The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-06-08

ing cold, and reduced by hunger, they might
faint by the way, frost-bitten, or, unarmed,
encounter Indian devils and wolves What
ever he might be able to endure himself,
Ben felt that Uncle Simon's strength was ut
terly inadequate to the struggle. They were
set with thousand peradventures there
was not only lion in the way, but all man
waited perforce, watching the days vanish
in tender dream of color, and the stars
make their journey across the deeps of
Heaven and the morning dawns as the rose
blooms. They busted themselves still about
the camp and novel, giving a thousand last
touches, such as they would never have
thought of giving at another time, gathering
firewood and setting the rabbit trap in vain.
And one day the axe fell from Ben's resolute
hand, and he just dragged himself inside the
camp, and stretched himself before the fire.
Uncle Simon had already given out
"Walking home could hardly have been
worse" Ben said, simply. Perhaps he was
thinking of somebody who might have met
him kindly at the journeys end, in view of
the dangers he had passed.
perhaps Brucell come yet" returned
Uncle Simon.
Through a chink in the camp door Ben
watched the sunset fade like fire among
the woods, and one by one the stars shine
out each in its appointed solitude, and the
northern lights palpitate rosily along the
sky. The bowling of wolves echoed dismal
ly, while now and then branch cracked in
the forest, and the wind trebled among the
pines. Inside the fire made comfortable
glow, under the influence of which he was
soon nodding off to sleep, when through the
| fog of his semi consciousness he seemed to
hear sort of ringing in his ears, at first
mere thread of sound, then louder and
nearer, as if every tree in the forest was a
church steeple with all the bells a swing
ing. Then be heard no more until smoth-
cred groan from Uncle Simon caused him to
still swapping and blazing brightly, and the
form and profile of a woman was shadowed
forth upon the wall of the camp-a very ia.
miliar face and figure it was too, that ap.
peared to be bending over something that
was cooking on the fire. Was it the excited
action of his brain that photographed Lou
is a Bruce on the wall? If so he prayed
that it might last forever Then he turned
his head languidly toward the fire and met
pair of eyer that had shone for him all hi
life with the fascination of awill-o- -the-wisp
Were they still to haunt him across the con
fines of this world?
you are awake, Ben, you had bette
taste this cruel that have made for you,
said Louisa quietly. "You must be nearly
famished."
"How came you here ?' was all the answe
Ben vOuchsafed.
"You are mighty polite if you are mos
starved. Who else could come, and fathe
not able to lift his head? l brought Tim
he is putting up the horses. It's no sucl
pleasant journey either, can tell you, be
tween the wolves and the frost, not to men
ton cold welcome. Come, amt you goint
to take something? Here's broth and bran
dy and gruel-take your choice"
"Nay, you shall choose for me-" said Ben
Listen. Unless you take back the word
you spoke when we met last, unless you
give me back love for love, / swear will
not taste morsel of anything you have t
offer. I'll stay here and starve rather tha
take crumb of comfort from your hand"
''What did say?" asked Louisa meekly
"You said that you could live withou
me-"
"Oh, yes, ! suppose I could, but shoul
not want to-"
"But you refused to marry me-"
Certainly, because you didn't want t
marry girl with no more heart than an ad
der, Ben"
II want to marry you, heart or n
heart"
Every WE'LL have some broth first, won
your
And then Tim came in, and Uncle SImo
awoke, and there was an end of starvatio
in camp.-Hayper's Weekly.