The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-05-20

home. made chair and dreamily watched
the smonldering embers In the open FIRE
place at her feet, she could not realize
that she was alone. As no one in the
body was near TO listen, she repeated
aloud the sweet conception Of some un-
known yet immortal bard:
! " Absent, yet present; distant, yet how near.
since here my soul IS, darling, thou art here.
! For here enshrined thou dwellesi, and / see
Thine image pictured upon vacancy"
But to return to her wandering other
SELF Luckily for HE physical body, bis
miud was soon Withdrawn from his in
terror rhapsody by the necessities Of his
position. The rain was new falling
steadily and hard, the wind was rising,
and he was in an almost uninhabited
region. The darkness grew 50 dense
that the head Of his faithful horse was
no longer visible. He paused in utter
bewilderment. What was be to do?
Afar over the plain, in what he rightly
judged to be the edge Of the wood, a
ruddy freight glimmered. Again be
put spurs 20 his horse, and leaving the
main road, made, as nearly as he could,
la bee-line for the blazing fire.
"With lights before and behind me, /
surely shall be guided aright," be said,
firmly.
On and on, through the rain and
storm and mud and darkness, he urged
the weary horse, trusting only to the
animals blind instinct for safety. The
light for long way seemed to grow no
nearer, and he had mental visions OF an
ignis fattuis for q full hour before he
made percepiible gain upon what
proved at last 10 be the campfire of a
family of immigrants, whose cattle
were sheltered under a neighboriug tree,
hard by a dilapidated covered wagon, in
which the owners were evidently asleep.
"Halloa ~ be cried, Justify.
No answer. The weary wayfarers
were sleeping soundly.
"Halloa, there !"
This time a shufling noise was heard
within the wagon covers depths, which
was followed presently by an ebony
head protruding from the uplifted side
OF the dirty canvas.
"Who comes dab %
Where had John Inglelon heard that
voice before ? An echo, away down in
his memory, only answered, "Where p"
'Pm traveller, benighied snd lost"
he said, hesitatingly.
a charred limb fe!l suddenly from the
trunk Of the great fallen tree against
which the fire was burning, aud sending
its pitch-laden leaves into the embers,
was followed by a cracking, ruddy
blaze, lighter, it seemed to him, than
sunshine
"Light, massa. Wen do wha' we
can TO- you, sho'," exclaimed the host,
as be emerged from the wagon, half clad
and shivering. "a mighty damp night
dis, to be lost in de bush, sab"
"SureIy cannot mistake the sound
Of your voice." said the wander. "You
are-you must be-Uncie Dave, the col
ored oraclew
The old negro raised the black turban
from his forehead, disclosing the Gery
brand above his eyes.
"Yes, massa John, it's old Dave, as
sho' as yo' bon. But wha's yo' busi-
ness in dis out-de-way place, and at dis
time o. night, sab? Not lost nor hidin'
hope ~
mo, Uncle Dave" said John, dis
mounting and grasping his newly-fouud
friend by the hand; "Tm a free man
now-free from the clutches Of the law,
and, alas free from the prospect Of evel
marrying Liza Hardine. But, nevel
mind me tell me all about yourself
How came you here, and whom have
you in your company? Are you a free
man ?1
zone question At a time, massa John
If you please. But fust make yo'sel
comfortable. Yo' wet to the hide, an
coldah'n q snake. Heah, take a camp,
stool an bake yo' shins a while"
nm all obedience, Uucle Dave
Pray proceed"
"Fust let me take de saddle OF de
pony, massa. Yo' know what de good
Book says about de mussiful man."
"Al fight, Uncle Dave. Luckily the
brave fellow Isn't hungry. 1 took him
from a full feed less than three hour.
ago. Now tell me, who's with you, and
how came you here?"
ATS long story, massa John, but I'll
make Il shot. Life was a mighty black
an heavy burden when yo' left me
alone wild de Injuns, sho'. But / acted
on yo' advice an waited till de private
company yo' had meant to 90 wild had
crossed de rivah aftah de ice went down
Risky business dat ice was ugh"
Never mind that, Uncle Dave. w,
got over all right. Proceed"
al KEEP or de highway an made my.
self good at skulkin'. De Injuns wa
kind, massa John, an dey hid m,
splendid; au' when de teams com,
ovah Dat was goin' TO- to take Won long
an yn'd got a beitah job, de boss. b.
: tuck me in. Well, 1 went to Califo'nv
, an I made a strike, au' den I wen
b back 10 lie ole stompin' ground an
/ bought myself au' my wife Diuab-
, she's in de wagon now-an' two ob d
2 chil'en. De oders was sold beyond OF
{ massa's knowledge. Den I packed NJ
traps an bought dis wagon an des
) oxen. An heah / am, aftab evah c