The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-02-19

L struggled hand to hand, and SICK at
heart, against what l felt to be an mex
orable fate, and on the afternoon of the
eighth day l found myself alone and al
most despairing, save for the thought of
the happiness of the two / had loved
best in the world.
The sunset came, as sat by the lake
side, flooding my desolated world with
heavenly glory, like sign from them
to me of their new-found joy.
The stars had come out before ven
tured to return TO the worse than de-
serted house. l could not hope for help
from any neighbor until sought it my
self the next day, and l had to look for
ward to a night-how horrible did not
foresee, or could not have endured it.
What follows 1 could scarcely credit
myself, if l did not bear on my hand a
tangible proof of it in o well-defned
scar; and, even now, could not bear
to write of that nights experience had
not my children's laughter and my low
ing husbands care long since banished
all unnatural gloom from my life.
While l had been sitting alone on the
lakeshore, toward the evening, l had
heard distant shot; it scarcely reused
me. A sportsman, thought, had wan
dered from his encampment on the
opposite shore, had seen some game in
our wild woods, killed it, and his canoe
had long since carried him away In
the gathering darkness l CROPPED my
way back through the familiar little
path and reached my own door. 1
alone should pass the threshold in the
future; their feet were still; the busy
feet that had toiled for me, followed me,
and had been ever near me! l was to
go on my rugged path alone! Heart
sick and overcome, stopped at the
door, and, leaning my head against it,
sobbed in uncomfortable despair. Tired
out as length, l had grown quiet, and
was just about to lift the latch, when a
faint moan, as of an animal in pain,
and close to me, startled me; then a
death-like silence reigned.
knew l had not been mistaken. l
felt that l must forget myself and help
the poor creature in distress. eft is
very good for strength to know that
some one needs you to be strong" No
longer hesitating, l hurried into the little
cabin, struck light, and went in the
direction whence the moan had reached
my ears. l thought of the shot l had
heard. 1t was quite possible poor,
wounded deer was lying in the bushes.
Yes! l could now see its skin-unmis-
takably fawn-spotted dun color. 1t
lay quite still-perhaps that moan had
been its dying gasp!-and SO l came
quite close to it, leaned over, and, par
alyzed with horror, saw my mothers
face, only young and very beautiful, as
she must have looked when girl.
Deathly pale, dead, possibly, she lay
matted hair all about her face and
clothed in doeskin. Just then she STIR
red; it was not death. All wonder
ceased within me, every feeling fled be-
fore the thought that this being, what
ever, whoever she was, might be saved
to live.
dragged her the few steps into the
house, laid her on my hemlock- boughs,
untouched by me since the sickness Wis
tied us. Then l found wound in the
poor creatures side and bound it up,
bathed her head, and, in the quiet, now
again felt startled at seeing my moth
er's image, young and fair, before me, and
when at length her great eyes opened,
till now, and sent back in this sad hour
to take my mothers place. 1 leaned
forward, in an access of tenderness, to
welcome her, when a look of fright, an
animal-like, wild terror took possession
of her face, and low sort of snarl
broke from her human lips.
The start she gave caused a fresh
flow of blood; dimness passed over her
eyes. Again stanched the wound, and
prepared nourishment in case she
walked. Too busted in these ways for
further speculation, only with strange
weight at my heart and WEAKNESS of
body, suddenly I felt the CLEAN of eyes
watching me. Such strange eyes! No
human expression about them;
stealthy look in them now.
Gently as l could [ approached her
side. She trembled and tried to
hide her head when 1 offered her nv
carefully prepared food. l moved away
and studiously avoided any appearance
of watching her. Yet was intensely
conscious of her every movement. 1
could see her eying eagerly with
wretched, famished look raw venison
steak that had been forgotten and lay
on the table close beside her. Suddenly,
like beast of prey, her feeble hand
stole toward it, and in moment she
had torn it in pieces and devoured it,.
Horror filled my heart Could this
creature be humanp l sat still in the
corner, where, myself unseen, 1 could
watch and restrain her if necessary. and
soon-weakness overcoming HEREAFTER
this last effort she lay tossing in an I'M
easy sleep.
Oh! was so weary and so very lone
ly! The dreadful night was almost at
an end. l went to her side, threw my
self on the bed beside her, and put
my arms about her neck. Again her
wonderful eyes opened full in my face.
l fixed them with my own. I ca
ressed her, called her by the endearing
names of old. besought her to be gem
tie and to love me. told her she was
my own, the only creature left for me
to love and care forl One short second
it seemed as if soul looked out of her
glorious, deer-nke eyes, then, with
groan as if she gave the struggle over,
and with that low, fearful growl again,
she fastened her white teeth in my hand.
Shrieking with the pain, l tainted.
When came to myself dawn was strug-
CLING in at the window; leaf-shadows
fiickered on the floor. Fearful pain in