Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-06-02

sober face. How still and lonesome it
seemed without the bright baby, who
always laughed and put out his little
hands the moment the biz brother came
in sight. Jean felt conscience-smitten
when he remembered how often he had
said: Bother take the baby" when
his mother had left the little fellow in
his charge for few moments. In fact.
it was but two or three days since he
had been wicked enough to wish the
baby dead. when he had been called in
from play to rock the cradle. Aud
hadn't the good priest told the boys
of the parish school only that very week
THAT murderous thought was almost
as bad in the eyes Of God as murder
Gus blow If the baby should die =
the boys heart gave u great thump a>
he thought of il-how could he. Jean
Laval. ever look any one in the face
again!
Take courage. mother he said,
bravely. "rll harnes, jet. and have
him at the door in moment
Mrs. Laval wiped her eyes with the
corner of her apron and looked anx.
iously out Of the window. Are YOU
sure it is safe to cross. my SOM IdOn'l
like the looks oftnat SKY. and the wealth
cr has been warmer lately. anil there
have been signs of the breaking up of the
ice above us
But that was far up the river; and
as for the clouds. they do look prett,
squally, that fact; but we shall bt
back long before the storm breaks
Louise knows what to tell the doc.
tor. Ii he shouldn't be home, leave
word for him to come As soon as posi-
bic. and then hurry to the drug store and
get the powder. and be sure and buy Il
double portion for Mother Barbet. She
is coming to stay with me while YOU
are away. Yes. l suppose it is best t'
go"
In a few moments Jean and Louise
were snugly tucked inside the little
sledge under the warm wolf-skins. and
the black pony with his head down. go
ing at his best pace, brought them in &
short time 10 the rivers edge. The
ice was soon crossed, and. after short
drive up the main street of the Argc
town. Jean pulled up in front of the
doctors office. Finding him ont. ht
scrawled message on the slate. and
stopping at the drugstore. he bought
two bottles of the white powder. which
he carefully placed in his inside coat
pocket; and then they started fol
home.
How dark it has grown" ex
claimed Louise, al they reached the
crOssing-place and saw crowd of mel
standing looking out on the frozen
river and gesticulating earnestly; land
that sky. Jean. it frightens me to lool
ut it." She pointed TO wriIhing mas.
of huge inky clouds rapidly climbing
up from the horizon. The wind. which
had been blowing steadily all day. had
entirely died away. leaving stiffness
which was almost oppressive. Thi'
ominOus silence was broken only by al
occasional moaning which seemed tC
vibrate along the frozen surface of the
river.
As the black pony stepped out upon
the ice, some men motiOned Jean back
and. finding him determined to go on
two or three of them sprang forward
and seized the bride. YOU'RE young
my master. but you're old enough tG
know better than to venture across il
the face of such Il sky as that. And
haven't you heard the news from up the
river? the ice has already weakened in
spots!'
Let GO" said Jean. tightening hi'
hold on the reins. Weak Ice or not.
must cross
But several other men had gathered
in front of the pony. '.Back, back.
say"' shouted one. 1--WE have had
orders to stop people from crossing
but in truth. didn't think there would
he man or boy fool enough to attempt
it. Don't you know the meaning O
those clouds? The tornado may be o.
us at any time-even now while we arr
talking"
"But tell you must cross. and yor
have no right to keep me here losing
time" returned Jean, flushing angrily
while Louise turned her face imploring
ly toward the men.
"We must try to cross" she said
with trembling lips. MY little brother
is sick-perhaps dying; we have beer
for the doctor and are taking back the
medicine. Father is away, and mother
is waiting for u.s."
The men looked irresolute. "Bettel
to lose one child than three" said tn,
first speaker. still keeping hold of the
bride.
"Let the youngsters 60, neighbol
Tyrrel," exclaimed newcomer. "It
is Pierre Lavars pony. the best traveller
about N. Perhaps he can get them
across before the storm bursts. Think
of your own wife left alone with dying
baby, and waiting for medicine. Spare
not the whip. my boy. and may the
good God put such speed in your pony.
legs as never was there beforer'
Jet, glad to be released, darted for
ward on his way. The same oppressive
stiffness continued, still the black cluld.
mounted higher and higher. and there
was the same peculiar moaning in the
ice beneath. The children had alread,
crossed more than two-thirds of the dis
tance, when there came little puff O
wind, followed by two or three violent
gusts which caused the light sledge tC
SNcTfc ~ ONlc Slut. He next moment,
there was Il heavy boom in the ice di.
rectly underneath them, and the air wa,
filled with a succession of sharp report.
like the rattling of musketry.
Louise, too frightened to speak. turn
ed and looked in her brothers face, but
she found little there to re-assure her.
His eyes were riveted on a large crack
in the ice before them through which
could be seen the dark waters of the
swiftly moving current. Obeying the
sudden sting of the whip. the pony
gathered himself for spring and clear
ed the crack just as it widened to al
impossible chasm behind them. A sec.
ond crack was crossed in the same man.
ner, and then Jean saw that their float.
ing platform was surrounded on all
sides by water. ave must leave the
sleigh. Louise" he said. 1T will be
safer lying flat on the ice" He took
his knife and cut the pony loose from
the sledge. 1T is only fair to give
poor Jet chance for his life." he NUT.
tered; and then seizing his sister by the