The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1881-01-18

"The cry was repeated. 1t was q
woman's voice, but it expressed such
supreme misery as L believe woman
never felt before. 1t came ringing up
the gorge with weird and mournful
intonation that chilled the blood in my
heart. BY the DOCTORS quick breathing
could tell that he was as much affected
as myself. Neither of us spoke or NOV
ed; both waited for renewal of the
cry, in the hope of arriving at some
rational explanation of it.
"Again it came but now like low,
tremulous sob. am not superstitious
man, gentlemen, but L confess that 1
sat there shivering with a species of
horror that was utterly new to me.
What could it be p Not living woman,
surely; alone and suffering in an inacoes-
sible fastness where we were mortally
certain nothing human dwelt. And
then what misery was it that gave itself
such uncanny expressionp Not fear,
nor bodily pain, but something terrible,
something nameless to us. While we
were debating these questions in smoth-
cred tones, the cry came once again.
This time in words we understood:
"' Helpl Oh, God helpl'
cat this Ineligible appeal to our
manhood, our superstitious weakness at
once disappeared. Selling torch from
our smouldering fire, we made our way
hastily toward pile of rocks few
hundred yards distant, whence the sound
seemed to have proceeded. Scrambling
up the height we came suddenly upon
strange and mournful scene. Before us
stood small, wretched-looking hut,
evidently constructed by hands unused
to such labor, unglazed, end without a
chimney. There was dull light with
in, and through the open door we saw
the body of man apparently lifeless,
lying prone upon the earthen floor.
Beside him, with arms flying wildly
over her head, knelt the figure of o
woman, evidently the one whose cries
had alarmed us. 1t need but q glance to
assure us that some strange tragedy had
taken place, and without moments
hesitation we entered the hut.
1.-THE woman raised her eyes as we
approached, but gave no further heed to
us. Apparently her great sorrow had
driven her distracted. She was young
creature, hardly twenty, should judge,
and, despite the signs of hardship and
sorrow visible on her features, very
beautiful. Her form was slight and even
attenuated, but in Its shabby dress pre-
served traces of former refinement.
" Her companion, young man of
about her own age, attired in coarse
woodman's suit, had evidently sue
cumbed to hardship or disease, and was
either insensible or dead. His pinched
and CHASTITY countenance must have
been once very handsome, but now it
looked old and worn as that of a man of
sixty. He had apparently fallen in his
present position, and the girl had been
unable to raise him.
My friend, the DOCTOR" continued
the worthy professor, "surly, uncouth
and cynical as he commonly appears,
has as kind heart as ever beat in a
mans breast-no fiattery, my dear fell
low, for it must be confessed that you
have faults that more than counterbal-
ance your one good trait. Well, gentle
men, he bent over the poor creature,
and in voice as gentle as a woman's
Io n.;r Il h.,
lethargy.
Who are you p he said, 'and what
has happened p
He is dead-dead!' she muttered,
hoarsely.
"' Perhaps it is not as bad as that, he
rejoined. Tell US all about it. We are
friends, my dear, and medical men, and
may be able to assist you."
"' He died this morning, before my
very eyes she moaned, died, oh, my
God of starvation. And never knew
that he was depriving himself for my
sake. Oh, my husband; why did you
not let me die with your And she
threw herself across the body, sobbing
as if her poor heart would break. There
were tears in the DOCTORS eyes as he
looked at me, added the professor, with
tremor in his voice, "and the rascal
has always sworn that my own were
not dry. That, however, is aside from
the subject.
"Though we knew nothing of these
two poor children-for they were but