The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-11-13

ten o'clock.
'spoIly will think I have slipped
back into the Slough ofDesponl,
said / to myself, with a half smile
"but I'll give her IN agreeable sur
prisc~
Plunging down amid the snow,
drifts, through q grove of pine
trees that edged a rayinc at The
back Of my house, / sprang lightly
on the doorstep; the door was
shut and locked. l went around
to the front. Here / effected an
entrance, but the fire was dying on
the hearth, and little Berthe, tuck
ed tip in his crib, called out:
sPapa, is that you?n 4,
"Wherc is mamma, my son?'
said l, looking eagerly around ut
the desolatc room.
"Gone out with the baby in her
arms ito look for you," said he.
"Didn't you meet her, papa"
stos1 a minute in silence.
"Tie still, Bertic,n said I, in a
voice that sounded strange and
husky even to myself. II will 50
and bring her back"
And I thought with dismay Of
the blinJling snow-storm outside,
the treacllerous gorges which l'y
between here and the White Black
bird, the tmcklcss woods, through
which it was difficult enough TO
find ones way even in the sun
shine Of monday. anl-worst Of all
the lonely track, across which
an express shot like meteor at
u few minutes before midnight.
Oh, heaven! what possible doom
might I not have brought upon
myself by the wretched passion in
Which | had gone away that morn
ing.
The town clock, sounding dim
and mulllcd through the storm,
struck eleven us | hurried down
the hill! Eleyen-and who knew
what Il length Of time might eiapse
before could ilnd ner! Anu,
like a fiery phantasmagoria before
my minds eye, | nehe!d the while
the rush o. the ,fnidnlght express,
and =dreilde4-l5She@. not#wl.at:=
ferall tllat | could realize was =! tllal !
inc storm was growing mercer WIN I'm
eyeryzmoment, eve Ana y li9lly, al10=tsle.
BABY we're out IN US llIrS :.
AS steadily as | col,ld, WORKED.
my ayzdown= =towar,ts,the track,
out more tfl'tn once | became be-
wildered, and had 10 stop and re
llect before could resume my
quest Ana when, at Length, !
came out close TO a ruined wooG
and water station on the else. Gi
il'e track; l knew ,haE IT,; l was lIIl
I hall Il mile pelow the " Al'e b4aeN'
bird.
ana III, N lhe t,, ,s!stancc g, l ne!Ta the
Ions' shfill shFieN Oh Inc m'on'sa'
tFain
some one else la'i hearo II! 100,
Ior, as / stood thHs' l s9w, ialntlS
FlSiole through inc oiihuing snow
a sha9o%y ngure issuing from tic
ruined Shea ana come out upon
inc lraeS, ieoNins with a newlIder'
en, uncertain alr up anu down.
me 1:ttI lofm OF r?i!y, my WIFE, with
tue iltl'e oaDy III her arms!
l hdrr,e.i down 70 hef as last :, as
ll'e InPluly l"GtesTl"s St""'uelltS
Moalu Iet me, oHt l was onIy just
N 'iIne 70 urag her ron the pIaee
nl peru ano stan4 DFeathlessly
ho1'i'hs hef pacS, wlllc INC l1ery-
e!en monster Oh steam swept by
wlItl " rush anu rattle anu roar
1''aG ~ nGaf,y took cur nreaih away
lo,,Y l cried" "roIiyl speak
to me r.
she turned her wandering gaze
toward me, with vague eyes that
seemed scarcely to recognize me:
"haTe .ihaTe you seen my hus6and?"
SAID She One Jacob Cottrcl,
braEsSIn4H on the local express."'
Polly 4, little womanl don't you
know mGF l gaspeA.
And | thought, perhaps" she
added. vacantIy, you might have
met MN: Its : very cold here and,
o-ms
Tho 1onr 1onp brain rcvcr Tint
A" "''t-' -"'fN "A'' N'tNs