St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-05-08
ST. JOINSBURY, VT, FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1874

brandy triGkle down his throat, warm
ing him into life with her cheek against
his. and calling to him with all the
tenderness in her soul, with all the en-
dearipg names that love invents: fOr
III that awful moment she had forgotten
that he belonged to any one but her
self. Perhaps. in the gradual re-awak-
enlng, he may have caught the mean
ing of this, but he gave no sign of it.
| BY her frantic efforts Jane succeeded in
removing the limb that had fallen upon
him, and having pushed and dragged it
to safe distance, she made a bonfire
of 1t, which illumined the ghastly night
fantastically, and kept the wolves at
bay that were howling in the woods
near. 1t was only then she discovered
that his leg was broken, There was
but one thing to do. however: she pro-
vlded him IL cOunterpane of spruce
boughs. as warm as wool, gathered dry
fagOts in the edge of the woods, and
extended her blaze in a circle about the
disabled man, like an Indian watch
fire; then she fastened home, and, as
! his mother was too infirm to give as
sistance, she yOked the steers into the
dTag-for old Dapple's slender legs
conld not founder safely through the
dritts-and urged them slowly across
the Untrodden SNOW. guided by the Ian
tern, TO the nearest neighhOr. five miles
away. who willingly left his warm pill
low, and with his son of fifteen, plOddcd
| back on the drag To where the watch
fires smouldercd and Cyrus waited. 1t
WAS not long after this before Cyrus was
safe in bed. with his mother and Jane
administering to him. and neighhoI
Goodheart and the steers on the way
for the doctor. But it WAS many IL long
week before he left his bed l. indeed.
the drifts had dissolved like magic. and
spring had woven her spells in blade
and bad, and the grass was long and
ready for moving. before he took his
first step into the air. and then he
leaned on James arm. and walked " ith
Il crutch. The folks in The Number :
said he would always need to use II
crutch, unless he preferred Il cork leg.
When the doctors from Wheattield and
beyond had decided upon amputation.
Cyrus had seut for Agnes. Perhaps he
had meant to give her her freedom.
with lingering hope that she would
reject it e.; perhaps he cravcd the >olacc
of her presence before his journey to-
ward the Valley of Shadows. Nobody
ever knew: it was only known that she
refused to z" To HIM, The people in
The Numbers blamed or excused her.
according to the natures and prepoS>cs-
SionS. 'She didu't promise herself To Il
cripple" Its better to live minated
than ill-matchcd," shes like to 90 all
the way through the woods and pick
up a crooked stick at last" Its Il poor
kind of love that's scared at misfortune.
Were some of the current remarks pass
ing from mouth to mouth.
And So the wear wore through. ami
Cyrus could II" longer go up the
ArooStook numbering. nor swing his
Scythr i'll the meadow. He had to hire
Il hand about the farm. But while he
sat ut home with idle. impatient hands.
Inspiration came tn him ;s he watched
Jane laboIlug ut her wheel. and he in
vented Il spinning machine. About this
time old Mrs. FcrriSton slipped away
out of life and one day Mrs. Deacon
troCker rode over To engage Jane for
her winters weaving.
~ on won't he ncrdiu' hou>ckceper
H." longer. >'p"se. Cyrus" said She :;
''and folks allu> talks 50: 81. thinks L..
Jane ned better come home with me
for the wcaNin.
''.Iaur. he said-fnr Mrs. Deacon
Crnckrt used an ear-trumpet. aud WAS
un kind of hindrrancc to love making
Jane. ynu promised to stay with me-
till Agnes came. Will you keep Your
promise
''lc>. Cyrus. will. if YOU insist upon
ii. she answered.
''lanc and |. he said. speaking int"
Mrs. rockets trHnIpct. ''lre going down
To Whratticld this afternoon to bc mar
licd.
Mrs. Crockett took the Price farm on
her way home. tuI fear hcr news would
spoil if kept over night.
"CyruS Fr!ri>tnn'S goin' to lac mer-
ried. said she. ''and no thanks to YOU.
Agnes Price. Jane Ilutton's Il lucky
gell."
DO tell, - cried Agnes. "'Nevcr
swan il goose SO gray but what could
tiud its mate always thought she
had a hankeIin after him S'posc
>ha'n't he asked t" stand up with 'em
What Il tiggcr they'll cut when they
pear ont together, | never could have
borne to go limpin' along with a man
like that all my days-it didn't look
gcntccl."
But they do say" continued her
comforter, chow he's made power of
money out of that machine of hiS'n-it's
jest like spimnin' gold. And they're
talkin' about sendin' of him to the
Legislation, and then | spose Jane go
too, and help represent"
\ WORD To MOTHERS. Dear
.nil Ill.