Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-11-26

slope Of the Sky-that he realized he
had been wandering all day and lar in.
to the night, Another hour passed.
The snow rose higher about mis- body;
half crs'zed It was, It seemed living
grave creeping up To cover him it WIS
a matter of life and death for him to ~
on.
But | cannot go on, he said, with
white lips. I'm awful Shivering seized
him; for the FIRST time in his life he lost
controle of his limbs, He looked up
into the clouds with the feeling that
God was there somewhere. Ii he
only knew him better he would pray
10 Him, But il was Il long time since
he had forgotten how to pray; like
many college boys he thought it was y
matter for women and children moro
than for men.
He unstr,pped the NaliSe and put il
down under dead tree, and then lay
down beside it, The snow was snft and
warm; he could not fight against the
unnatural drowSineSs
This is death then he said. He had
ohcn thought OF the agony of the last
parting with his mother, and how he
could overcome it with noble thoughts
and Soldierly courage, but now he only
thought how comfortable the snow wnS
warm as feather he'd. Ii his feet
We're only dry His eyes closed, The
feathcry flakes began 10 tallon his face.
Suddenly hut little way oil n roar.
ing voice began To sing
And the aunts and the cousins
Came out by the daSNS,
All blood relations to inc. Lord nonamu,V
Walter moved unoasily ard sat up,
The lCthargv Of coming death was
heavily upon him, he knew through il
that there was chance for life; hut
rest was Swcetcr, He sank down again,
Then the boy remembered his promise,
and il Stung him like n spur, He got
w, clappcd his arms weakly to bring
back the circulation, and staggered on II
few steps. Before him was low hut,
constructed Of implanted boards, the
smuSc pouring through u pipe III the
roof
oh it., thar You'll hear the thrushc> warhug
In the wales conN anitnt ~ sweet RallniAt
The voice WAS Enthusiastically vicious
and drunk
Some hlood-thirsty cut throat,
thought Walter, who else would be
watching AT this time Of night ?"
He took oil his seal ring. gold watch
and diamond Scarf-pin and dropped
them into his boots There was no
use tempting him to murder. Then
he walked On and pushed open the
door
God save us shouted kindly
voice, and with the next breath Walter
felt himself lifted in a pair of strong
arms and carried like n baby to the
fire The heat overpowcrcd him, He
tried to speak. and then lay rs if dcnd
ON the mans knees.
"And it's Christmas day, you shy,
lim?'
Christmas il is Here's your soup,
now, hot as blazes BE hepowers it'll
be the ioh To stretch the provisions till
tomorrow, YOU greedy young gossoon,
you"
Walter laughed and drew himself
weakly up in bed leaning against the
mans breast, while he ate the stcaming
mutton broth out ofa yellow crock.
II never tasted anything 50 good,
soaking the last drops into crust,
well, three days ago when " came
to that dure. thought il was yccs
coffin I'd bc maxim for yceS instead Of
soup"
jim pulled up the straw pillow at his
back and settled his head, stroking back
his hair, with fingers black, to be sure,
but gentle NJ Il woman's. On II chair
by the fire hung Walters clothes, clean
and dry, but ragged with dragging
through brinrs and rocks.
fit hadn't been for you, jim, l'd
have needed coffin" said Walter.
"Who did You think | was that night"
little curious to know If his rank had
betrayed him through his rags and wet.
"Bc jabbers, thought you were n
Golfers boy from the pit, There's one
there has just the cut of your face
When found your jewclry | knowed
different, Of course. There il il, ~ the
by, on the shelf"
He handed it to Walter, but the hoy
let the glittering heap fall ON the he'd
and took the red, grimy hand in both
Of his
ooh, jim" he cried. After awhile
he said "You couldn't have done
moro for moifI had been your brother"
jim jerked his hand away with a
"Sicksh" lie was not given to talking
sentiment.
Dye s'pose any man nd sit still wild
boy freezing at his dure2" he said,
grnllly; but he was pleased Walter
saw it, He lay wondering why he had
become SO fond Of this fellow, who was
nothing but an Irish laborer set "a
watch the railroad by which the hut
stood II was not alone that lie Ind
saved his life; it was for the strength
and tenderness and queer pathetic
humor that lay under his dirt and ig-
norance.
SO you thought was collier boy?"
he said presently. "Why, | am one Of
the Duclns of Philadelphia, Jim
"All blood relations 20 me, Lord Don.
amoreg' he sang Walters face grew
red, but he laughed
The shrek and the whistle Of the
approaching train was heard just then
and Jim disappeared with bis flag, but