National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1874-05-08

with Agnes who had boosted that sb
would bring him down from heaven i
she wanted him-and il he would b
coming home to kiss his mother in tn
early morning. Then she went % In,
door to look out at the night. vhicl
was not more lonely than she. TO bit
adieu TO the old year and was Il th,
shrek Of the wind or human syoic,
that smote her ears "a voice tha
sounded strangely like his. Oh. il i
should be il he were needing her
At least somebody on that lionel,
waste was in trouble, perhaps diving
II she went to her safe warm bed s and
waited for daylight, she might never bt
able to get that cry out Of her ears 81
she raked open the GOALS and piled or
the logs she set q lighted candle in
the window, and pushed 'out into the
storm, with answering cries that heir
was near. The wind slapped in hel
face and shrieked about her ears till
she half misdoubted herself; but des.
tiny led her to where Cyrus lay, not q
quarter OF mile from home. She was
down on her knees beside him in the
drift instantly, rubbing him with the
snow thai sifted about him, ohafing his
hands in her own soft palms, struggling
with the imprisoning bough, letting
the brandy trickle down his throat,
warming him into life, with her cheek
against his, and calling to him with all
the tenderness in her soul, with all the
endearing names that love invents for
in that awful moment she had forgotten
that he belonged to any one but her.
self. Perhaps, in the gradual re-
awakening, he may have caught the
meaning of this, but he gave no sign of
it. BY her frantic efforts Jane succeed
ed in removing the limb that had fallen
upon him, and having pushed and
dragged it to safe distance, she made
a bonfire of it, which illumined the
CHASTITY night Enthusiastically, and kept
the wolves at bay that were bowling in
the woods near. It was only then she
discovered that his leg was broken (!
There was but one thing to do, how
ever she provided him with coun-
terpane Of spruce boughs, as warm as
wool, gathered dry fagots in the edge OF
the woods, and extended her blaze in a
circle about the disabled man, like an
Indian watch-fre; then she hastened
home, and, as his mother was too infirm
TO give assistance, she yoked the steers
into the drag-for old Dapple's slender
legs could not founder safely through
the drlfts-and urged them slowly
across the untrodden snow, guided by
the lantern, to the nearest neighbor,
five miles away, who willingly left his
warm pillow, and, with his son of fif-
teen, plodded back on the drag to
where the watch. fires smouldered and
Cyrus waited.
1t was not long after this before Cy-
rus was safe in he'd, with his mother
and Jane administering to him, and
neighbor Goodheart and the steers on
The way for the doctor. But it was
many long weeks before he left his bed;
indeed, the drifts dissolved like magic,
and spring had woven her spells in
blade and bud, and the grass was long
and ready for moving, before he took
his first step into the air, and then he
eaned on James arm, and walked with
! crutch. The folks in The Numbers
,aid he would always need to use a
,rutch, unless he preferred a cork leg.
When the doctor from Wheatfeld and
beyond had decided upon amputation,
Cyrus had sent for Agnes. Perhaps he
1ad meant to give her her freedom,
with lingering hope that she would
eject it perhaps he craved the solace
If her presence before his journey to-
ward the Valley of Shadows. Nobody
,ver knew it was only known that she
'efused to 60 to himl The people in
Che Numbers blamed or excused her,
according to their natures and prepos-
SESSIONS. "She didn't promise herself
% cripple" "It's better to live un-
mated than ill-matched," "She's like
o go all the way through the woods
md pick up crooked stick at last"
It's poor kind of love that's scared
It misfortune" were some of the cur
ent remarks passing from mouth to
mouth.
And 80 the year wore through, and
Jyrus could no longer go up the Aroos-
ook numbering, now swing his scythe
n the meadow. He had to hire hand
bout the farm. But while he sat at
lome with idle, impatient hands, in
piration came to him as he watched
rane laboring at her wheel, and he in
ented spinning machine. About this
ime old Mrs. Ferriston slipped away
mt Of life; and one day Mrs. Deacon
)rocket rode over to engage Jane for
ler winters weaving.
"You won't be needin' housekeeper
10 longer, I s'pose, Cyrus" said she
and folks allus talk so SO, thinks I,
ane he'd better come home with me for
he weavin'."
"Jane," he said-for Mrs. Deacon
rocket used an ear-trumpet, and was
o kind of hinderance to love-making-
Jane, you promised to stay with me
i'll Agnes came. Will you keep your
romise?"
"Yes, Cyrus, I will, if you insist up
n it." she answered.
"Jane and T." he said, speaking into
lrs. Crocket's trumpet, "are going
own to Wheatfeld this afternoon to
Q married."
Mrs, Crocket took the Price farm on
er way home, for fear her news would
poll if kept over night.
"Cyrus Ferriston's goin' TO be mar
led, said she, "and no thanks to you,
gnes Price. Jane Hutton's q lucky
ell"
"Do telll" cried Agnes. "Never
wam O goose so gray but what could
nd its mate I always thought she
ad hankerin' after him. S'pose
la'n't be asked to stand up with 'em!
That fgger they'll cut when they
,ear out together! I could never have
orne to go limpin' along with man
ke that all my days-it didn't look
enteel."
"But they do say" continued her
,mforter, show he's made a power of