Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-10-08

ioohi, WHICH sue Iitu Huisileu weaving that
afternoon. Mrs. Ferriston was sound
asleep, and the farm boys had gone to the
watch meeting \: :and as Jane racked up the
Goals on the hearth, she wondered if Cyrus
was holding watch with Agnes. who had
boasted that she would bring him down
from heaven if she wanted him, and if he
would come home to kiss his mother in the
early morning. Then she went to the
door to look out at the night, which was
not more lonely than she, TO bid adieu to
the old year and was it the shrek of the
wind or a human voice that smoto her
ears "a voice that sounded strangely like
his. Oh, if 1t should be! if he were need
Ing her. AT least somebody on that lone
ly waste was in trouble, perhaps dying. II
she went TO her safe warm bed and waited
for daylight, she nigh never be able to
get that cry out of her ears SO she raked
open the Goals and piled on the logs; she
set lighted candle in the window; she
put flask of brandy in her pocket and a
bunch of matches, took her lantern and
pushed out into the storm, with answeri ng
cries that help was hear. The wind slapp-
ed her lace and shrieked about her ears
till She half misdoubted herself; but des-
tiny led her to where Cyrus lay, not
quarter OF a mile from home. She was
down on her knees beside him in the drift
instantly, rubbing him with the snow that
sitted about him, chatting his hands in her
soft palms, struggling with the imprison-
ing bough, letting the brandy trickle down
his throat, warming him into lite with her
cheek against his, and calling to him with
all the endearing names that love invents.
for in that awful moment She had forgot
ten that he belonged to any one but her
self. Perhaps, in the gradual reawaken-
ing, he may have caught in the meaning
OF TINS, but he gave no sign otit By her
frantic efforts Jane succeeded in removing
the limb that had fallen upon him, and
having pushed and dragged il to a safe
distance, she made a bonfire OF II, which
Illuminated the ghastly night iantastical-
ly, and Kept the wolves at bay that were
howliug in the wood. near by II was on
ly then that She discovered that his leg
was broken, There was but one thing To
Do, however; she provided him with
counterpanc Of spruceboughs, as warm as
wool, gathered fagots in the edge of the
woods, and extended her blaze in circle
about the disabled man, like an Indian
u arch fTLap H.. I, 4
rs his mother was 70 iniirm to give aS>iS-
tance, She yohed the steers into the draw.
tor old 'Dapplcs' slender legs could not
founder through the drifts. aud urged
them slowly across the uutroddrm snow,
guided ny the lantern, TO the nearest neigh
Dor, five miles away, who willingly len
hi, warn pillow. aud, with his son OF
fifteen, ploddcd back on the drag TO
where the watch-hres smouldcrei. and G.
rus waited. Il was not long after this be-
fore Cyrus was safe in bed with his moth
er and Jane administering to him, and
the steers on the way for the doctor. But
It was many long week before he left his
bed; indeed. the drifls had dissolved like
magic, and Spring had woven her SPELL,
in blade and bud. and the grass was long
and ready for moving, before he took hiS
first step into the open air. and then he
leaned on James arm:an walked with a
crutch. The folks in The Number said he
would always need to use q crutch, unless
he preferred cork leg, When the doctors
from Whpptti.iJ md h.v1ul hal J..;J,t
upon amputation, Cyrus had sent for
Agnes. Perhaps he had meant 10 give
her, her freedom with a lingering hope
That she would reject it perhaps he craved
the solace OF her presence before his
journey toward the Valley Of Shadow :.
Nobody ever knew it ;, it was only known
that She refused to 20 to him. The peo O..
pie in The Numbers blamed or excuse
sessions. She didn't promise herself to a
cripple 1t, better to live minated, than
lll-matched.' shed like to 20 through,
the woods and pick crooked stick at
scared at MISFORTUNE were some of the
cnrrent remarks passing from mouth to
mouth.
And so the year wore through, and Cy-
rus could no longer 90 up to the Aroos-
took, numbering, nor swing his scythe in
the meadow. He had to hire hand
about the farm. And while he sat at home
with idle, impatient hands, inspiration came
to him as he watched Jane laboring at her
wheel, and he invented spinning ma
chine. About this time old Mrs. Ferriston
slipped away out of life; and one day Mrs
Deacon Crockett rode over to engage
Jane for her winters weaving.
You won't be needing housekeeper
no longer | s'pose Cyrus, said she; and
folks allus talks 50; SO, thinks [, Jane had
better come home with ME for the weavin.
Jane he said-for Mrs. Deacon Crock
EFT used an ear trumpet and was no kind
of hindrance TO love-making-'Jan YOU
promised to stay with me till Agnes came
will you keep your promise.'
Yes, Cyrus, | will if you inss. upon it.,
she answered.
Jane and t. he said. speaking into Mrs.
Crockett's trumpet, ARE going down to
Wheatfield this afternoon to be married.
Mrs. Crockett stopped at the Price farm
on her way home, for fear her newswould
spoil if kept over night.
Cyrus Ferriston's going to be married.
said she, 'and no thanks to you. Agnes
Price. Jane Hutton's a lucky gell.,
Do tell" cried Agnes. Never swan
goose so gray, but what could find its
mate | always thought she had hank
erin after him. S'pose l shan't be asked
to stand up with EN-! What iigger
they'll cut when they pear out togeth-
er! l could never borne to go limpin'
along with man like that all my days
it don't look genteel.'
'Bnt they do say continued her COM
forter. how he's made power of money
out of that machine of his'n-It's Jest like
Spinpip' 00i1 And taIt;n, about