Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-02-04

Hugh, don't you now-dont. Look
at the snow, it's falling fast again; an
: dusks drawing in. Don't 20 tonight.
llugh--for my sake, don't" Listen-try.
ing to rub her soft cheek against bis ca
ressingly--" love you--l love you better
nor any one an III never speak another
word to that drunken brute you saved, nor
no one if you bid me--never, Hugh Do
forgive me, old man Say you believe me,
and stay to-nigbt--do !"
She was sobbipg and crying now. with
her wet, flushed face hidden on bis breast,
aud her warm, shapely arms clasped and
quivering about his neck The proprieties
courtship are not a matter Of education in
the Northwestern States Hugh lifted her
face and kissed IL.
do forgive you" he said. would
make you my wife tonight IL could, and
believe you would come"
That | would, old man, right away"
Do your duty, then, child; and obey
me like one Mine is to 90 to those chill
dren this very minute, and | must do it.
There" unclasping her hands and kissing
both them and the trembling lips with long,
grave kisses" God bless you, love, and
good-by. I've delayed over long already
He opened the door for her, aud strobe
away into the driving snow, without wait
ing for an answer. She walked heavily
into the house, Put up the bolts, and, drop
ping down into seat, hid her face 10 her
apron, weeping bitterly.
nd tho aporv want m c.11
1t never ceased all that night and the
following morning but toward evening the
sky cleared, the barometer rose steadily,
and two Of the childreu's fathers from the
village found their way to The school-house
on the hill The drifts had blocked up the
front door and windows, but the back was
still clear; and at the sound Of their voices,
half dozen little faces, white, gaunt and
haggard-lookinc, appeared in the open
doorway, clamoring for food.
Thank the Lord, mine are safe !" Jim
Halkett said, gripping his sons hand, while
his other arm held the sobbiug girl. "Why,
where's schoolmaster my kids; an what's
gone wi Nathan's little Tommy2
Teacher went away to get somethin' Z
eat yesterday mornin', an never come
back, Seth said "an' Tommy be TUX bad
an died last night Guess he were so hun.
cry be couldn't wait. We're most dead
wi hunger, father"
Jim bad brought bagfull Of breadstuff
on the chance Of such need. lie hastened
now to divide it among the sick and fam.
ished children, while Tommy's father went
into the back room, where the little white
body lay, cold and quiet-not hungry now.
Old Classy stood beside him.
lie did nothing but cry" she said, "af-
den he quiet berry soon, He'd been lyin'
still, mout be couple o. hours, when all of
a sudden he skeered right up, his little face
all smilin, an cries out, Teachers comin'
| see him walkin up de hill, aside of
man all white an shinin'. Oh, let me go
He's holdn' out his hands to me. Let me
go' Dem was his berry last words, massa
He went off slick that mint an ef you ask
my pinion, Massa Garston went fust. He'd
never ha stayed away from these ere blessed
children eff the snow hadn't caught him."
She said truly. Two days later man
and woman, starting from Keith's home
stead for the school, found his body half
covered with snow, and lying within dozen
yards Of the stick, where the dog, stark and
stiff, too, crouched guardian.like upon the
heap Of now useless provisions. He must
have lost his way in the binding drift, and
wandered round and round in circles, till
he dropped from sheer exhaustion for
there were marks Of his footsteps still vis-
bic, crossing and recrossing each other in
every direction. But the face was quite
peaceful aud on the stern lips there still
lay smile, frozen there by the icy hand Of
death, before he rose up to meet the Man
whose dazzling whiteness is beyond that of
all snows--yea, even of the sun and stars.
And even in dying he had tried to carry
out that task which, unfu6lled, had
troubled his last moments; for one rigid
hand still grasped an end of pencil, while
beside him lay the pocketbook, in which the
poor frozen fingers had scrawled;
Food--to the chldren--quick !"
That strong right hand must have grown
strangely dead; for the letters were all but
ilegible.
But what will you2 He had done his
best. Which of you will do more?