeisance,
and was lost to view in the wilderness.
The night fell down, cold and pier
cling. There was d breath of frost in
the thick air, and afar off, toward the
northern horozon, the brave boy could
just discern the faint belt of cold, sick
ly blue, which is a sure harbinger of a
storm. Bnt. dauntless. and unfearing,
Marcus pressed on. Leila, his child pet
and playmate. was exposed somewhere
upon the mountains should he fear?
All night long the boy wandered up
on the cliffs, shouting far and wide the
name of Leila. Morning, gray and OBJ
scured by the snow struggling slowly
from the clouds, dawned upon him, and
found him still unsuccessful. Still, not
despairing, by the grateful light. he
flew from crag to crag, until, at last, he
stood upon the highest peak of Mount
Webster. In frenzied haste he sought
around the limits of the mountain, and
then with terrible forebodings in his
heart, he descended into the valley
There was no other alternative. The
child must have essayed the passage o.
. the Notch Horror almost overcame the
soul of Marcus at the bare possibility
!; but the waning light warned him tha
| there was no time for hesitation. Fol
) the first time since setting forth, h,
drew from his pocket flask of wortle
bury wine, which he kept always filled
: and, placing to his lips, he took a hear
) ty draught. The stimulant gave hin
1 new life and courage, and, just as tn
: last ray of daylight faded away. h
e found himself within a mile of the Cat
J, of Notch. He stopped carefully, as h
r entered the narrowing passage, and fel
e over the surface of the snow and ic
e which covered the ground. A wild gla
!. cry escaped his lips as he sprang up
y The lamb had assuredly passed that way
d for there were the marks left by hi
s sharp hoofs in the snow and it might
possible, the boy thought, that Leila an
n her pet were together; but how, Marcr
5, dared not think He rushed on fe
it rods, and called the girls name. Thel
is was no reply. Yet further, until tt
1T roar of the Silver Cascade fell upon h
e ear: he called again. He thought |
n heard a faint sound, but the wind eel
le voices which live IN the mountains, ar
r. they might have deceived him. Aga
l. he shouted, loud and clear, "Leila
or Yes, he was not mistaken now it W;
the far-of bleat Of Snowflake that a.
ID swered him. On and on he went, unit
I'd he reached the foot of the cascade
in could 60 no further, for the eternal wa
Id of rock precluded all idea of advauc
ID ment in that direction.
g He stopped, and called the name
It. Snowflake the lambs answering BILE
#, was almost at his side. Marcus DIRE
n out tinder- box and few bits of pitc
On wood-articles which no hunter, red
re white, carries not about his persona
w in a moment, by the aid of the ig
at thus procured, his eyes drank in t
re scene.
sp Upon narrow shelf of rock, app;
entity lifeless, lay the form of the lit
b, Leila, her hands crossed upon her bre;
lis and a tear frozen upon either cheek.
he Close by her side crouched the lamb,
he head laid upon her face, as if he KIN
ID that on the retention of warmth her
he depended. Marcus took her up in
'es arms, and chafed her cold hands, a
ad breathed into her silent lips. Th,
was no sign of life except faint pull
er- tion about the heart, and the brave |
ng almost dispaired of ever seeing the lis