The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-26
lily lam. I can say that I wanted to nnd


night to such n night that will not be
forgotten in that country by living man
or woman
In her stanch .overshocs, short cloth
skirt and shaggy walking jacket, n COS
tune in which she had trninpcd many
time with her husband on expeditions TO
the distant post office, where II black
smiths shop and grocery store had put
their heads together and declared them
selves city, Mrs. Hardy prepared to start.
But she first OF all unlocked n small store
chest and excavatcd from its depth sealed
hottie, with Catawba Grape written in
hOmely Chiography on its deiciously dingy
My dear old father" she exclaimed
| by no means addressing herself TO the bot
tie: but, with dim eyes, thinking OF the
| kind hands that were young hands when
they made this wine; which, from its age
| and strength, was, us n cordial, equal TO
brandy. The hands were old hands now;
capable of little but writing her shaky let
| tiers from the dear old homestead. who
| knows but Roland may be past its mid
| that some dreadful nccident-but / won't
think Of 1t. And who knows but ! may
meet him trudging homewnrd; and he Will
ask me what on earth have brought ont
the wine fOrY But he shan't see IL Will
not show II: and tomorrow | shall lnugh
ut myself for these foolish fears
Talking thus incohcrently. but doubt
| less thinking connectcdly enough, she
poured out a flaskful OF the wine, secured
II in her pocket, threw her husband
scarf over her arm, and told David she
was ready. At which word the dog gave
another apprecintive bounce, and fairly
flew past her as she opened the door.
But, once in the path leading to the
forest, David seemed to have had his brief
flicker OF intelligence taken out OF him.
Instead of trotting on and leading his mis-
trc.s IN the right way, following the re-
corded example OF all sensible dogs, he
held hack shrinkingly, evidently declining
! TO take AN active part IN the search, or 10
...af NJ arl lao A -,
say. 81 have done my part: you go on
and do yours"
- You are an awful IDIOT David; or else
I am" snapped Jenny. But David only
meakly curled his tail and tlotted behind
her.
The forest. or the wood lot. -" rs Roland
called II, catching the word from other
settlers. was good mile away. Mr..
| Ilnrdy's acres covered an amount of
ground that would have turned his late
New England neghhofs dizzy with ITS
vnstne-s. Ii would soon yield him mn am-
pie return; ut present, DUNG these pre-
liminary struggles, II was not much more
than living. But in the event of IA GER
tam phantom railroad becoming u real
railroad, he would make n speedy foI tune,
Tue path was rough. Roland's boots
alone had formed IL. tramping backward
aud forward to his ee-feliing. Generally
he paced IL four times n day. going home
Tor the midday dinner. The drifting
snow hid tregchtious holes that well nigh
!
blel on. The wind, growing every mo-
ment more violent, pushed her Oh with Il
giant hand; sharp neells-poinis Of snow
smotc hrr neck. at Will be rather SHARP
going home, she SAID snlVcilng and pull
ing her scarf closer.
In October she had come TO the woods
for autumn leaves, and the spot was, IN 4
degree, familiar TO her. But the patti
seemed % dispcrSe and lose itself aftel
entering the thicker parts; and she had I,
direct her Inv flt4 nllps of wood flu
had been cut in places where the tree
could be most conveniently felled. III they
had not said those dreadful words TO eacl
other, If they were only as they had beer
yesterday when Roland loved her sh,
might not have felt so desperately ANXIOUS
How was She to find him! she called ngali
and again, but the wind OverpOwered hel
voice.
There was no sound OF tho axe As sh,
paused. listening intently, she could hca
nothing but the drcary whistle OF the bias
/ | through the naked trees. and the sharp
sitting sound OF the snow "a II smoto thel
2 ! trunks.
, David where is Roland where is YOU
masteri Go aud md INN this minutel'-
impatitntly meuncing the covering dog IL
her terror. Find your master there's
good dog" she added, IN n coaXlng tone o
entreaty, patiing the poor animal, VIII,
stood before her with dropping head
GOOD David good old dog
David went on then. In The lowest m
5 lures Is sometimes enshrned the pearl o
/, | delicate feeling. This dog hud bad new
to tell. and shrank from telling 1t. II
made no pretsnce TO light-heaIted paC,
lie crept. hated, and seemed ANXIOUS l.
| defer something.
Leading the way over "a freshly-felle,
= log. then another. ana turning n thicke
OF young oaks, that cnuSht AT Jenny
, | SKIRTS a. il they would fam hold her bac
/ from "A painful sight, he came to "A halt
e There was 10 reason why he should Z
Y ! further.
A tree had evidently fallen In nm nm
/ loOkcd-tOr erection; or, perhaps, RDlau
, Hardy had been "A little reckless. IL ha
' swept him TO the ground, aud was lynn
across his legs; us immovaDle, TO him, as
- mountain On the rough bark, whore h
4 had been able TO reach IL with his knif,
= was cut, Dear Jen-," showing that h
+ hnd not intended TO call her Jane" o
5 this occasion. But the fond work, whic
e perhaps was intended ms u last mementC
4 had ceased. His arms were lying at hi
= sides now, and a fleck of blood stained hi
r blue lips. Jenny thought II was the lif
5 crushed ont of him; but 1t only came O
G his long and vain struggles 10 free himself
= She did not scream. 1t was not her way
II She rushed forward TO fling herself agaius
/, the fallen tree; pushing IT, beating 4
i bruising her shoulders against il, like som
4 mad woman. This was her first impulse
O and it availed nothing. Then she san
down mt her husbands side, wiped the re
drops from his mouth, and covered b
v lace with kisses that might have klsse
II the dead INTO lie. Inc Kisses made tOlan
e family stir, aud he moved his hand II
o stnctIvely toward the knife, which la
2 fallen in the snow. He was wanting I
q finish his message.
i ROLAND Roland" she cried in an al
/. guished voice, Selling his benumbed hnnC
l. in hers, and pressing them to her face an
y TO her warm, throbbng throat. ION.
II he could only speak TO me once more,
k she piteously mOaned "Only once more!
IS Is it-Jenny!" came struggling falntl
l. from his lips.
d Yes, il is Jenny. i am here am her
;, to die with you, my own blessed hear
e On, what can | dOF' raising his head tel
ii derby TO her breast Oh, my HUSBAND
II look AT me-speak TO me- Are you terribl
n hurt"
X But, though he opened his eyes ana lool
=. cd mt her, he could not answer.
q Then she remembered the wine an
le filling the tiny cup Mt the bottom of q
10 flask, she held il 10 his mouth. RolaI
d drank the wine with difficulty; party b
n cause he was only hall conscious NJ
al partly because Jenny, in her wild sole
Al tude, seemed bent upon pitching the who
down his throat without waiting for ii
N little formulity of swallowing. She col
~ tinucd to ram the tenderest expression
v upon him. over his features began stea
ing something that, under the depressl