The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-10-11

us WIN ohO utd vi SdNliS lnOSe TWO lOYeu
and precious lives, seemed to swell with
giants strength.
'Evap l shouted in the mad noise of the
elements.
The larger Of the two dim figures did not
move. The smaller I thought 1 could see
take an arm from The others neck. Then it
cried out piping and shrill:-
"Unce Paul! Uncle Pau-u-u-lr'
'Evelinen' l cried, darling Eveline, keep
still for Gods sake What's mamma doing?'
80, o, . Uncle Paul, come herer'
Down dashed in a stupid frenzy, head
long and careless, and missing my grasp of
bush, stumbled and fell. A sharp scarp of
rock received my thigh on its point, rent it
down for twelty inches. and let me drop on
nv back, roughly on the ledge, beside the
figures.
1t was many minutes before I recovered my
senses. All the while the pitess storm beat
on us three. l came to myself to find Eveline
with her arms round my neck, calling still,
'Uncle Paulr'
The blood was running copiously from my
wound. tore the skirt from the little girl
and bound up my thigh as well as could l
felt that their lives depended on mine. When
| turned to look at Eva, found her lovely
face paid aud wet, her clothes and hair
drenched with rain. On her right temple
was bruise. She showed no signs of life.
chated her hands. l breathed into her cold
lips. dragged her in under some shelteIing
bushes and urged the little one to help me
rub her mammals hands. At length there
we're symptoms OF life, and by aud BY she
opened her eyes and spoke to me- She could
lie there conscious, but she could not move.
l knew why there was fourth, hid
den life in the balance that night.
We could now scarcely see each others
a! hn oh in, Al 4.
and tied her to her mother. l besought them
both not to stir hand or foot. took off my
coat and threw it over them. buttoned my
Walstcoat about the little one. Aud then 1
resolved, wounded and hali-naked as was,
to try and get to Winnersly. our home, for
help There was 10 dwelling nearer 1
hoped that Harold's anxiety night bring him
cut iii search Of us, and that should meet
him on the way. By this time, what with
loss of blood and the forlorn responsibility OF
my situation, began to feel giddy and weak.
Then knelt down and prayed. L know
not what said. only know 1 pleaded for
their precious lives-and offered my own as
ransom Tor them if it might be. 1 only know.
that in the course OF thar transcendent ap-
peal seemed to see new light and gain new
strength, though the sharp pain in my thigh
warned me that the work / Lad TO do would
task my very life. Then kissed them both
i could no longer see their faces-and COM
meDdlng them to the GOO of the winds and
storms, | essayed to climb to the top of the
cliff. Into the rough bushes, among the
thorny broom, gra ping and letting go-feel-
ing and doubting-step by step upW ard [
fought my way. 1 forgot the anguish of nv
wound, IN the freshness of my spirited re-
live TO save the dear ones below, Twice or
thrice heard Eva's gentle voice cheering me
and saying
- Are you up yet, Paul? Save US, Paul.
God help you, Paul"
kept my groans quiet, thrilling as was nv
nm Twice l missed my hold and nearly
fell backwards, twice recovered with bleeding
hands and fainling breath, but my soul was
strong and hopeful.
"God bless you, Uncle Paul! Save us,
Uncle Paul. God help you, Uncle PauIp'
echoed tiny voice, and my heart leaped to
hear it,
Paul, weallling, now for a steady, deter
mined heart. They must and shall be saw
edr'
AT length l stood on the brink. The most
dangerous part of my work was over. For
the sake of their lives it had been carefully
and slowly done. But the exertion left lne
teebler. had to stop and adjust the bandage.
The lacerated thigh was so painful, could
scarcely bear to touch it. With a grim reso.
'NoAoh SiOhNuSu LILY LCSlu, Guu Q1cW DUe
cloth tight, until the anguish was intolerable
l hoped to stay the bleeding.
Good God, how shall [ ever do these four
miles ?"
had not even a stick to lean upon, to re-
lieve my leg. Yet set ont briskly On nav
back was hurled the fury of tie storm as /
stumped and limped toiltuly along. Every
step was fresh agony. But every moment
| seemed to hear:
Save us, Paul! God help you, Uncle
Paulr'
Aud it formed a sort of burden and re-
frain, keeping time with Y trembling foot
steps as lahored along. 1t was so dark l
could never have kept the road had it not
been very familiar to me. An ase seemed to
have passed when knew, by a change in the
level, that l had gone only one mile. My
heart began to sink, and i sat down a mo-
ment to rest. The stiffness and soreness of
my wound were keenly brought home to me
by the act. Could possibly go three miles
more in my present state? ran over in my
mind the difficulties of the way. There was
not hut or house between me and home.
A long piece Of common, deep dip in the
road, and bill, up which had often b, und-
ed-these things lay before me, and here was
l groaning with pain and the very life flick
ering in me.
"But," l said, 'Harolds wife and Harold's
child must be saved. Courage, Paul. God
bless you, Paul! God h"lp you. uncle Paulr"
AS put my hand on the ground to raise
myself. it lighted on round object. I seized
and felt it. 1t was some wayfarers staff
He had gone on his journey, but he had left
this here for mel thought. My spirit re-
vived.
''Bravo, Paul! push on. God hath sent
the staff to lean upon.''
was so encouraged that / did the next
mile almost rapidly. My thoughts went back
to the two poor things behind me- ooh!
shall be in time ?''-ands they went on to
the house before me. with the five sturdy, I'M
conscious men, who, had they known, would
have swept along this road with great rapid
strides, and have born my beauties in their
giant arms home to lie and warmth.
So | seemed to walk and leap and praise
God for the help of the staff But in the
ialth OF 1t was doing too much. l was us
ing my strength at a terrible rate. When I
knew / had gone more than another mile, my
steps slackened, and with my heart palpitat-
ing and my breath gone, l tuuIbel on the
ground. The shock wrung from me an ire
preside shriek of agony.
80 ui0 dotorosa! | cannot go on. This
anguish is greater than l can bear God him
self seems nitiltss, as his storm comes down
so ruthlessly, and the awful gloom drapes
and Stiles my ardor and my hope. 0 ria
tY1tcist'
These last words reminded me of the Great
human Redemption. SIS it not so, ever?" l
sid. is not the way of love the way of
tears 90
Here was wa;ling over my own anguish.
and 'here were the three lives, and the voices
ever IN my ear, yet unregarded in that mo-
ment of selfish depression. "God help YOU.
Uncle Paul. I staggered again to NY teeth
a with desperate slowness and patience
fastened along-that torn hip excrucatinc
me at every movement.
How | got on know not. Weakness and
pain were fast subduing my zeal. So how
often succumbs the noblest soul to bodily an
guish l must have become delirious. l
shouted and sang-adjured my own body to
be patient-I called aloud to heaven to help
me. 1 said,
"They shall be saved, Paul. God help you,
Paul" And then stumbled again, coming
cruelty to the ground, The staff flew out of
my hand, and sank down with groan,
thinking that at lost God had deserted me.
"Oh" said, 81 had hoped that this poor
weak and worthless life might have been re-