Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-08
eSles and Sketches.
A LOVERS MISTAKE.
Continued from yesterday. J
BIT MARY n. PRESCOTT.

''Sureiy this is a hard world, though
Lorrimer. lin which 1t is necessary I,
love ones enemy, though he has stoler
the apple of ones eye" wasn't it requir
ing little too much OF human nature-ol
at least, OF Lorrimer nature2 Still, il h.
happened TO meet Strathley on the high.
way and Jared on n piece with him talk.
ing OF the prospects for numbering The
coming winter; about provisioning the
camp and engaging men. and of that
kind Of rough aud ready life. Lorrimer
could not deny but he was a pleasant.
companionable fellow enough, with deal
of backbone, who knew his work. and the
sort of people with whom he had to deal.
II mean TO have taste of this camp
life myself, this winter" he said, by the
way. III want to know what ii is like,
to become brave enough not to heed poor
fare, a hard couch, or bowling wolves"
You won't find it as easy as lying |
reckon" said Lorrimer, IA little of that
thing goes great way"
IL dare say. Are you going to join my
gangp"
II? No, thank you. TN looking for a
chance to sell. | want to raise some
ready money and be off to California,
WuCfc IL StOWs idolCt titu III iillS SOU
"Ah. going to leave for good and all !?
Any disappointment She hasn't gone
back on you, eh ?"
Who do you mean asked John. fierce
ly.
The girl you are going to leave be-
hind you"
II have no sweetheart said John, eva
sively
"More's the pity-its love that makes
the world 60 round"
mo. 1t isn't--it's money"
''lf yeu want money, my boy, let me
help you"
You! No, thank you. want no mans
money"
Lorrimer did not find purchaser for
his farm before the winter set in, cold
and bitter. with angry storms and biting
frosts. lie 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 to the camp.
II suppose you know the woods as
well as your own face P' 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 Pr
How far do you call t?'
Near six miles, but it isn't like walk
ing on concrete pavement. you know. p"
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 binked at them but
by the time they had struck into The deep
woods he had thought better of it and
retired behind flaw of snow
.'This will all blow over" said Slrath-
ley. confidently.
"Or maybe we'll outstrip the storm and
reach the camp ahead of it," argued ILor-
rimer.
But though the storm seemed in no hur-
nv, it meant business; from Il slight flaw,
II turned into u lazy tumult OF snow fl tkes
obliterating landmarks, and making the
woods murky and bew,liering
six miles are soon travelled in the
worst weather." averred Strathey. It's
getting confoundedly dark. though Lori
mer; ii seems to me We have walked ten
leagues already"
''l'll be blessed if it isn't the longest six
miles ever footed" confessed Lorrimer
1--WE ought to be close upon the camp,
unless"
But just then Strathley stumbled in the
swiftly descending darkness, and fell,
with groan, over the ragged remnant OF
q lightning blasted stump.
Tough luck" said Lorrimer, rubbing
his face with the new fallen snow, and
chatting his hands; FIR Mr.. Stralhley was
prone upon the ground in dead faint
what ii he never come to life again ?"
Lorrimer asked himself. "What would
Margaret doP Would 1t be happier for
himselfp'
Where have been ?" asked Strathley,
suddenly. sitting upright aud trying to
look through the darkness.
'Thats more than | can tell you,"
answered Lerrimer. you had fall that |
knocked the breath out of you a spell. |
Do you feel betterP Could you walk,
think p
Certainly. Let's be jogging. There
from the fall yet. It's deuced cold, seems
to me-"
That's So it left off showing mile
back, and the wind has stifiened. It's GO
ing to be rough night. We havn't any
time to lose; you see, we must have
missed the path some time ago; that ras-
cally snow pelted fellows face so fast
and thick. Eth what's the trouble now Pr
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"
Nonsense. Trudge along; it's grow
ing colder every moment. It's death TO
give up"
Strathley staggered along for few
PAGES. with Lorrimers aid. but soon came
to a halt.
II 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 1t wasn't tomiool's Grand
II we were on the right track--but il
would be a sin TO keep you here in this
weather. I'll wait while and watch INV
breath. Do you go on. rllovertake you
sooner or later"
"Wil yuup If I leave you, vou'n
never take another sep. you'll just doze
of into the other world The only sale
thing for US to do is to keep Jogging al
We drop; any thing else is suicide, and
with an efort-'there S Margaret"