The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-26

But desperate woman can put out an in |
credible amount OF strength; and the
stake at issue was her husbands life. Ro- |
land saw how full OF energy she looked |
what an amount of determination her |
whole attitude betrayed. IL impaired
some degree of hope even to him, and he
pointed to a pile of oak rails.
" If you could drag one of those here
She was flying for tho rail before the
words left his lips had brought II 70 the
| spot. aud then began to try TO lit the
| fallen tree. But the grim burden refused
to move.
"Oh, Jennv-"
" soc, Roland. she Interrupted: Don't
| he afraid. or course am stupid at first.
! Waitl am undertaking to do too much
| at once, you perceive"
Jenny partly withdrew the lever, maxi
ing the resistance less, and lifted again,
| with some effect ROlands legs were too
much like dead legs to be aware OF the
| lghtened pressure upon them; but he saw
| the log move little.
stars swan before Jennys eyes and the
veins in her forehead looked like little
| knotted cords, as, averting her lace from
him. she strained ut the lever once more.
with all her whole might. NOW
| she cried. He esslyed to move his half
frozen limbs, but only succeeded IN gronn-
| ing. "They are us dead rs stOnes,' he
gasped and looked rs though no were
going of into another faint.
Just for n moment she paused in despair.
But courage and increased energy came
| back to her.
| Drink this, Roland" she said, putting
out some more Of the sustaining cordial.
81 must prop up the log; ana 1 thlnk,
dear, you can help me-"
Selecting larger rail, she dragged 1t up.
and commanded him to push IL under the
log while she lifted with the lever. Re-
viving under the influence OF her cheerful
courage, he saw this ms his golden and per
haps only opportunity. There was no
mans aid within reach OF THIS lonely spot,
and night was coming down, bringing n
tafnnpSt with 1 4 The rail placed md.
pushing IL with all his remaining strength,
he held each atom that the log yielded,
while Jenny took breath to gain one more.
Slowly and reluctantly the fallen tree was
! forced TO acknowledge itself beaten, ana
ut last rested on the prop. The man was
free!
David got of his launches and wagged
his tail
Roland pressed his lips TO the snow-wct
hem OF Jenny's skirt. The mute, eloquent
net made her heart overflow, but she
caught her skirt away hurTedly.
cannot allow you one minutes delay,
Roland II will be horrible night. DO
you think you can standy
with her help he got upon his feet, but
not until he had made more than one at
tempt The legs were not broken then
and this took n dreadful fear from Jenny r
heart. But the returning circulation gave
him intense pain. Leaning Oh his wife's
profiered arm. he mt length began TO move
homeward. The stormy twilight was al
ready filling the forest. Mama ing to limp
and stumble along, tho out.k rts OF the
wood were reached before absolute dark
ness had set in.
But until now they had not realized The
p terrible night of the storm. 1t grew worse
b with every minute. David alone was able
TO distinguish the path that led homewdId.
Around them appeared nothing but the
whrling snow. The forest was smut out,
b rs by the sudden fall Of II gigantic cur
tain; before them could be- discovered no.
. thing but the wavering form of David as
he MIe>tlgu with the difficulties OF the
, path.
= I'VE must walk for dear life" gasped
Roland.
: lie felt now all the hazard and terror OF
: their position. 1t was almo~ L 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 he death.
a They stumbled on, their arms entwined,
making no attempt to speak after tins.
4 once Jenny caught at David, patted his
; shoulder, and murmured that he was n
good fellow, n brave dog but she and her
husband had enough 10 do for themselves.
r 1t seemed to both that they must be
: nearly at home. Probably more than
hall the distance had beeu got over. when
, "A calamity occurred. David disappeared
He was missing. Had their trusty pilot
deserted themr Yes; for not trace OF
him could be heard or seen Roland
a shouted his name; but the wind dashed
l his voice back again, so that he scarcely
: heard IL himself, and he had no hope OF re-
n calling the fugitive.
| They were OF the path now-the softer
snow told them tins; ana they were hotl
very cold. ana alarmingly exhausted
= Roland thought that this was the end
: that all hope was over. He clasped hii
=, wife closely In his arms ana bowed his
= head on her shoulder. IL he had not beer
- hnlf dead at the outset, with suffering anC
exhaustion, he would have borne up NOR,
4 BRAY ely. As it was, he felt that his senses
>, were taking leave of him; and he knew
+. that If he failed, and he thought be haC
Z failed, he was laying down not only hl
/. own life, but dearer life than his.
o go on-leave mo. Try to reach--' he
began saying in her ear. But Jenny wOulC
not listen to him. His despairing word
A filled her with frenzed strength.
d people talk that way when they ar,
< freezing" she thought, He shah no
a die. Pray Heaven, help me! Bear mp
e Roland, just II little while longerl W,
:, must be pretty near the house. l still
c know enough to keep my face TO tn
n wind,"
Ii II cannot go on further Jenny. linus
}, lie down and sleep
IS Never" answered poor Jenny. "w
is will not give up. 1t is only frozen peopl
e who want to sleep. On, Father OF al
4 mercy, help us. If we may only rencl
I. our sweet sweet home once morel If
:. may only have strength to save my doa
1 heart TO make him know how love hin
I, above CIV verifying in the world
10 Thoughts like these were Hitting through
,; her brain MS she staggered on, almost tail
k ing M every step. OH the cruelty length
Il envd dStanoel Would they never toucl
Is anything else but snow-blinding, sting
Il ing, bewilderng snowS Had IL swept ava,
d house, fence, trees, everything, and lief
l. them nothing but this endless plain, where
d sooner or later, they must sink down 4
% their fatal rest
Roland staggered, and fell heavily for
l. ward, casting her arm away from him. |
IL was n gesture of farewell For one instan
Il il seemed TO Jenny that II would he YER
il sweet to fling herself down beside hin
=" and fall asleep. An aching WEAKNESS file,
/" her limbs; her very heart seemed turning
" to ice.
Yet she would not give up Energy
"a struggle, meant either lire or death, as sh
l. should use or nOn-uso them. She purtl
l. raised poor Roland from the snow, AM
Il, tried 10 shout encouraging words, but he
~ lips were benumbed, and IL was like shout
ing behind the torrent of Niagara.
& II was when Jenny began desperately {
drag him on by main force that ltolan
4, rallied little and showed signs of resist
ne nnce. IT WAS an ungallant thing fora ma
nj TO permit "A woman to carry hun, or paI
e TALLY to carry him, he dimly thought
ld striving to free himself from her giusI
IL All his faculties were dullCd. But III