Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-03
Stltttea Storp.
FROM DEATH TO LIFE.

N""- fNut' AlhT pu we COulu near lne
gusi roaring among the naked hills, POW
piunging shrilly through the skeleton
branches OF the trees. and again whirling
overhead wiih-a wierd shouting sound
THAI Nigh, we'll have proceeded from the
throats OF evil things riding upon the wind
The ghos,ly spiri, of the storm seemed tC
have penetrated even into our comforta.
ole circle. for we had got. know moi
how. upon that mos, dismal of all sub.
jecls-des;h.
We hsd canyassed the theme pretty
thoroughly before we discovered that two
OF our number. the professor and The
doctor, had taken no part in the conver.
ss,iou. They were sitting little re-
moved from the rest of us, gazing gloom.
ily into The FIRE. The ordinary cheerful
expression OF countenance had given
place to sober, troubled look, and more
than once we bad detected tho exchange
Of sisAngely-signi6canl glance between
them.
As may be readily supposed We were
not slow to press them for An explanation
of their conduct. A, length after much
persuasion, IL was the professor who
spose;
Gentlemen, said he gravely, enc
msn cares 10 gain tor himself the reputs-
liou OF liar or mani4c Yet that is e1.
actly what You are pressing both of US tc
DO. have no doub, that the experience
which SIN about TO relate and in which
ny TREND the doctor bore no unimpor,sn,
part, will appear absolutely incredible sc
persons of your advanced views"
There was a touch of sarcasm in the
worthy professors tore, but in our eager
nes' 10 hear his story We found il con
venienI 10 disregard It.
"Hoeever." ho continued. Il shall
risk il. L you choose 10 disbelieve ii,
why, shall endoavor to have charity ior
your ignorance aud couceit Now, doc
to-, 1t you will hand me the tobacco and
one Of the pipes-the ranker and blacker
the better-I will proceed"
Having filed his pipe and settled him
self comfortably in bis chair, he began
thus:
1t must be fully ten years ago ths,
the doctor and myself were engaged up
on the geological survey OF the northern
par, Of this Stale We had labOred dill
gently ds;iug the summer and tall, when
toward The close OF cold November day,
We shouidered our knapeacks and turned
our lAoes homeward.
Oar way led through chain OF black
and rugged hills. towards q frontier town,
twenty miles distant. where we intended
10 take the railroad. \ more forbddinG
region il has never been my misfortune
TO see. 1; WAS 4 chaos, blsckened and
warped by primeval fires, and destitute
OF the smallest trace OF vegetation. Tai
ellis lowered a thousand feet above OUT
heads, shutting oui the light oi The dull
November SKY. Sluggish streams filtered
between creyices OF the rocks. and poured
noiseiessly into the deep and mouOnles;
turns. Il seemed that the blight OF death
had fallen upon Ibe whole country.
Wen knowing the peril OF trying TO
proceed through such aregion after nj ht-
fall, we halted at sunset. and building i
FIRE VI The foot OF craig. disposed our
selves to rest as well we might. EX-
haus,ed with The tolls of The day, The
doctor Was soon asleep, and | was noI
long IN fol-, wing his example.
How long had slumbered | knew rot
when | found myself sitting upright
petring into the darkness around me. Il
seemed to ne that some one had uttered
Md. appealing cry in the very portals
of my ears. For some moments | sat So
wondering aud anxious. Then reflect
ed that as there could oe II, human being
in the neighoorlood besides ourselves,
the sounds which had alarmed me mus
have been the shrek of some bird or anl
mal. Explaining the matter thus. wa:
on the point of laying down again when
/ Vas arrested by The repetition OF The
CRY. This time there could be no mis-.
take. Wild. long. and. it appeared tC
me, full Of intolerable anguish, 1t re-
echoed amopg the crags with iearin
shri.lness. With an uncomfortable start
turned and shook the Doctor 10 awake
him.
BE quiet he multered; i am awake,
and heard il ALL
What can il be p | asked, anxiously
surely. nothing human; no one lives in
this region FOR miles around. Perhaps il
is g wildcat
No, he SAID, between his teeth. such 9
sound never came from the throat Of 8
wildcat. There it is sgaiu. ListenP
The cry was repeated. II was wo-
mans voice, but it expressed such su'
pgeme misery as believe woman never
felt before. 1t came ringing up the
gorge with wierd aud mourniul intona-
tion shat chilled the bood IN my heart.
By the doctors quick breathing | could
tell that he was as much affected as my
sell. Neither of US spoke nor moved