The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-03-16

| nina you.
"I- have no sweetheart" said John,
evasively.
"More's the phyllis love that
makes the world 90 round"
"No, it isn't-it's money"
eff you want money, my boy, let me
help you"
You! No, thank you. l want no
mans money.
Lorrimer did not find a purchaser
for his farm before the winter set in,
cold and bitter, with angry storms and
biting frosts He was still waiting for
one when Mr.. Strathley came from
town on dark December day, and,
meeting Lorrimer, begged he would
pioneer him through the woods othe
camp.
81 suppose you know the woods as
well as your own face?" he said.
"Yes," said Lorrimer; 'only, if it
| should come on to storm as it threatens,
we may lose our reckoning. Hadn't
| you better wait till the weather clears?'
Chow far do you call it?"
"Near six miles; but it isn't like
walking on concrete pavement, !ou
| know.' t
"No. I'm inclined to push on to-
day, if you're willing"
They set out not long after noon; the
sun came out and blinked at them; but
by the time they had struck into he
deep woods he had thought better O it
and retired behind flaw of snow.
This will all blow over said Strah-
ley, confidently.
"Or maybe wen outstrip the storm
and reach the camp ahead of it, agreed
Lorrimer.
But, though the storm seemed in no
hurry, it meant business; from slight
flaw, it grew into a lazy tumult of snow
flakes, celebrating landmarks, and
making the woods murky and bewild-
ering
"Six miles are soon travelled in the
worst weather." avered Strathley.
Its getting confoundedly dark,
though, Lorrimer; it seems to me we
have walked ten leagues already''
"Tll be blessed if it ism the longest
six miles ever footed confessed Lor-
rimer. 1--WE ought to be close upon
the camp, unless
But just then Strathley stumbled in
the notwithstanding darkness, and
fell, with groan, over the ragged rem
nant of lightning blasted stump.
Tough LUCK said Lorrimer, rub
bing his face with the new-fallen snow,
and chatting his hands; for Mr.. Strath-
ley was prone upon the ground in dead
faint. "What if he never came to life
again9n Lorrimer asked himself
"What would Margaret do? Would it
be happier for himself?'
"Where have | been?" asked Strath-
ley, suddenly, sitting upright and try
ing to look through the darkness.
"That's more than | can tell you,n
answered Lorrimer. "You had a fall
that knocked the breath out of YOU
spell. Do you feel better? Could you
walk, think?'
Certainly. Let's be jogging. There
give me your hand. I'm trifle stiff
from the fall yet. It's deuced cold,
seems to me-"
"That's so; it left off showing mile
back, and the wind has stiffened. It's
going to be a rough night. We haven't
any time to lose; you see, we must have
missed the path some time ago; that
rascally snow pelted fellows face so
fast and thick Eth! what's the trouble
now?n
81 must sit down again for a spell;
can't keep up with YOU
"But you must, you know"
81 couldn't walk another rod lust
now if death himself were at my heels.n
Nonsense. Trudge along; it's grow
ing colder every moment. It's death
to give up
Strathley staggered along for few
PAGES, with Lorrimer's aid; but soon
came to halt
81 tell you, Lorrimer, it's no 90:
you'll have to leave me and push
ahead"
"Tll carry you first"
THAT deuced fall took all the pluck
out of me. | might find courage to
crawl if ] were sure it wasn't TOM
fool errand-if we were on the right
track-but it would be a sin to keep
you here in this weather. I'll wait
awhile and catch my breath. Do you
90 on. I'll overtake you sooner or
later
"Will you? If I leave you, you'll
never take another step; you'll Just
doze off into the other world The only
safe thing for us to do is to keep Jog
cling till we drop; anything else is sui
eide, and'-with an effort" there 5
Margaret ......
Yes drowsily, " there's Margaret,
to be sure. | must make-an effort
for her sake! But you push along IN
follow. l couldn't walk just yet to save
myself from perdltion, I'm so stunned
and shaken; no-I-couldn't
Lorrimer leaned against the nearest
tree and waited in desperation. 1t was
bitter cold, he owned, and his powers of
persuasion were exhausted; but to leave
the man to his own devices was certain
death-and what then? Was he his
brothers keeper? Why should he baz-
ard life and love for this stranger who
had stepped between himself and hap
piness? Did he owe Mr.. Strathley
aught? He started forward a few PAGES
perhaps the camp was near at hand
and he could bring help. But what was
he doing? Deceiving himself? Should
he leave Strathley behind? Would he
be able to find him in the dark? Would
any .halloo of his waken him from that
deathlV sleeD into which he was fast