The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-12-10

within the house, while the door was
eagerly opened to admit the deliverers
And now crevice, soon enlarged TO
cleft, appeared in the SNOWFALL close
in front, and revealed the dark outline
of human form, hewing to right and
left with broad laded hatchet, as il
cutting a path through the ranks of n
resisting enemy. Then tall, strong
man, wet and dripping, and with his
beard and hair full of glistening snow
crystals, came leaping from the aper-
ture and reached the threshold. It was
Alber1c-Alberic Parnell and the next
to struggle through the breach in the
gaunt figure of Hiram Pell, the hunter
while from behind came crowding up;
the rest of the bold and hardy band.
Then followed a scene of indescribable
excitement and confusion, in which
thanks to God and man for the timely
rescue were freely uttered by those who
now saw themselves restored to the
living world. But Metella, who had
seen nothing save Alberic's face in all
that mingled group, was overpowered
by the rush of her emotions, and was
sinking senseless to the floor, when the
young man sprang forward and caught
her, fainting, IN his strong arms.
When she recovered from the swoon,
her parents were with her; and near
the sofa on which they had laid her,
stood the old hunter, Hiram Pell.
There was food on table near, for the
rescuers had not come empty-handed ;
but Miss Stewart had forgotten her
hunger, forgotten all, save that she had
seen Alberto again for one brief moment
of happiness. She drank in thirstily,
however, the words Of the old back
woodsman.
Thank him, colonel-Mr. Parnell,
[ mean-not me, for true as Gospel tits
to him you owe your lives. Talk of
grit 1 thought I knew what bravery
was, but never the like of that young
chaps. He shamed us into sticking to
it, squire, fighting, every inch of the
way, against cold and fatigue, and
working more like young giant than q
mere man. Says Mr.. Alberto, when
there was talk of giving in: Let who
will finch, and leave helpless women
to perish go on alone, and whoever
deserts me at this pinch, never let him
hold up his head among honest men.
Every dollar I'm worth shall be divided
among those that help me- And he,
and 1, and the rest of the Troy neigh
bors, we did make o good job of it,
spite of frost-bite and beating snow !;
but it was no sport, colonel, can tell
you that"
Mrs. Stewart, who had left the room
during this speech, now came gliding
to her daug hter's side.
care you well enough, Metella, dear.
to speak with Caryl for moment ?"
she said, smiling through her tears
He is very urgent to say a word
to you. He says it is for the last
time"
And almost before Metella had leis-
ure to realize the meaning of these
words, Caryl Winthrop, deathly pale,
but with sweet, sad smile upon his
face, such as angels might wear, stood
beside her couch. She started up, and
then, with guilty blush, put her hands
before her eyes.
go, Caryl, do not blame me !" she
said. 4" Indeed, indeed, 1 will be a
"Not to me, dear Miss Stewart" 4"
answered he, softly. 1t is brother,
darling, not as lover, that you have
regarded me all along, and now l re-
lease you fully and freely from plight,
the keeping of which would be misery
to you. L am not selfish enough to
hold you to your promise, dear girl.
Let your hand go, along with your
heart, to your preserver, to Alberto
Parnell." He was very white and hag-
gard as he spoke, but he never once
failed in his address; and before
Metella could frame her reply, Mrs.
Stewart had walked to the door, and
returned, accompanied by Alberto.
"This young gentleman" she said,
half reproachfully, "was just about to
slip away from us and our acknowledge
ments of his courage and his kindness.
He could not trust himself, forsooth,
to meet you again, Metella. Even now
Isee by his puzzled look that he hardly
can guess the solution of the enigma" "
"This will explain all p said Caryl,
as, to Alberic's amazement, he took
the young mans muscular hand and
placed it in that of Metella.
"Be happy, sister, with the husband
of your choice. After the innocent
confession that, when death seemed to
have us in his icy clutch, you made to
me, should commit a sin did 1 come
between you two-between you and the
man who, when on his road to New
York and Europe, turned back at the
bare rumor of this fearful snowstorm,
and risked life and health to save the
girl he loved"
Metella could not speak. Clinging
to Alberto, as n graceful vine to some
towering oak of the forest, she hid her
face upon his shoulder and sobbed
aloud. In the timid, trustful rapture
of that moment she scarcely realized
that every word which Caryl had spoken
had been as a stab to the bosom of the
speaker that his generous self-sacrifice
cost him very dearly, when sudden
outcry of voices sratched both of the
lovers from their dream of new-found
happiness. Poor Caryl Winthrop had
sunk helpless on the floor, and was
being lifted by Colonel Stewart and the
old hunter, who placed him on the
sofa where Miss Stewart had so lately
reclined.
"He has fainted," said kind, moth
erly Mrs. Stewart, as he laid his head
upon the pillow.
"More than that, 1 guess. He's
going home, if ever saw death in a
face p muttered the rough backwoods-
man. Caryl, who had partially re-
gained his senses, had no illusions on
the subject.
"Do not weep for me, darling" he
said, as Metella's tears bedewed his
face, and the girl bent over him in ten