New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-08

Why, you're most broke down already, al
as white as skunk's liver"
!, This from Abram. Hugh looked a
him coldly.
These two young men did not "hitcl
WE'LL to use Malva's phrase.
"Will you 60 if I stay?' he asked, 80
will you come with me and help?"
With the greatest sincerity, young Keitl
shook his head, and wished himself a
eternal perdition if he were such fool
He'd keer for his life, he guessed, e
sohoolmaster didn't for his'n l."
The schoolmaster laughed contempt
ously.
81 thought SO. Good night, friends
! care for the children given to my charge
Look after your frost-bitten friend
Abram. You can do that without run
ming the risk Of losing your precious
life, or freezing your foul tongue
either.'
He went gu. as he spoke. and Abram
boiling with rage, caught up Colts.
and made as he would follow. Old keitl
held him back.
! LET the daned old fool go, and b
cussed to him. he said. Look at thu
snow. boy. He'll never spot home TO.
night. Malva, bolt the door
| She flew. off; but not to obey. Hugh
had taken but few steps when his arm
was caught, and Malva. half buried in
her fathers huge beayskiu robe. chung
! painting to his side.
Hugh. dear Hugh. do come back,
Why. for PHYS sake. do you flare at
Abram SO: He only wanted to stay you.
Come back, do!''
Il beg your pardon, Maiva. Your
brother always i1ritates me; but his selfish
cowardice just now put my blood up. Go
back yourself, child. It isn't safe for you
| to be here moment"
He put her back as he Spoke. pressing
her into the shelter Of the deep porch, and
wrapping the mutfiers still round her
She got one arm Free however, and flung
it round his neck.
Hugh, don't you now-don't. Look
al the show. it's falling fast again; an
dush's drawing on. Don't go tonight,
Hugh-tor my sake, don't! Listen!'-try-
ing to rub her soft cheek against his
caressingly-'I love you-l love you bet
ter nor any one; an III never speak
another word to that drunken brute you
saved, nor no one if you bid me-never.
Hugh. Do forgive me. old man! Say
you believe me, and stay to-night-dor'
She was sobbing and crying now, with
her wet, flushed face hidden on his breast,
and her warm, shapely arms clasped and
quiverlng about his neck. The prophecies
of courship are not O matter of education
IN the Northwestern States. Hugh lifted
her face and kissed it.
IL do forgive you" he said II would
make you my wife to-nigh: if could, and
believe you would come"
THAT | would, old man, right away"
"Do you duty then, child: and obey me
like one. Mine is to 60 those children
this very minute, and / must do it.
There" unclasping her hands, and kiss
ing both them and the trembling lips
with long, grave kisses .God bless you,
love, and goodbye. I've delayed over
long already"
He opened the door for her, and stode
away into the driving snow, without wait
ing for an answer. She walked heavily |
into the house. put up the bolts, and,
dropping down into seat, hid her face
IN her apron, weeping bitterly.
And the snow went on falling.
It never ceased all that night and the !
following morning; but towards evening |
the sky cleared, the barometer rose steadi. |
ly, and two of the childrens fathers from |
the village found their way to the school
house on the hill. The drifts had blocked |
up the front door and windows, but the
back was still clear: and at the sound of !
their voices. half a dozen little faces.
white, gaunt and haggard-looking, APP
peared IN the open doorway clamoring tor
'ood.
Thank the Lord. mine are safe !'' Jim
Hackett said. gripping his sons hand.
While his other arm held the sobbing girl.
why, where's schoolmaster, my kids:
IN what's gone WI Nathan'S little Tom.
N.Y." |
''Teacher went away to get soinethin' to
eat yesterday mornin', an never come
Jack, Seth said; IAN Tommy, he TUX
'ad an died last night. Guess he was SO
hungry he couldn't wait. We're most dead
Vi hunger. father"
Jim had brought bagful OF bread.stuff
n the chance of such need. He FASTENED
ow to divide it among the sick and fam.
she'd children, while Tommy's father went
1to the back room. where the little white
ody lap cold and quiet hungry now. s
I'D Classy stood beside him. 5
He did nothing but cry" he said. ''af.
r de massa went, till he took sick, an
EN- he quiet berry soon. He'd been iyin' {
ill. mout be couple of hours, when all |
a student he skeered right up. his little t
ce all smilin, an cries out teachers | i
'min'! I see him walkin up de hill aside t
man all white and shinin'. Oh, let t
e go. Dem was his berry last words, | a
ASA. He went Off slick tina. minnit. r
! ef you ask my 'pinion, Massa Garston {
emit fust He'd never ha' stayed away J
ON these ere blessed children if the :
ow hadn't caught him. s.
She said truly. Two days later, man c
ID woman, starting from Keith's home. Il
ead for the school, found his body half Il
vered with snow, and lying within a 81
zen yards Of the stick. where the dog, Il
ark and stiff too. crouched guardians O.
e upon the heap OF now useless provi. p
ms. He must have lost his way in the IS
nding drift, and wandered round and IL
Ind in circles. till he dropped from rC
eer exhaustion; for there were marks of b.
footsteps still visible crossing and re- W
'ssing each other in every direction. SO
t the face was quite peaceful: and on W
stern lips there still lay a smile, frozen n
re by the icy hand of death, before he tit
e up to meet the Man whose dazzling tn
iteness is beyond that of all showed, kr
n of the sun and stars. And even in ca
ng he had tried to carry out that task ey
ich, unfulfilled, had troubled his last
ments; for one rigid hand still grasped ha
end of pencil, while beside him lay the tn
textbook, in which the poor frozen fin. tn
s had scrawled: M
'Food-to the children--Q1tici!" su
hat strong right hand must have grown no
NICELY dead, for the letters were all but In
gible. ha
tut what will you? He had done his -