Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1873-09-05
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING sEPTEMBER5, 1878


drowned in attempting to cross some
stream that flows, with decciying rapidity
and depth from the melting snow on the
mountain tops; or crushed by falling trees
under which they have taken shelter from
storms. Perhaps Will was victim to
one Of these over present dangers, but no
signs OF his death ever came to light, and
his fate still remains one of those mys-
tcrics that arc ever intruding themselves
into our everyday life, drawing our tho'ts
one step nearer eternity.
One day passed, and then another; but
not until the third day did his old COM
rade start out to search for him. He ran
shouting through dim canyons and echo
| ing pine forests, oyerswollcn torrents and
into the dcnsc, watted chapparal, the
thorns tearing away, piece by piece, The
old red flannel that alone protected his
| shoulders, and piercing into his shrink
| ing form until blood trickled from him as
from wounded deer.
! But not until fatigue and hunger had
driven him back to the cabin, did hope
entirely give way to agonized grief The
ties that bound reason and love seemed
to part his love intensified thousand
| fold, and reason died.
Throughout the long days he paced
tho cabin floor, and at night sat by the
fire, always listening, hoping that every
rustic of the trees might be Wills foot
steps.
When any hunter or traveller, attract
ed by his fire, knocked at his door, they
would sec his gray hairs streaming thro'
window, and hear an eager, joyful
voice call out, lis that You, Will p
They could not help noticing, either the
shade OF sorrow and utter disappointment
that would succeed his smiles, at the
sight of their unfamiliar faces. Without
word be would let them in, and return
to look into the fire, with his face sunk
into his trembling hands.
Often on stormy nights, when the thun-
der OF some falling tree would revcrbcr-
ate through the canyon, or some wild an
lmal, startled at finding itself so near
mans abode, would rush up tho brushy
mountain side, the old mans face would
brighten up, and he would walk up tic
little trail CHOW worn very deep to the
pine tree under which he had last saw
his partner alive, and with his handssha-
ding his eyes, would peer into the dark
ness and call out joyfully, is that you,
| Will z But when no answer came back
through the gloom, his head would sink
into his hands, and with a despairing
groan he would gropc back to the cabin
to resume his faithful watch.
| And thus he lived between hope and
grief, while season followed season. lie
saw the snow, that all winter had been
drifting down through the spruce brancIi-
cs, melt under the summers sun, and
the frozen stream warm into life and re-
sumo its boistcrous way down tho green
backed canyon. Hosaw the timid doe
with her fawn stealing out of the dense
chapparal in the morning twilight; the
wild cherries and '.sarvico0 berries RI
pening in the autumn sun; but never
counted the years as they sped on.
But time had been marking him with
pitilcss hand, and at last he could scarce
ly crawl up the little trail to the pine on
the ridge, when he fancied Will was near;
and once there he would sit for hours ga
zing in the dark forest beyond.
One October night, during II binding,
freezing storm of snow and rain, and af-
ter | had wandered for hours, Iiopelessly
lost, suddenly came upon this old cab
in, and knocked for admittance. No an
swer coming, gently pushed open the
door and entered. BY the light of the
smouldcring fire | could soc an emacia-
ted form lying in rude-fashioncd bunk,
and covered with few remnants of
blankets. As stood there hesitating,
the storm seemed to redoublc its force.
An unusually severe burst Of thunder
shook the cabin to its foundation, and the
wind, rushing down the chimney, scat
tered the few smouldering cindcrs over
the floor. At that time the old man rose
with arms outspread toward inc. the flick
cring light playing over his pale, sweet
face, murmurcd, '.Is that you, Will p
and gently sank back-dead. Perhaps
VIII had come with the storm to relieve
him Of his faithful watch.