The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-12-30

sN"fANa Az ksStho'
The moon has gouc in again, and
the light from tho lantern we Gerry Is
barely sus'eient to show us tho in
oqualitios in the height Of tho snow,
by which wo arc guessing at our path.
! begin toswish | had atayed at home.
| begin to consider whothor | mkl
venture TO give up the search (which
bavo undertaken purely to satisfy my
wife, for am like John, aud won't
believe in Laddie,) when snddanly /
bear n shout in front Of Ns, and see
Donald, Who has all the time bon
keeping close to I.adiio drop op, his
knees While tho deg Ii digging In the
SNOW with his paws We ell ruah
forward. Laddie has stopped at what
appears 20 bo the foot Of atuated
tree, and, after scratching and
whining for a moment, alta down aud
watches, leaving the rest TO na. What
Ia it that appears whom We have shov-
ellei away tho saewl 4 dark object.
II ia bundle Of ragsl Ii it--or alasl
was it--a human boingl Wo raise il
carefully and tenderly, aud wrap il in
cue OF tho warm blankets with which
my wifos foreIhought ha8 provided MS.
"Baing tae tao antern," say. husk.
ily, uud John holds IL over the PROSTATE
form Of, not ea we might have expected,
some stalwart shepherd of tho hills,
bus over that Of ii poor, shrivelled
wriakled, ragged old woman. try TO
pour u little brandy down the poor old
hioat, but the teeth are 80 firmly
cieEohed that cannot.
"Get her home as quickly as may
be, sir; the mistress Will know better
what to do for her nor wo do, IL 70 be
the psor creature is no. paat help"
says John, turning instinetively, as we
all do IN sickness OF trouble, TO womana
aid.
81 we improyise n 80 IT Of hammock
of tho blankets, and gently aud toader.
ly the men prepare TO carry their poor
helpless burden over the snow.
u am afraid your mistress will Be
in bed" l say, as we begin to retraec
our steps,
Never fear, air, - says Donald, with
a trium phans glance at olsn, "ths mis-
treas wll be up And waiting for as.
Size kqaa Laddie diana bring US out M
the Eaaw fer naething."
''I'll never say nought about beliey.
ing dog again" SAys john, gracefully,
striking bis colors. "You we're right,
and | MAS wrong; bat 10 think there
eh0ull b. aueh sense in "a animal
passes ur.'
~ we reach the ayehue gate dcs.
patch ore oF &c rsa 10 90 ysoetor.
who, fortunately livea within S:of,e's
threw of as, and hurry on myself TO
prepare my wife for what Is coming.
She runs out into the hall to meet ine.
"WeIlI' she asks, eagerly.
awe have fopnd poor old woman,'
say, "bgt we 10 not whether sbo Is
alive or dead"
Aiy wifo taroSa her arms around
Gia au1 gives lDo a great hug.
"Yoa viii end dry things snd n
jog Of hot teddy ia your dressing room,
dear she saye; and this is the revenge
EAe takes on me for mr. scepticism.
The poor old woman is carried up
ssair3 and placed in warm bath under
ny wife's direction, and before the
doctor arrives she has shown some
faint symptoms Of hfe; 40 my wife
sends mo word. DIR. Bruce shakes his
head when he sees her. "Poor old |
Goul, ho aays, "how came she out ON
gach fearful night | doub. she has
received a sLoek which, at her age, she
will rot easily get over"
Tie manage, however, to force
few spooafals Of hot brandy and water
down her throat; and presently faint
color iIickers, on her check, anl the
poor old eyolids begiA to tremble. Ny
wife raises her head and makes her
swallow some cordial which Dr.. Bruce
has brought with him and lays he.
back among the soft, warm pillows.
81 think she will rally now" says
DR.. Bruce, az her breathing becomes
more regular and audible "Nourish-
ment and warmth will do the rest. bat
she has received a shock from which / |
fear she will never recover" And so
say ing be takes his leave.
by azd By go up to the room. and |
hnd my wife Watching aloae by the
aged sufferer She looks at mo with |
tears in her eyes. "Poor old soul"
she says, 81 am afraid sho will not
rally from the eoldand exposure"
] 90 round to the other side of the
bed ani look down upon her. Tae
aged face looks wan and pinchod, and
the scanty gray locks which lilo on the
pillow are still wet from the snow.
She is very little woman, as far as l |
can judge Of her in her recumbent
position, and shouod think had
reacaed her allotted three-score Years
aud ten.
"Who can she bel'' l repeat, wonder
ngly. "She does not belong to any
ST the villages hereabouts or We should
know her face, and | cannot imagine
what could bringa stranger to the
moor on such night"
AS speak, a change passes over
her face; the eyes unclose and she looks
about her. She tries to
speak, but is evidently too weak. My
wife raises her and givesa spoonful of
while she says soothingly.
Don't try to speak. You are among
friends, and when you are better you
shall tell me all about yourself. Lie
still now and try to sleer."