Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-12
Foor PRINTS IN THE SNOW.

, A light snowfall, just enough to
cover the ground with a mantle OF
purity, as the author of Beautiful
Snown would sentimentally remark,
is a very picturesque episode, and one
that calls forth columns Of gush from
ambitious scribblers. 1t might have
excited the same emotionsi in the breast
of a plodder Friday night, OH his way
bomeward from a Nam street saloon,
had he not been cogitating on the fact
of his pedro having been caught on
the last hand, and musing on the won
derful number of trumps held by his
opponent. Visions of his young wife,
left to pass her evenings solitary and
alone while he was enjoying himself
owe the destinations of the card table,
also troubled him, and he was in
wardly resolving to reform when he
reached the front gate Of his residence.
The storm had been but a furry, after
IL O'Clock, and the snow did not ex-
coed an inch in depth. The moon shone
out bright, and there, leading up the
front walk, upon the porch and end
ing at the door were masculine foot
prints, made by a pair of number
- az lthfht ntIa ~ ~ P o'As
and unmistakable. He paused and
pondered, decided in his mind that no
gentleman had business in the GUS
at that time of night, the demon of jeal-
ousy getting tirmer hold of him every
moment, and finally raising the latch
of the gate softly, he crept around the
building and assured himself that
there were 10 tracks leading away,
then retraced his steps to the front en-
trance, unlocked it and entered. A
glance into the sleeping-room showed
him the partner of his joys n sor-
rows peacefully reposing, the subdued
light from the lamp shedding its rays
over her innocent face, transposing
her into a sleeping beauty. Again he
paused, and thought over the situa-
ton. The utter silence of the house.
broken only by the measured tick of
the clock on the mantle and the soft
breathing of the fair woman, con-
WINGED him that there was no intruder
on his domestic joys under his roof
tree, and he was about to cast his I'M
worthy suspicious to the winds, when
a slight noise kitchen wards attracted
his attention. To seize the lamp, dash
to the intervening door aud fling it
open was but the work Of a moment,
but even that delay suficed for the
man, whoever he was, to escape from
the premises and bound up The hill
side, in full view OF the now thor
oughly aroused and indignant hus
band. He gave chase for a shor dis
lance, but the pursued, inspired by
fear, distanced the pursuer, and com
pletely outran him, but he left a trophy
behind in the shape OF his hat-one of
the new-fashion helmet headgear.
True it bore no NAME, but its size and
shape corresponded to the tile worn
by an intimate young friend of the
family. There was "A sound of devil
try by night" when he again reached
his domicile and confronted his now
awakened wife. He swore, stortned,
held up the hat, and poured forth a
torrent OF curses on the devoted head
OF his helptneet, while she, bewiidered
and confused, protested. melted into
tears, supplicated, and finally, arising
in all the majesty OF her outraged
virtue, repealed his base insinuations
with scorn. They argued the question
until the rosy god OF morn showed
over the eastern mountains, and he
was in the end convinced that the in
terloper was some base predatory
scoundrel who had entered in search
of booty not beauty and peace
reigns once more in the household.
Still, ever since, during his waking
hours, whether waiting upon custom
ers or casting up long columns of
figures, his mind wanders back TO the
scene. aud he mentally asks himself
the conundrum, was 1t a burglar?