Connecticut western news., 1874-02-06

like wlldHre. You'll never get home with your life this day. Don't be fool an risk it."
 And my children ?''
 "Dodrot the shavers ! If they've empty bellies one day, they can fill 'em the next, an no harm done, reckon. Let 'em be. Why, you're most broke down already, an as white as a skunk's liver"
 This from Abram. Hugh looked at him coldly. These two young men did not "hitch well," to use Malva's phrase. -.
 "WilI you go if I stay ?" he asked; Cor will you come along with me and
 With the greatest sincerity, young Keith shook his head, and wished him. self at eternal perdition if he were such Q fool" He'd keer fur his life, he guessed, eff schoolmaster didn't fur his'n."
 "The schoolmaster laughed con- temptuously. ...
 II thought so. Good night, friends. / care for the children given to my charge. Look after your frost bitten friend, Abram. You can do that with out running the risk of losing your precious life, or freezing your fsul tongue either" .--.
 He went out as he spoke, and Abram, boiling with rage, caught up "Colt's'' and made as he would follow. Old Keith held him back. .r.. 7 I :s-ot <
 "Let the darned fool go, and be cussed to him." he said. "Look at the snow, boy; he'll never spot home to- ;,1, ,t NFo1xyo l>o1k
 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 bearskin robe, clung painting to his side. .-, E.. 2
 "Hugh, dear Hugh, do come back Why, for pity's sake, do you flare at Abram so ? He only wanted to stay you. Come back, do p
 ra" I beg your pardon, Malva. Your brother always irritates 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, press ing her into the shelter of the deep porch, and wrapping the muff1ers still closer round her. She got one arm free, however, and flung it round his neck. ........ .. .-s-.
 "Hugh, don't you now-don't Look at the snow, it's falling fast again; an dusk's drawing in. Don't go tonight, Hugh-for my sake, don't! Listen"- - trying to rub her soft cheek against his caressingly-"I love you-I love you better nor any one; an I'll 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-do!'
 She was sobbing and crying now, with her wet, flushed face hidden on his breast, and her warm, shapely arms clasped and quivering about his neck. The proprieties of courtship are not a matter of education in the Northwest ern Stat es. Hugh lifted her face and kissed it. ......
 T do. forgive you," he said. "I would make you my wife tonight if I could, and I believe you would come"
 "That l would, old man, right away" :" "Do your duty, then, child; and obey meAke one. Mine is to got those child ren 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 good.by! I've delayed over long already" a'' '-'.l
 He opened the door for her, and strode away into the driving snow, without waiting for an answer. She walked heavily into the house, put up the bolts, and dropping down into a seat, hid her face in her apron, weeping bitterly. -l ,-- .-.@ ,. !, - .,I
 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 steadily, and two of the children s fathers from the village found their way to the school-house on the hill. The drifts had blocked up the front doors and windows, but the back was still clear and at the sound of their voices, half dozen little faces, white, gaunt, and haggard- looking, appeared in the open doorway, clamoring for food. oa,D. .a- #-. - 4.
 ".Tkank the Lord, mine are safe p Jim Halkett said, gripping his sons hand, while the other arm held the sob. ping girl. Why, where's school. master, my kids and what's gone wi Nathans little Tommy ?"
 Teacher went away to get some thin t eat yesterday mornin' ,and never come back" Seth said an Tommy he tux bad an died last night. Guess he were so hungry he couldn't wait. We're most dead wi hunger, father
 Jim had brought 8 bagful of bread stuff, on the chance of such need. He hastened now to divide it among the sick and famished children, while Tommy's father went into the back room, where the little white body lay, cold and quiet-rnot hungry now. Old Classy stood beside him. :-....,....
 |" He did nothing but cry," she said, after de massa went, till he took sick and den he quiet bery soon. He'd been lyin' still, mout be couple O hours, when all of Q sudden he skeered right up, his little face all smilin', an cries out, Teachers comin'! I see him walkin' up de hill, aside of man all white an shinin'. Oh, let me go He's holdin' out his hands to me. Let me go Dem was his bery last words massa. He went off slick that mint, and. eff you ask my 'pinion, Masss Garston went fust. He'd never ha stayed away from these 'ere blessed children if the snow hadn't caught him." 4, .-...., .e....- .... ..-... .......- *st. She said truly. Two days later, a mar and woman. starting from Keith homestead for the school, found, his body half covered with snow, and lying within dozen yards of the stick, where the dog, stark and stiff too, crouchec guardian-like upon the heap of now useless provisions. He must have lost his way in the binding drift, and wan dered round and round in circles, til he dropped from sheer exhaustion fol there were marks of his footsteps stil visible, crossing and recrossing eacf other in every direction. a But the face was quite peaceful and on the. sterr lips there still lay a smile, frozen there by the ice hand of Death, before he rose