The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-06-17

aQ1uSGeu DIV ucILcSb English UngCFS upon JlelT
modest board. For drapery to the little lounge
they had the brilliant coloring and fine web of
blankets made by the Navajo Indians. How
Lucy had cried for Joy when she found blos-
soming bravely upon her window sill pot of
red and white balsam, which
Tom had raised for her from the seed, in men,
Ory of the little garden at st. Margaret's.
As months went on, Lucy, well trained to
the solitude of her New World life, found a
thousand charms surrounding it. In early
summer leaving their messy n-hung cliffs,
Tom and she would make long expeditions on
horseback down into the enchanting region,
where, kneeling upon hillocks of emerald turf,
waist.deep in scented grass, she nigh fill her
lap with a mass of gaudy wild tulips, of lilies,
and syringa lusciously sweet in smell of tiny
unknown flowers in every shade of blue and
white and rose. ....
spreading afar their layers of lustrous shade,
appealed most strongly to her English hear !;
but she learned to look with enthusiasm
upon the pines clothing with their girdle of
everlasting green the granite ribs OF the
mountain monarchs couched in eternal sleep.
At last there came late October day when
Toms baby-girl opened her blue eyes like gen.
tian flowers beneath fall Of snow. Lucy did
well, and during two or three weeks purest
love and Joy reigned under the roof of the
little dwelling. Tom walked about on tiptoes
and conversed in awe-stricken whispers even
at the distance of a mile from his new treas
ure. An old Dutchwoman, who had been in
duced to come from distant settlement to
attend upon Lucy, abandoned them when the
baby was about three weeks old, Lucy declar-
ing herself quite strong enough to resume
her usual duties about the cottage, aided by
her quaint factotum, the Chinaman, wi h a
blue cotton blouse and pigtail, who was their
cook, launderer and butler c mbined. A few
DAYS after, Tom bounded up the little path
leading to his home and burst in like an<aR-
tunln blast OF wind.-te. fgss t.pey ; - ysit'.
! BY Che areloas king pale and weary, Tholdia,
her hand upon her side.
| think | have taken little cold, Tor
she said, trying to smile up at him N her qua
fashion. perhaps | had better go bak to
bed.n .t't W-" = '."
And oh, the pity of itl--all to, son, poor
little English Lucy lay still and oldapon her
couch, the baby wailing at he. sde Just
before she died, Lucy asked Tom 7 listen
they were singing the "Jublate' . st. Mar
garet's; SO listening she passed away. They
made her grave at the foot OIL r favorite
tree-a grand heaven-reaching pir, clothed
with mist of perfumed plumy gred " '''i 4.
/ Tom Boynton recrOssed his deso]te thresh-
old to cast himself down upon Luy's vacant
couch and pray God to take hn too. He
heard feeble cry, and felt beneatlthe clothes
stirring like the 1utter of a I'D Lucy's
baby lay there, forgo ten in the night of his
despair. He picked up the tiny thing, awk-
wardlv adjusting its garments, nd soothing
it against his cheek. The child 5ried on, and
would not suffer him to lay it ewn; by-and-
| byit fell asleep in his bosom, AMI to his heart,
that had been like a stone. thererept again q
| semblance OF human warmth, T. ..s.... -
Next day storm-clouds hung ow upon The
peaks of the Serras, and the wild went moan
! ing through the pines. A mier, who was
Toms especial friend amonghis employees,
came up early from the cam to find him
making preparations fer depsture from the
cottage.
Without proper food Or attendance for the
child, and with no prospect ofsecuring for it a
woman's care, short Of the kind old nurse
| whose services at home werecaimed by her.
own newly arrived grndchid, he had made
up his mind, in view d he menacing snow
blockade, to set out On horseback wi h the
baby in his arms, and stifking downthe noun
| tain side by precipitOIs trail not often used,
make all speed to gan he far-ayay ranch
| house where the old nirse might be found
! TOMS mare, the nobe creature hat had
borne him so feetly andso faithfully to meet
his bride, was equipped with such provision
| for the ride as she could carry, and The infant
/ warmly wrapped, was laid in her father
breast. Boynton rode forth from his home
into the forest gloom, like a spirit driven from
| paradise, daring not to look behind.
| Win steady riding, under Ordinary condi-
tions of the weather, he might hopeby even
ing to secure shelter for the child. sullen
canopy of sky and a peculiar Threatening of
snow in the atmosphere caused him many an
anxious pang of doubt and self-reproach as
IRON s@Sn 70 daiBBy ; nestled under tn,
folds of the great plaid with which
she was bound to his BODY, then loosening rein
let The mare out into q long even stride, car
rying them swiftly through the pine carpeteC
forest reaches, and across the granite lodges
where her hoofs rang cheerily. =.
A snowflake, then another, fell like lead
upon his heart. They came thick and fast a,
the short day closed in, bringing the expedi
ton to a sudden halt. The dreaded snow wa:
upon them in good earnest, and he dared MOI
risk the loss of trail. Turning aside unde
the imperviDus roofing of a group of frs
Boynton prepared to bivouac.
No hardship this for an old campaigner. ant
in short time brisk fame from a pile Of
storm-driven logs and branches shot up into
the blue shadows overhead. Tom would have
taken oath that his brave little comrade smiled
back at him when after feeding, he slowed
her warmly away under the peak of an India
rubber blanket, upon royalty fragrant coucl
OF moss and fir bonghs. She lay there, utter
ing few inarticulate murmurs of sweet con
ont, while he brewed himself a pot of tea, ant
looked after the comfort of his mare, tethered
socially at his elbow. ..
Through the long watches OF the night,
while Tom kept vigil by his baby's side akins
anxious heed to the pro .ress of the storm
ms faithful animal turned on him ewes so full
OF human sympathy he almost felt that she
must speak.
With the return of daylight, Boynton deter
mined, at all cost, to take up the abandoned
trail. Cheering him as could no other sound
arose the babys lus y-demand for breakfast.
MAKING nervous haste prepare for her d
meal consisting of bsc lit-crumbs and SUGAR.
with snow-water warmed over the embers. he
broke camp, and set forth anew upon his eyrie
pilgrimage. '''it ~ t'.f
Amid the spectral free-forms shiverine be
meath their weight of snow This kuowedoe of
the conformation OF the hills, The grouping of
tne rocks, aiding him in this extremity he
iaoored on, progress at every moment becom
ing more difficult in the teeth of a growing
storm The mares feet gathered snow, until,
sliding forward with dangerous rush down
the Incline, then pulling herself up with pant
ing sides, she would turn her head away from
the furious onslaught Of wind and snow bear.
ing upon them through the forest aisles like a
wall of breakers on the shore.
Tom Boynton drew rein beneath an over.
hanging shelf of rock, not knowing whether
ne had there found his grave and his child's
Hour alter hour, while the sleet drove and the
wind ragged, he stood with his back ayains the
granite wall, hugging the baby close, wetting
her lips with wine, and breathing his warm
breath on her face. With all his might he re-
sisted an overmastering sense of drowsiness
The recklcssness of life before possessing him
was merged into AN intense desirelto struggle
Tor existence for the sake of Lucy's little one
Once when the baby cried1ong and piteously.
{ M hn~ ~. Al. ~