The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-02

tuelr DtOtueth 10 SCHOOL slept IN duBn
bed, while he camped down with the
boys in the school.room. They kept
roaring 6res, and used every wrap there
was in the house; but the cold increased
hourly, and one, the youngest child,
woke crying more than once.
And the snow went on falling.
Itneyer ceased all the next day and
night. Hugh kept up the fres, fed the
children well, and told them stories,
Little Tommy, the youngest, cried, for
his mother at first; but soon ceased
when the masterput him nhis knee and
comiorted him. Still, the time passed
very drearily; every peep from the
back room showed only white waste
OF snow, trending downwards to the
valley, and blotting paths, fences, land
landmarks in one huge winding.sheet.
Worse was coming still ; for that night
old Classy whispered her master that
the food was almost gone. Nine
hungry mouths soon make away with
the contents OF one mans larder.
And the snow went on falling.
On the following day breakfast was
a miserable meal, and one Of the girls
having discovered the cause thereof,
began 10 wall out that they would all
be starved. Hugh quieted her, gently
but firmly, and going to the window,
pointed that tho sky was clearing, and
the snow.aakes falling less thickly,
They continued TO lessen hour by hour;
and by noon Hugh determined 10 make
his way 10 the nearest village store, and
bring back food to the hungry chill
dren.
It was q difficult GRAND, even fol
him, who knew every inch OF tho way,
and was cased In fur and leather from
head to foot. All signs Of the road
were obliterated. More than once he
missed his way, and sank in the SNOW
nearly TO his thighs and the cold was
so intense that the very breath frozC
upon his lips like an icy skin. Tie
poor fellow was well.nigh dead when he
at last reached Ethan Balls store.
Only q light sprinkling OF snow had
fallen since his departure (; so that he
was able to retrace the journey by bis
own track, and was toiling heavily up a
steepish hill, when, Of o sudden, bis
ear was caught by the dismal bowling
OF dog far away. He paid no heed,
thinking II came from the settlement ;
and presently II ceased, then changed
to bark, growing nearer and nearer ;
till, finally, large black dog came in
sight round O point Of rock, and, bound
ing upon him, began q series OF fawn-
ing and whining, running away a few
steps, and returning TO look up in his
face with all a dogs frenzy OF impotent
eloquence. Men soon grow TO under
stand these signs in the far West.
Hugh knew, as well as II he had been
told, that somewhere within hail that
dogs master was lying in strait SO great
as to need help; and help accordingly
he set out 10 give. The dog led the
way, and he followed; /; now stumbling,
now falling outright ; sometimes letting
the handle OF the sled slip from his
half.frozen fingers, and often deter
mining to give up the attempt and get
home while he could but always urged
on, as much by that inaexibility which
made part Of the mans character as by
dislike Of leaving fellow.creature TO
perish within reach. So on and on, for
half a mile or SO; and then the dog
stopped beside q big, motionless mound
Of snow, and Hugh, bending forward,
found himself staring into the white
and rigid face Of his old enemy, Miles
Pearson.
Independent OF rivalry, this man had
always been peculiarly obnoxious TO
Hugh. He was o big, burly fellow.
That such q man should dare to admire
Malya Keith, and not be repulsed with
loathing, had certainly lowered that
young lady in her lovers eyes and Of
late the two men had hardly even met
without exhibiting amanifes stanimosity.
Now, Pearson lay hali.frozen, insensi.
bic log upon the Minnesota SHOWS and
Hugh Garston stood above him
Only for o momen; then he knelt
down and felt the mans wrist. II gave
back no answering beat. He laid his
hand on his heart that still licked on,
but very feebly. Death was running a
race with Miles Pearson, and no time
could be lost II he were TO be beaten.
Hugh lost none.' Without o moments
hesitation, he set to work to force some
drops Of brandy down the mans throat;
then ierked the bags Of food out Of the
sled, and half dragged, half lifted the
helpless body on to it instead. The
children were very hungry, but hey
could wait. Miles was past waiting.
But, not TO lose the food, he drove the
long stick with which he had been
walking into the frozen snow, and fas.
tened the dog to him. He had got out
Of the way, he knew, and was far from
home; but that would mark the spot.
And now he looked round, half despair.
ingly, for some nearer shelter, and
straightway uttered shout for joy. A
spiri i column OF smoke was rising into
tie air, beside q huge gray bluff, about
half mile off; and Hugh's heart beat
thankfully as he recognized tho chin.
neys OF Keith's homestead.
As he started TO reach 1t the snow
began to fall
In the great log kitchen at the
Keiths', the family were all gathered
rouhd o huge fire that afternoon, talk.
ing Of the snow, Of the time II had
lasted, and the casualties II had occa.
stoned, and wondering when fine
weather would set in again. Abran
Keith had heard Of Minnesota bride
and bridegroom snowed.upin the sleigh,
en- route to their married home, and
only rescued after two days-lising, but
crippled for life ; and his father told Of
a neirhhor found dead and frozen stiff,