New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-08
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY FEBRUARY s. 1874

him with a tumblerful of raw brandy
which she tried to pour down his throa
in her anxiety to learn the fate Of th
children.
The spirit did him good, however, an
seeing that the sky looked very threaten
ing, he would not linger long in th
grateful warmth, but loaded small han
sled with brandy, biscuits and beet, an
set off again, refusing to allow Ball,
sickly, rheumatic man, to accompany hin
This husband and wife, who had neve
said prayer in their lives and only kne,
the name of their Maker by way of
lively curse or two, Lraved the cold at tn
open door to cry "God keep you, man,
as Hugh started on his errand Of aid to til
children on the hill.
Only a light sprinkling of snow ha
fallen since his departure, so that he va
able to retrace the journey by his owl
track, and was toiling heavily up steep
ish hill, when, of sudden, his car wa
caught by the dismal bowling of dog ia
away. He paid no heed, thinking it cam
| from the settlement; and presently i
| ceased. then changed 10 bark. CROWN,
nearer and nearer; till finally, 1arg
black dog came in sight round a point o
rock. and bounding upon him began .
| series Of fawning and whining, runnin!
away few steps, and returning to lool
up in his face with all a dogs frenzy o
impotent eloquence. Men soon grow t.
understand these signs in the far West
Hugh knew, as well as if he had beer
told, that somewhere within hail tina
dogs master was lying in strait so grea
as to need help; and help accordingly he
set ont to give. The dog led the way, and
he followed; now stumbling, now falling
outright; sometimes letting the handle OF
the sled slip from his half-frozen fingers,
and often determining TO give up the at
tempt and get home while he could: but
always urged on, as much by that infex-
Utility which made part of the mans
character as by dislike of leaving fellow
creature to perish within reach. SO on
and on, for half mile or so: and then the
dog stopped beside high. motionless
mound Of snow, and Hugh, bending for.
ward, found himself staring into the
white rigid face Of his old enemy. Miles
Pearson.
Independent Of rivalry. this man had
always been peculiarly obnoxious to
Hugh. He was big, burly fellow, foul
in his tongue and loose in his living, with
rooted hatred to '.Britishers" which he
took every occasion of testifying by the
coarsest otfense which could be conveyed
into words and manner-and an amount
Of brutal good looks and flash attire,
which found him favor with the White
Waters women, and were more offensive
TO Garston than any insults That such
a man should dare to admire Malva Keith,
and not be repulsed with loathing, had
certainly lowered that young lady in her
lovers eyes; and of late the two men had
hardly even met without exhibiting
manifest animosity. which White Waters,
looking on with cheerful anticipation, pre-
dicted would soon lend in shooting
Pearson was dead bullet within 100
yards, and killed his man before. White
Waters considered it safe to lay ten OR two
against the schoolmaster, and waited
rather impatiently for an opportunity to
realize"
Now, Pearson lay half frozen. insensi.
Die log upon the Minnesota SHOWS, and
Hugh Garston stood above him.
Only for moment; then he kneit down
md felt the mans wrist. 1t gave back no
beat. He laid his hand on his
1eart; that still licked on, but very feebly.
Death was running race with Miles Pear.
on, and no time could be lost if he were
o be beaten. Hugh lost none. Without
! moments hesitation he set to work to
Gree some drops of brandy down the |
mans throat; then jerked the bags of |
God out OF the sled, and half dragged, |
lalf lifted the helpless body on to it in. |
tead. The children were very hungry. |
Tut they could wait. Miles was past wait
ng. But not to lose the food. he drove /
he long stick with which he had been |
talking into the frozen snow, and fast.
ned the dog to him. He had got out of
ne way, he knew, and was far from home:
ut that would mark the spot. And now
e looked round, half despairingly, for
ome nearer shelter. and straightway
tered shout OF JOY. A spiral column
smoke was rising into the air, beside
uge grey bluff, about half a mile off; and
ugh's heart beat thankfully as he recog.
lzed the chimneys of Keiths homestead.
AS he started to reach it the snow be-
IN to fall.
Ii the great log kitchen az the Keiths'
e family were all gathered round huge
e that afternoon, talking of the snow, of
4, time it had lasted and the casualties it
ID occasioned, and wondering when fine ,
Gather would set in again Abram
eth had heard of Minnesota bride and {
idegroom who were showed up in the ,
Ugh, en- route to their married home. ,
d only rescued after two days-livine, .
It crippled for life; and his father told :
a neighbor found dead and frozen stiff
thin few yards OF his house, that very D.,
'rning. There was no end of such sto- >
$. Only Malva held her tongue, and y
'ked pale and weary. Possibly she had {
gun to miss Hugh Garston. c
A heavy bang at the door startled them
and Abram, going to open it, gave q
1t to such volley of oaths and eiacu- 9
ions of wonder as brought all the fam. q
to his side. and turned the sole to a =
orus. No wonder. for what had entered | 6,
the body Of q man, feet foremost. | !;
on sled: and propelled by another | 81
n. who is utterly exhausted, dropped h
burden at the door, and staggered to a =,
Ich, without nttering one word in reply 81
lie questions which assailed him. No h
q was paid to him, however, for all q,
had turned upon the apparent corpse; r
there was another shout from Abram. II
Jeehosophat and all his tarnation n
nduncles, eft faint Miles Pearsonr' -
he whole house was in a commotion w
nee. Brandy and hot blankets were s1
ed for, Miles was put into Abram's 4,
; and every one was SO busy in attend vi
to his restoration. that Hugh had m
nbled to the fire, helped himself to an
k of hot coffee, and turned to the no
again, before any one noticed him. p ee
n Mrs. Keith cried out
Garston. don't open that. man. or
ii let more Of the cold in e.,
will shut it behind me-" he said la III,
cally. 49,