Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-09-13


tache and beard, and my feet and
legs are soaking wet, even through
my shooting boots and stout leather
leggings.
The moon has gone in again and
the light from the lantern we carry
is barely sufficient to show US the in
capabilities in the height of the snow,
by which we arc guessing our path.
| began to wish | had staid at home.
sL'h0mme propose maiS la femme dis-
pose | sigh to myself; and begin to
consider whether | may venture to
| give up the search (Which | have I'M
dertaken purely to satisfy my wife,
for Pm like John and won't believe
! in Laddie), when suddenly | hear a
! shout in front of me, aud see Donald,
who has a.. tne time been keeping
close to Laddie, drop on his knees
and begin digging wildly in the
snow with his hands. We all rush
forward. Laddie has stopped at what
appears to be the foot Of stuhted
tree, and after scratching and whin-
ing for a moment, sits down and
watches, leaving the rest to rs. What
is it that appears when we have
shoveled away the snow? A dark
object. Is it bundle of rags? Is il
or alas was it human being 7
We raise it carefully and tenderly,
| wrap it in one of the warm blankets
with which my wife's forethought
has provided us. Bring the lantern
| say huskily; and John holds it over
the PROSTATE form of not as we
might have expected, some stall
wort shepard of the bills, but over
that of poor shrlveIed, wrinkled,
ragged old woman. try 10 pour
little brandy down tho poor old
throat, but the teeth are so firmly
clenched that cannot.
'Best get her home as quickly as
may be, sir; the mistress will know
better what to do for her nor we do,
if so be the creature is not past help
says John, turning insLinctively, as
we all do in sickness or trouble, to
woman's aid.
SO we improvise sort OF ham
mock of the blank ets, and gently and
tenderly the mon prepare to carry
their poor helpless burden over the
snow
Il am afraid your mistress will DO
in bed, / say,as we retrace our steps.
Never fear, SIR says Donald with
triumphant glance at John 'the
mistress will be up and waitin' for
US. She kena Laddie dinna bring US
out in the shaw for neathing.'
'Tll never say naught about be-
Loving a dwag again. says John,
gracefully striking his colors. You
were right and | was wrong, and
that's all ABOUT it; but to think there
should be such sense in an animal,
| passes me =
As we reached the avenue gate |
dispatched man after the doctor,
who fortunately lives within stones
throw of US, and hurry on myself to
prepare my wife for what is coming.
She runs out in the ball TO meet me.
well p she asks eargerly.
We have found poor old wom-
an say; 'but | do not know
whether she is alive or dead
My wife throws her arms around
me aud gives me great hug.
you will find dry things and
jug of not toddy in your dressing
room, DEAR she says, and this is all
the revenge she takes on me for my
skeptioism. The poor old woman
is carried up stairs and placed In a
warm bath under my wife's direction;
and before the doctor arrives she
has shown some faint symptoms of
| life and so my wife sends me word.
DR.. Bruce shakes his head when he
sees her. 'Poor old SOUL, he says,
'how came she out on the moor on
such fearful night? | doubt she
has received a shock, which at her
age she will not easily get over
They manage, however, to force a
few spoonsful of brandy and hot
water down her throat; and present
Iy faint color flickers on her cheek,
and the poor old eyelids begin TO
tremble. My wife raises her head
and makes her swallow some cordi-
al which DR.. Bruce has brought
with him, and then lays her back
among the soft, warm pillows. 81
think she will rally now, says DR..
Bruce, as her breathing becomes
more audible and regular. 'Nour-
ishment and warmth will do the
rest but she has received a shock
from which, | fear, sho will never
recover and 80 saying, he takes his
leave.
BY and by go up to the room
and find my wife Watching alone by
the aged sufferer She looks up at
me with tears in her eyes. 'Poor
old soul she says | am afraid she
will not rally from the cold and ex-
posure.
| go round to the other side of the
bed ahd look down upon her. The
aged face looks wan and pinohed,
and the scanty gray locks which lie
on the pillow are still wet from the
snow. She is very little woman,
as far as | can judge of her in her
toCuhueuI pOsitiOH, auu Shouiu
think must have reached her allott-
ed three-score and ten. 'Who can
she be p | repeat, wonderingly. |
She does not belong to any of the
villagers hereabouts, or we should |
know her face: and | cannot imag-
ine what could bring stranger to
the moor on such night.
AS | speak a change passes over
her face the eyes Enclosed, and she
looks inquiringly around her. She
tries TO speak, but is evidently too
weak. Ny wife raises her and gives
her spoonful of nourishment, while
she says soothingIy: Don't try to
speak. You are among friends and
when you are better you shall tell
us all about yourself. Lie still DOW
and try to Sleep
The gray head drons back YEARLY
on the pillow and soon we have
fhn uat.eE.at.1. 20 fha