The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-04-16

were little boy and girl, each mounted
on a chair, the better to get a last look at
the father who was so dear to them.
This was the goodbye that warmed the
mans blood, made his lips quiver with q
smile, and sent him on his way rejoicing.
The sun shone brightly, making the
frost-covered prairie glisten the sky was
deep and blue.
Between its terminals, the road had two
distinctive features, about five miles apart.
One was tall tree, known as the Lone
tree, the other was called BaCon's Run, a
ravine bordered by thin growth of s.unted
timber. On the line of the road, or in
proximity to it, there was no habitation or
shelter for man or beast. The prairie was
high and rolling.
The first part of the journey was made
in the usual way. At half past two O. clock
in the afternoon, Dalton started on his
return. He was not twenty yards away
when he was overtaken by the postmaster,
who charged him to be diligent in the
delivery of highly important letter, a
caution which made potent the fact that
the cautioner was "pew hand.''
Had Dalton ever failed?
At this time change had taken place
in the weather. A thick haze overspread
the sun, paling it to the hue of silver the
wind had shifted to the northeast. These
signs had not escaped Dalton's notice. The
| mountaineer, like the sailor, soon learns
that life itself often depends on the quick
recognition of the friendly warnings which
nature gives to the wayfarer. He scanned
the narrowing horizon, and urged his horse
to brisk trot. He reached Bacon's Run,
passed it, and mounted to the level of the
prairie. From this point, on clear day,
The top of the Lone tree could be outlined;
but now the clouds had become SO heavy
and lowering, and the haze had so thick
ened, that objects near at hand were ill.,
distinct. Melancholy, fitful gusts came
pressing the traveller from all quarters, as if
telling him to hasten. AS he looked at
the clouds his countenance wore an air of
apprehension. He was not kept long in
state of expectancy.
A mote, pure and white, came flutte,ipc
down, buffeted by tho wind, now here,
foW tuCIc, uuCclC "HcEo 10 90. LII
finally sought refuge on Dalton's furred
coat. Others soon followed with hesitation,
now stopping and ascending, as though to
raturn to the home whence they come, but
finally descending, and seeking rest in
obscure hiding places. These insignificant
specks became larger, more numerous,
bolder, took possession, and covered all
I, ,ivn xvit NJ
The situation was plain, snow storm
on the prairie was at hand.
Brave men are keenly sensitive to the
approach Of a danger with which they reso-
lutely meet.
Dalton thought of the comfortable little
| cottage by the road side, and the dear ones
it contained. One night in the mountains
he had battled against the snow, and ont
of ten companions he was the only survivor
of that terrible experience.
The snow now ragged with increasing
power. The snow fakes were blown about
in binding myriads. All traces of the
road, at best never very clearly defined,
were covered. The biting wintry blast
went moaning by; night came prematurely
| for the sport of the elements.
Dalton, unable to see an inch ahead, or
to form the remotest idea which direction
to take, let the reins fall on the horses
neck, leaving him unrestrained to take
| his way-a cutting commentary on man s
boasted reason pitted against an animals
| instinct. But to guide Alright in such a
] MI
The noble steed moved confidently on,
plunging into the blackness and darkness
the lonely, desolate unknown. Suddenly
he stopped, with an abruptness which
nearly threw the rider, who, reaching,
touched what seemed to lie the trunk of a
tree. Extending his hand higher, he
grasped what was certainly the limb Of a
tree, and then all doubt disappeared.
He was at the Lone tree, only five miles
, from home and safety.
| Here, indeed, was hope, but not unalloy-
ed.
Two elements entered to vitiate. One,
the horse seemed failing the other, the
tree was one hundred yards from the high
way, variation which showed that the
faithful animal had &c far erred, and
hinted, Why not further variation in pro-
portion as he lost strength and confidence,
The only solution was to move on. 1t
might be at the bidding of chance still,
motion was absolutely essential to prevent
the blood from congealing to the very
heart. The rider found it necessary to
make the horse feel the rein, to endeavor
to impart confidence to him, and to urge
him forward. The poor beast was readily
obedient, and showed that, his own re-
sources being exhausted, he relied on his
master. The sympathy existing between
them, the fellowship of peril, almosr re-
moved the barrier between the human and
brute creation.
long time elapsed-it seemed to Dalton
| many hours-but his onlv measure IF time