Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-09-30
The snow-Shriek.


llark w There is the snow-,hriek again
loud. Wild. aud mouniuL Listen and
IT sou are wise make use OF the warning
Such was the admonitoiy remark Of Hiram
pell au aged hunter in the northwestern
prarcs. Ia addressing three young persons
whom he accidentally encountered ON the
border of q small creek One of the three
was a Young lady. Metella Stewart, about
eighteen, daughter of Colonel stewart pro-
prietor ui "a Weli~iocked farm in the district;
the others were two gentmnen little more
than her own age.
We are far from disregarling what you
tell ass llian.' said the slighter of the two
Young men; "but we should Ike to know its
precise meaning. BE pleased TO explain
what :, the -nowshriek.'
The now-shriek," replied the hunter Of
the wilderness, is a sign Of an approaching
uid terrible storm of frost and SNOW. 1t is
NOT often heard and few know its meaning
] ann now am Old man, and have heard il but
thrice. but never Is the token a false one"
The sound. then. portends extremely Sc
verc weather 70 asked Metella, impressed,
despite herself, with ihe rugged soemnity
of the hunters manner.
Worse than that Miss; deal worse.
W Iou the snow-,hriek rings across the
plains. folks that havo love for life don't
care to camp out, The Indians strike their
lodge. at the sound and make the best of
theirvay TO shelter among the bluffs or in
a wooded track As for the settlers, they
take wagons. and hurry OFF 10 the nearest
town, leaving everything TO its fate. If ]
were the Colonel. now, that's what I'd do,
and eo oh for q week or two TO Granville,
or Sparta. or even to Troy
Running away from the snow !" eX-
claimed Metela, with O merry laugh which
she could not repres', and-in which her two
companions joined.
Wait, young lady, tin you ,ce What snow
means. Reckon youu hardly see much then
to laugh at." returned the hunter, much Of
Tended. Pm going TO make tracks, for one,
and old Hiram pell has not the name Of be-
ing chicken-hearted along the frontier line.
Perhaps you'll wish, later on, you had set
more store by the warning of a man who
had fought many a tough fight with bears
and sayages before ever % spade was stuck
in the turf OF the Territory. Good morning
to you. miss; think better Of it, and ask the
Colonel 10 leave home for bit" So say
ing, he lifted hi, rife and strobe of along
the bank OF the creek, in the direction of the
town.
what queer old fellow this isl" said
the taller of the two gentlemen, whose name
was parnpll He seems an auachronism
here "a, this time of the day, picking up, as
he does. a precarious living by trapping and
hunting. and occasionally acting as guide
aud Interpreter to some Indian agent bound
for the Plains. But the Colonel has done
him more than one kindness, and ! have no
doubt that his harmgue was well intended,
although | suspect his account Of the snow
L. .l.ut II
might be as well. however, to mention it at
home, ina case this wind should really be a
siu of bad weather.
Colouel Stewart paid very little attention
to the reported words of the old bacliwoods-
man, or to the low. shrill shrek Of the wind
\ cold snap, ii it comes, will not annihi-
late us, lac said cheerfully; land we rather
enjoyed the heavy snowfall of last winter,
with the pleasant sleighing parties while the
frost held. 4 pretty settler | should have
made il had needed every croaker who
predicted that locusts drought, and Indian
raiders would harry me out of house and
home. II dared TO pitch my tent so far to
the west Hiram Pell is worthy old fellow
in his way. but he is vain Of his infallibility
in woodcraft, and as sad Jonah as ever
encountered.
On the day succeeding that ON which the
hunter, words of caution had been uttered,
Mr. ppnell whose residence was about a
mile on the other side Of Troy, was to take
his departure on journey, the duration of
which seemed vague, since he had merely in
dicated that his absence would probably be
long one, and that it might even be neces-
sary that he should visit Europe. lie had
been invited to pass this, the last evening at
the house OF the Stewarts, with whom he
..t 10 81.
circumstances which promised 10 add pain
to the pleasure Of these last moments with
Metelh.
The berothal OF Miss Stewart to Caryl
v mtmop was matter of notorety in the
vicinity, In the spring of that year the
Young man had arrived in that neighbor-
hood, one of those inyalids whom the fashion
able physician of the Atlantic States has
dispatched 10 find vigor and health in tin,
pure and naciug air Of that lofty table-land,
a grassy ocean, lately traveTsed by only the
buffalo aud the red man, that lies between
the great lakes and the Rocky mountains
lIe had derived much benefit from even a
brief residence in the Territory, and his all
ment a heart complaint. had long since lost
all IT, alarming symptoms, while he himself
seemed daily n gain strength. Nothing now
except the pallor of his face, could denote
that Caryl had been accounted, before he
/, left New York, as one of the hopeesslN
doomed Of those victims on whom reluctant
science passes the sentence of an early tomb
lie was well now, though not robust, and
, bright hopes OF which he had no idea of on
his arrival at Troy, spread themselves be
fore him. and caused him to view his future
career through that rOseate haze which none
but the grand magician, love, can coninrC
@ Il
, Cary Winthrop's name had recommended
him to the warm friendshipof the Stewart s
, 1t had, years ago, been the fate Of the elder
Mr. Winthrop, a citizen of wealth aud emf
nence in his native State, which was alsC
that of Metella's parents, to render a consid
erable service 10 the Colonel and this ole
act of kindness was gratefully remembered
when first the Young invalid showed hi
pale face and bright, but dreamy, eyes OF
the threshold of that dwelling where he wa
soon 10 find himself as IN second home.
II is an old, old story which teaches u
that pity is akin 10 love, and that the ON,
sentiment often gides by gentle and almos
/ imperceptible gradations into the other
, Metella had felt much sympathy with tn
city bred youth, whom suffering had bu
rendered more gentle and refined, not fret
full or quelulous, as it does some OF coarse
/ nature; and her father and mother wishe'
for nothing better, as CaIyl's health i'm
) proved, than that the friendship of the twi
} young people should ripen into deep an'
= lasting attachment. Caryl was high prin
| cipled, well educated, accomplished, amiabl
J and would one day be rich. What NOR
{ could the watchful parents desire in a sol
m-law? Wherefore, IL came about tba
when Cary told his love and was accepted
r and Mcsella began 30 receive the congratu
] lations Of all her friends, the girl hardl
! knew whether she loved Mr.. Winthrop 9th
i orwise than a sister loves . brother, o
i whether, indeed, there was in existence an,
G passion more ardent than the calm affection
9 which she entertained toward her futur
r husband One thing was certain, that viii
= the full consent Of both families she wa
d soon to become Mrs. Winthrop, and tina
y CaIyl was u most excellent young man, an,
Y sincerely devoted TO her. She had very littl
I doubt but that life of quiet happiness la
) before her. Very little doubt that is to sa
a until She met with Alberto Parnell, and re
allied, for the first time, how very differen