Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-17
hands between his. 1t has become ques-
ton, not of days, but of hours and min

uteS." 'fe# fE sttGtft Is e8 80
Toward noon, Mettela's ear, sharpened
by terror, caught the faint, low sound of
the clinking Of iron tools, ming1ing with
the wall eft the dismal snow. shrek. Her
companions in misfortune, however, could
not hear it, and she was easily persuaded
that she had been tricked by her own
excited fancy. Hours went by, the snow
falling still, though not 50 heavily, and
there was no sign from without. 81 ALI pre-
pared to perish, for now the scanty
store OF food was gone, and Caryl and
Metella, as they knelt and prayed, side by
side, felt that their wedding must indeed
be in the world to come, not in this. q.
There is one thing l ought to tell you,
dear Caryl,'' whispered the girl, as they
stood side by side in the porch II have
not been willfully untrue 10 my pledge,
but-but there was one who left us but
the other day. on whom my rebslious
thoughts would dwell, do what j could to
school them. 1t was not that did not
love you-indeed not-but, It was differ
ent when thought of Alberto Parneli. .if 1
shall never see him more He will learn
to forget me, and, had lived, II should
have been my daily task to forget him.
You are not angry. Caryl?" ~
He kissed her on the forehead. saying
gently: Indeed am not angry. Love,
| fear, will not always be reasoned with.
1t is not your fault, my poor child, If you
saw in Parnell what You have never seen
in me. l was to you as a brother. was ]
notP And you learned too late, that liz
ing was not love. 1t matters little, dear
est, on the brink of the grave, as We stand
No h,,tIx lsax~ ts glsl
side is real enough this time" 4hsF4
And so it was. There was distinct
clash and rattle of spade and shovel. of
axe and pick. vigorously piled, and the
loud voices of the men, and the thud Of
falling blocks of snow, and then cheer.
hearty and triumphant, which was echoed
in feebler accents by those within the
house, while the door was eagerly opened
to admit the deliverers. And now crey-
ice, soon enlarged to cleft. appeared in
the snow wall close in front. aud revealed
the dark outlines of human form, hew-
ing to right and left, with broad-bladed
hatchet, as ii cutting path through the
ranks OF resisting enemy. Then tall,
strong man, wet and dripping. and with
dark beard and hair full Of glistening
snow crystals, came leaping from the ap-
erture. and reached the threshold. II
was Alberic-Alberic Parnell, and The
next to struggle through the breach in the
SNOWFALL. spade in hand, was the gaunt
figure of Hiram Pell, the hunter, while
from behind came scrowding up the rest of
the cold and hardy band. u s "a s4sw
Then followed a scene of iendscribable
excitement and confusion, while thankst0
God and man for this timely rescue were
freely uttered by those who now saw them
selves restored to the living world. But
Metella. who had seen nothing save. AL
berries face in all that mingled group, was
by the rush Of her emotions,
and was sinking senseless on the hoor.
when the young man sprang forwart1And
caught her faint in his strong arms. When
she recovered from the swoon, her pa
rents were with her; and near the sofa on
which they laid her stood the old hunter,
Hiram fell. There was food on table
near, for the rescuers had not come
empty-handed but Miss Stewart had for
gotten her hunger, forgotten all save that
she had seen Alberto again for one brief
moment of happiness. She drank 10
however, the words Of The old
backwoodsman -
MIN, NOIOucL-N4I. aI1lEAl i
mean--not me, for true as gospel lis to
him you owe your lives. Talk Of grit!1sI
thought | knew what bravery was. but
never the like of that young chaps. He
shamed us into sticking oft. Squire, fight
ing every inch OF the way against cold and
fatigue, and working more like young
giant than mere man. Says Mr.. Alberto.
when there was talk of giving in; "Let
who will finch and leave helpless women
to perish. never let him hold up his head
among honest men. Every dollar I'm
worth shall be divided among those that
help me-" And he, and !, and the rest of
the Troy neighbors. we did make q good
job of it, spite of frost-bite and beating
snow; but it was no sport, Colonel. can
tell you that" say ~ 8s.rs
Mrs. Stewart, who had left the room
during this speech, now came gliding back
TO her daughters side. t. a aa s
''Are you well enough, Metella, dear, 10
speak with Caryl for moment ?' she said
smiling through her tears. "He is very
urgent to say word TO you. He says It
is for the last time" ''.a a..'
And almost before Mctella had. leisure
to realize the meaning OF these words,
caryl Winthrop, deathly pale. but with a
sweet. sad smile upon his face, such as
angels might wear, stood beside her coach.
She started up, and then. with guilty
blush, put her hands before her eyes, b
''Oh, Caryl, do not blame me ~ she said.
Indeed, indeed. will be true wife. to
,ou." saa gtaa.ls
mot to me, dear Miss Stewart, 7" an
'wered he, softly. at is as brother,
larlng, not as lover that you have re-
sarded me all along. and now l release
'ou fully and freely from plight the
keeping of which would be misery 10 you.
am not selfish enough to hold you 10
your promise, dear girl. Let your hand
go along with Your heart, to your presery-
II, TO Albenc Parnell." He was very
white and haggard as he spoke, but he
never once faltered in his address and
before Metella could frame her reply Mrs.
Stewart had walked to the door and re-
turned, accompanied by Alberto. .sa
This young gentleman" she said half
''was just about to slip
.way from us and our acknowledgements
If his courage and kindness. He could
lot trust himself forseoth, to meet you
'gan, Metella. Even now. see by his,
'uzzled look, that he hardly can guess the
olution Of the enigma" ~, .nsyIi