Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-09-24

oo"S houis S'apsSus anu SILL tueTe WAS
no sign that the blocked-up household had
not been forgotten. Hai what was that
A shot, surely, and then another, and a
cheer Of friendly voices, and hope sprung
up in every heart, and was kept alive by
the occasional report Of distant freams
and the sound of shouting.
Yes, rescue was at hand. That much
was certain. An attempt to penetrate the
girdling wall Of snow was about to be
made, but what were the numbers or the
resources of the adventurous band with
out, those within the house knew not.
There were now but some four or five win-
dows, darkened BY snow-wreaths and
pendant icicles, whence partial view of
the outer desolation could be obtained.
And it was not on that side of the villa
that the shouts and shots of the explorers
had announced their presence. Some
hours of painful suspense, during which
heard, succeeded. and the sobbing of the
ominous wind changed into shrill
scream, and man who had ventured a
few PAGES from the door came in to bring
the evil tidngs that the snow had again
begun to fall. The air was now full of
feathery flakes, aud the most anxious list
ener could now hear nothing but the mo-
notous wall that chilled every heart as it
rang around the doomed bOuse. II was
beyond doubt that the well-wishers on
the outside must have desisted from their
labors, beaten of by the keen wind and
binding snowfall. The latter lasted
through the miserable night, and soon af-
ter daybreak ceased again, but those with
In the house had almost hidden farewell to
hope. Probably the rescuers would not,
until the weather should improve, renew
their efforts, tollsome and perilous as they
must needs be. And then it would be too
late. Privations and care were telling on
the beleagured inhabitants of Stewards
Flat. and none more than Caryl Winthrop,
whose sunken cheek and unnaturally
bright eve told Of extreme exhaustion.
We shall be happy together in heaven.
dear-not on eartG, he said, more than
once,as he looked wistfully into the face
of his betrothed one, and chafed her cold
hand between his. 1t has become ques-
tlon, not OF days, but Of hours and min
utes.'
Towards noon Metella's ear sharpened
by terror, caught the faint, low sound Of
the cllnking OF iron tools, mingled with the
wall Of that III small spnysbri.E JJar ,on,
panlons in misfortune, however, could not
hear it, aud she was easily persuaded that
she had been tricked by her own excited
fancy. Hours went by, the snow falling
still, though not so heavily, and there was
no sign from without. All prepared to per-
lsh, for now the scanty store OF food was
gone, and Caryl and Metella, as they knet
and prayed, side by side, felt that their
wedding must indeed be in the world 10
come, not In this.
There Is one thin. ought to tell you,
dear Caryl,' whispered the girl, as they
stood side by side In the porch: |, have
not been wiltully untrue TO my pledge, but
but there was one who left US but the
other day, on whom my rebellous thoughts
would dwell, do what | could to school
them. 1t was not that | did not love you
indeed not-but it was different when
thought of Alberto Parnell. l shall never
see him more. He will learn to forget me,
and, had lived, i. should have been my
| daily task to forget him. You are not an
cry, CarylT
He kissed her on the forehead. saying
gently; Indeed, am not angry. Love,
fear, will not be always reasoned with
1t is not your fault, my poor child, If you
saw in Parnell what you have never seen
in me. was 10 you as a brother. was
not' And you learned, too late, that liking
was not love. 1t matters little dearest. on
the brink ofthe grave, as we stand now,
but believe me-Ha? the noise without is
real enough this time
And SO it was. There was IA distinct
clash and rattle of spade and shovel, of
axe and pick, vigorously piled, and the
loud voices of men, and the thud of falling
| blocks of snow, and then q cheer, hearty
and triumphant, which was echoed in
feebler accents, by those within the house,
while the door was eagerly opened to ad-
NIT the deliverers. And now crevice,
soon enlarged to a cleft appeared in the
SNOWFALL close in front, and revealed the
| dark outline OF human form, hewing to
right and left with broad-bladed hatchet.
as if cutting path through the ranks of
resisting enemy. Then tall, strong man,
wet and dripping and with his dark beard
and hair full of glistening snow-crystals,
| came leaping from the aperture, and
reached the threshold. 1t was Alberto
Alberto Parnell; and the next to struggle
through the bI reach in the SNOWFALL, spade
hand, was the gaunt figure of Hiram
Pell the hunter; while from behind came
crowding up the rest of the bold and har-
dy band.
Then followed scene Of indescrbiable
excitement and confusion, in which thanks
to God and man for this timely rescue
were freely uttered by those who now saw
themselves restored to the living world.
But Metella, who had seen nothing save
was Overpowered by the rush of her emo
tons, and was sinking senseless on the
floor, when the young man sprang forward
and caught her, faintiDg, in his strong
arms. When she recovered from the
swoon. her parents were with her; and
near the sofa on which they had laid her
stood the old hunter Hiram Pell. There
was food on table near, for the rescuers
had not come empty handed; but Metella
had forgotten her hunger, forgotten all,
save that she had seen Alberto again for
one brief moment of happiness. She drank
in, thirstily, however, the words of the old
backwoodsman.
Thank him, cOlonel-Mr. Parnell. 1
mean-not me. for, true as Gospel, it's to
him you owe your lives Talk of uritt 7