Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-03-06

ONCi NOuluIcu dlOuB IL cACept bnc BdInc-
keepers and the shepherds, and even they
did not care to try 1t except in broad day.
| light. AT the point where this path turned
off from the face of the hill "Laddie"
began again TO jump upon his mistress,
then, running a few steps along the path
and coming back, he wagged his tail and
looked up at her with beseeching eyes,
saying as plainly as dog could say in his
mute but expressive language: "Come
this way" Kirstie did not hesitate to
follow, bad though the way was, for it
led, she was sure, to her husband; and,
besides, as little child she used often to
come with her father before she knew
what fear was, and therefore knew every
turn and bend in the path. Toiling up
the wild solitude her feelings overcame
her, and unconsciously forced from her
lips the cry: "Oh, Archie, Archie my
man, where are yer"
Just at this point a little runlet of water
which came down from the hill had
spread itself across the path in a solid
sheet of ice. Kirstie hesitated, but there
and she GiGSF GmGSsF Hasten bfe aTu 9dffe6th 9dfe6th,
but her foot slipped, and she narrowly es-
capped falling. The snow now began to
fall more quickly and in large flakes, and
she had to trust more to memory for the
path than actual sight. On and on she
went, however, till she had gone nearly
mile up the glen, when suddenly Laddie
gave a short, joyful bark, and she saw a
dark object stretched across the path. 1t
was indeed Archie; he was leaning
against large stone, which seemed to
have broken his fall; his hair was pow
dered with snow, his face was white and
rigid, and his lips were livid. Kirstie
never doubted but that he was dead, and
threw herself on the ground beside him
with a cry OF agony, when suddenly his
eyes opened, conscious look came into
his face, and he said in faint, low tones:
"Is that you, Kirstie? / thocht l was
gaun to dee my lane, and never see ye
mair."
"Oh, wheest, Archie, wheest," she
walled "ye'll break my heart; dinna
speak that way"
He continued, after moments pause |:
al slipped at the tap o. the brae, and |
maun hae dwamed, for l wakened as cauld
as a stane VII Laddie licking my face; so
sent him hame, puir beast. No help
could do me guild now, Kirstie," he said,
as if in answer to the thoughts which
were passing through her mind at the
moment "My leg is broken, and I've
hurt my side; and VII the darkness and
the storm there nobody fit to help me,
gin they were here, and it wad be hours
before anybody could come. o Kirtsie,
woman, l maun leave ye and the wee
bairn," he added, with choking sob.
Kirstie did not answer for a moment;
and then her face was lighted up with a
look of high resolve, and she said:
"Mony time, Archie, have l won
dered why the Lord gied me my great
strength and my lang arms, but l see 1t
now; and if it be His will l will save you
this NIGHT"
"Ye're no fit to carry me-" Archie re-
monstrated feebly "and think what road,
Kirstie"
"Do no ken the road better than ony
herd in the country" she replied; "and we
maun ask for help higher than mans"
AS she knelt beside her husband, with
the snow falling on her upturned face, and
the wild wind whistling round, and in
few and simple words, as if she was
speaking of a near and loving friend
asked the aid of the Almighty arm to
guide her on her perilous way, and to
keep her feet from falling, Archie Bry.
done, even in the midst of all his pain
and weakness, felt that he had never be-
fore truly known his wife. She then
| lifted Archie, as gently and tenderly as
she could; but he gave deep groan, and
she found that he had tainted quite away.
"Maybe it's BETTER" she murmured; "he
Wilma know till the dangers past" Then
with another upward glance for help, she
set out on her dangerous way. 1t would
by this time have been perfectly dark, but
there was little moonlight, just enough
to show the mere outline of the path and
glen. The path itself was by this time
covered with snow; every step was taken
in uncertainty; she hardly knew If she
were keeping the path at all. Strong as
she was, she staggered at times under hel
burden, while everything around looked
wild and weird in the halfdarkness and the
thick. falling snow. Laddie trotting in
front of her, and guiding her on her way
was the only CLEAN of comfort she had
She went along more by instinct thar
sight, and after a weary while she begar
to think that she must be coming near the
mouth of the glen, when suddenly she re-
membered the sheet of ice-across the
pathway. If she could hardly cross il
then, what was to become of her now
with heavy burden, and the snow cover
ing the path, so that she could not tel
where she was going' Her heart sanH
within her; she remembered that 1t wa:
near that very spot that poor Tom Carson
was killed, and she felt as if she could mo-
move another step. Just at this momen
ray of moonlight pierced through tht
drift, and showed her young Archie'I
head resting ON her shoulder; the fact
was more boyish than ever in its pallor
and the rings of fair hair lay damp on hi
forehead. New strength seemed to come
to her arms with the sight, and new
courage and faith to her heart, and sh'
went bravelY on few more steps, an(
then, to her Joy and surprise, found her
self safe out on the hillside, and far pas
the dangerous place. She had passed /
safely and quietly, not knowing of tn
danger till it was gone. She had tn
wind to contend with now, and the snow
drift in her face; but in her thankfulnes
she felt as if she could overcome every
thing, and soon was within few yards O
their own door. Then her strength utterl,
failed; she struggled with beating hear
and laboring breath against her weak
, ness, as if it were some physica
obstacle; and she did manage, thougl
how she never knew, to reach the house
, enter the door, place Archie on the lonI
settle by the fireside, and then-fell OF
the floor perfectly unconscious. Poo
! Laddie ran from one to another, no
knowing what was the matter, and howl
ing pitifully, while the baby was wailinl
in the cradle. Help, however, was nea
at hand, and in few minutes two mel
, from Auchensack entered the cottage
} They had been sent rather against thei
will, and felt as if they were on wild
goose chase; but when they arrived a
the house they were Mortified with tn
, state of matters, and thankful that
, childish fancy-as they thought at first
J should have been the means Of bringing
them to Dynefoot so opportunely.
The children at Auchensack were e1
tremely fond of Kirstie, and it was
| favorite amusement of theirs, every after
} noon as the dusk came on, to watch 70
. the light appearing in her window
: When, long after the usual time, non
I appeared, they could not understand
! at all the anniversary of her wedding
3 day, too; what could be the matterY A
5 last Mr.. and Mrs. Gray became uneas
} themselves, and sent off the two meT
! who arrived at the very time when thei