Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-07-01

Tales and Sketehes.
From the Argosy.
eOne Day i'm a Settlers Life.
TCONTINTFD FROM yFsTERpAy

| David got on his launches, and wagged
his tail.
Roland pressed his lips to the snow-wet
hem of Jenny's skirt The mute, eloquent
act made her heart overflow, but she
caught her skirt away hurredly.
IL cannot allow you one minutes delay
Roland. 1t will be horrible night. Do
you think you can stand?"
With her help he got upon his feet, bu,
not until he had made more than one at,
tempt. The legs were not broken then;
and this took dreadful fear from Jenny S
heart. But the returning circulation gave
him intense pain Leaning on his wife,
protfered arm, he at length began to move
homeward. The stormy twilight was al
ready filling the forest. Managing to limp
and stumble along, the outskirts of the
ness had set in.
But until now they had not realized the
| terrible might of the storm. 1t grew worse
| with every minute. David alone was able
to distinguish the path that led homeward.
Around them appeared nothing but the
whirling snow. The forest was shut out,
as by the sudden fall of gigantic curtain
before them could be discovered nothing
but the wavering form of David, as he
wrested with the difficulties of the path.
1--WE must walk for dear life," gasped
Roland.
He felt now all the hazard and terror of
| their position. 1t was almost impossible
to breathe in the face of this fierce gale
If they lost the path, or the strength OF
either gave out, the result would be death.
They stumbled on, their arms entwined,
making no attempt TO speak alter this.
Once Jennie caught at David, patted his
| shoulder, and murmured that he was a
good fellow, a brave dog but she and her
husband had enough to do for themselves
| 1t seemed to both that they must be
nearly at home. Probably nearly half the
| distance had been got over. when a calam-
ity occurred. David disappeared lie
| was missing. Had the trrsty pilot de-
serted them? Yes for not trace of him
could be heard or seen. Roland shouted
his name bnt the wind dashed his voice
back again so that he scarcely heard it
himself, and he had no hope of recalling
the fugitive.
They were off the path now-the softer
snow told them this and they were both
very cold and alarmingly exhausted Ro-
| land thought that this was the end; that
| all hope was over He cIasped his wife
closely i'll his arms, and bowed his head
on her shoulder. If he had not been half
dead at the outset, with suffering and ex-
haustion, he would have borne up more
bravely. AS it was, he felt that his senses
were taking leave of him; and he knew
that if he failed, and he thought he had
failed, he was laying down not only his
own life, but dearer life than his.
go on-leave me. Try to reach"
he began Esaying in her ear. But Jenny
would not listen to him. His despairing
words filled her with frenzied strength.
"People talk that way when they are
freezing" she thought. "He shall not die.
Pray. Heaven, help me Bear up, Roland,
just little while longer We must be
pretty near the house. still know enough
| to keep my face to the wind :"
81 cannot 60 on further. Jenny. | must
lie down and sleep.'
"Neverr' answered poor Jenny. 1--WE
| will not give up. 1t is only frozen people
| who want to sleep. Oh, Father of all
merces, help US! If we may only reach
our sweet, sweet home once mOrei If |
| may only have strength to save my dear
heart to make him know how T love him
Thoughts like these fitted through her
brain as she staggered on, almost falling
at every step. Oh, the cruelty heightened
distance! Would they never touch any
thing else but snow-blinding, singing,
bewilGering snow? Had it swept away
houses, fences, trees, everything, and left
them nothing but this endless plain. where
sooner or later they must sink down to
their fatal rest
Roland staggered and fell heavily for
ward, casting her arm away from him. 1t
was gesture of farewell For an instant
it seemed TO Jenny that it would be very
sweet to fling herself down beside him
and fall asleep. An aching WEAKNESS
filled her limbs. her very heart seemed
turning to ice.
Yet She would not give up Energy,
struggle, meant either life or death, as she
should use or non-use them. She partly
raised poor Roland from the snow, and
tried to shout encouraging words, but her
lips were benumbed, and it was like shout
ing behind the torrent of Niagara.
1t was when Jenny began desperately
to drag him on by main force that Roland
rallied little and showed signs of resist
ance. 1t was an ungallant thing for a
man to permit woman to carry him. or
partially carry him, he dimly thought,
striving to free himself from her grasp.
All his faculties were dulled. But the
more he resisted, the more Jenny perse-
vered. She always believed afterward
that God gave Ler strength. 1t was while
she was dragging. and coaxing, and lift
ing and beating him, all at the same time,
and daring him on with sweetest words,
that a moist, heavenly sound swept across
her half delirous senses. The lowing Of
the COW! The COW, anxious for supper
and shelter.
Then it was that the poor exhausted
young woman felt that she should swoon
herself, that she should die. the rebound
from despair to hope was SO sudden. On
him. il he heard it, the sound made no inn
preston. In that stage of apathy he
would unresistingly have passed away to
death, though the very freight of home,
so to say. was heamng from its windows
upon him.
"Oh, merciful Father help him let him
not die now y prayed Jenny. And with
desperate energy, she pulled him on /;
pulled, and pulled and pulled, And the
house was gained at last
Fortunately, the fire had almost gone