The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-02-09

pared the Tree access Oh tue community
cannot say. 1t was certain that 10
Mother SYMPTOMS words, he didn't say
cards once" during that evening. HAPPY
the time WAS beguiled by an ACCORDION,
produced somewhat ostentAtiously by
Tom Simson from his pack. Notwith-
standing some difficulties attending the
manipulation. Of this instrument, olney
Woods managed 10 pluck several reluc.
tant melodies from the keys, 10 an accom-.
paniment by the Innocent on 4 pair Of
bone castinets. But the browning testi-
witty Of the evening was reached In arude
camp. meeting hymn, which the lovers,
joining hands, sang with great earnest.
meas and yociteration. | fear that Ger.
tain defiant tone and covenanter's swing
10 ia chorus, rather than any devotional
quality, caused II speedily TO infect the
others, who at last joined in the re.
frain:-
aim proud 10 live In the service Of the Lori,
And I'm bound to die in his army"
The pines rocked, the storm eddied and
whirled above the miserable group, and
the flames Of their altar leaped heaven.
ward, as il in token Of the vow.
At midnight the storm abated, the roll
ing clouds parted, and the stars glittered
keenly above the sleeping camp. Mr..
Oakhurst, whose professional habits had
enabled him TO live on the amalleat pos.
sibls amount Of sleep, in dividing the
watch with Tom simsOn, somehow man.
aged to take upon himself the greater
part Of that duty lie excused himself
10 the Innocent by saying that he had
soften been week without Sleep"
"Doing WHAT" asked Tom. "Poker u
replied Oakhurst, sententiously; "when u
man gets streak OF luck,-nigger.luck,
he don't get tired. The luck gives in
frat. "LucE," continued the gambler, re.
aectiyely, "is a mighty queer thing. All
you know about II for certain is that it's
bound to change. And it's finding out
W hen it's going 10 change that makes you.
We've had a streak oil bad luck since we
left Poker Flat; you come along, and slap
you get into it TOO. Iiyou can hold your
cards right along, you're all right. For"
added the gambler, with cheerful irrele'
vance,
"I'm proud 10 live In the service Of the Lord.
And I'm bound to do In his army"
The third day came, and the sun, look
ing through the white'curtained valley,
saw the outcasta divide their slowly de.
creasing store Of provisions for the morn.
ing meal. 1t was one Of the pecultarities
Of that mountain climate that its rays
diffused kindly warmth over the wintry
landscape, as il in regretful commisera.
tion Of the past. But it revealed drift on
drift Of snow piled high around the hut
hopeless, uncharled, trackless sea oil
white, lying below the rocky shores to
which the c%t.aways still chung. Through
the marvelIously clear air the smoke Of
the pastoral village Of Poker Flat rose
miles away. Mother Shipton saw il, and
from remote pinnacle Of her rocky fast.
ness hurled in that direction final NAL
ediction. 1t was her last vituperative
attempt. and perhaps for that reason was
invested with certain degree OF sub.
Unity. 1t did her good, she privately
informed the Duchess. "Just you go out
there and cuss, and see." She then set
herself to the task Of amusing "the child"
as she and the Duchess were pleased TO
call Piney. Piney was no chicken, but ii
was a soothing and original theory Of
the pair thus to account for the fact that
she didn't swear aud wasn't improper.
When night crept up again through the
gorges, the reedy notes OF the ACCORDION
rose and fell in titful spasms and long.
drawn gasps by the tlickering campfire.
But music failed to fill entirely the ach.
ing void left by insufficient food, and
new diversion was proposed by Piney-
storytelling. Neither Mr.. Oakhurst nor
his female companions caring to relate
their personal experiences, this plan
would have failed too, but for the limo
cent. Some months before he had CHANGED
upon a stray copy Of Mr.. Popes ingeni.
oiIs TRANSLATION OF the Had. Hc now
proposed to relate the principal incidents
Of that poem-having thoroughly mas.
tered The argument and fairly forgotten
the words-in the current yernacular OF
Sandy Bar. And 10 for the rest OF that
night the lIomeric demigods again walked
the earth. Trojin bully and willy Greek
wrastled in the winds, and the great pines
in the canon seemed 10 bow TO the wrath OF
the son Of Peleus. Mr.. OAkhurst listened
with quiet satisfaction. Most especially
WA he interested in the fate OF Ash.
heels" as the Innocent persisted in de-
nominating the "swift.footed Achilles"
So with small food and much OF Homer
and the ACCORDION, week passed over
the heads OF the outcasts. The sun again
forsook them, and again from leaden skies
the snow-ilAkes were sifted over the land.
Day by day clo4er around them drew the
snowy circle, until at last they looked
from their prison over drifted walls Of
dazzling white that lowered 90 feet above
their heads. 1t became more and more
difficult to replenish their fires, even
from the fallen trees beside them, now
half hidden in the drifts. And yet no one
complained. The lovers turned from the
dreary prospect and looked into each
others eyes, and were happy. Mr.. Oak
hurst settled himself coolly to the losing
game before him. The Duchess, more
cheerful than she had been, assumed the
care Of Piney. Only Mother Shipton-
once the strongest OF the party-seemed
TO sicken aud fade. At midnight OH the
tenth day abe called 0akhurst 10 her side.
"l'm going" she said, in voice Of
querulous weakness, "but don't say any
thing about il. Don't waken the kids.
Take the bundle from under my head
and open it," Mr.. 0Akhurst did 40. 1t
contained Mother ShiptOn'a ratiOns for
the last week, untouched. "GIye 'em 10
the child" she said, pointing to the
sleeping Piney.
"Yoa've starved yourself" said the
gambler.
"Thats what they call IT," said the wo.
man, ENORMOUSLY, AZ she lay down again,
and, turning her face 10 the wall, passed
quietly away.
The ACCORDION and the bones were put
aside that day, and Homer was forgotten.
When the body OF Mother Shipton had
been committed to the snow, Mr.. Oak.
hurst took the Innocent aside, and show.
ed him pair Of snow shoes, which he had
fashioned from the old pack saddle.
"There's one chance in r hundred TO
save her yet" he said, pointing TO PIney;
"but ip there, he added, pointing toward
Poker Flat. al you can reach there in
two days, she's safe"
Sand you ?" asked Tom Simson.
an stay here" was the curt reply.
The lovers parted with long embrace,
"You are not going, too?" said the
Duchess, az she saw Mr.. OAkhnrst appar.