The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1882-1884, 1882-09-07

one O'Clock the next morning we
started for home. 1t war cloudy and
cold, with the wind nor th-east, and
looked like we's agoing to hev u
powerful snow-storm.'
'''Better hold on and make night
ont, Bill says some of the boys.
81 must git home,' says Phoebe,
for promised the old folks I'd be
back by three, and Pm the gal to
keep my word
"'Then don't promise to hev Bill,
and cut off all our hopes!' says one,
with a laugh.
":Wall, thar'd be nary chance for
you ef l didn't she says back, put
ting the laugh into him.
Joking in this kind of way, we at
last rid Off on gallop. but without
nyther of us thinking it 'ud be the
last ride we'd ever hev to-ge ther.
Ah.me! poor Phoebe.
1--WE hadn't gone more'n three
mile. when it begun to snow, fine and
dry. with the wind driving it power
full. 1t come right in our faces and
blinded us, and then begun to drift,
SOS to make it hard travelling fcr the
beasts. We didn't mind this, though,
and kept on, linking we'd git home
atore it I'D be dangerous. We had to
90 through one eend Of big swamp,
and thar it war we lost-though [
never exactly knowed how-for it
'peared to NC i was ail the time
in the open path, and | war all the
time looking to see ourselves come
out agin hill that war half way be:
twlxed the two places. The wind
hlowed so it warn't easy to talk, and
so we didn't say much; but artel
we'd rid nigh to an hour. and I'd got
so cold that it 'peared as ef the mar
rer of my bones war Citing froze, ]
says. says |:
" .Pho4be, how's this Arn't it
most time we's out of this here
swamp :?
She didn't say nothing. Phoebe
didn't, and so | aXed her the same
question over agin and IS she didn't
say nothing the second time. l rid
up and shook her
Dear me =. she says, faint like
1 believe Is almost asleep
Il felt my hair raise right up.
"'l'or Gods sake says |, don't
go to sleep. for eff you do, you'll
never wake 1t arn't q natera
sleep. Phebe-but you're .freezi"5
to death!
jest as I'd said this, 1 heerd
some cussed wolves begin to howl
fust here, then thar, then yonder-
as ef one war answering t'other, OF
different sides Of us.
"'W AXE up, Phoebe = says / 'fol
the varmnts is arter us, and well
both want all our wits ef they comes
up close!'
':As she didn't say nothing to this
[ shook her agin. and hollered i'll hel
ear that the wolves was arter us.
'Oh, I'm so sleepy!' she says
and the last word was spoke SO fain
that / couldn't scarcely hear it.
Il knowed chat sort OF thing
wouldn't do and quick as lightning
| jumped down off my boss, anC
pulled her OFF of hern, into aeel
drift Of snow. Then l begun tx
shake her and rub her. and scold her
and tell her to wake up and not di
that way.
"'Yes l will. William she says
SOS | could scarcely hear her; 'purt,
soon l will, WiIliam-but I'm 81
sleepy now-I jest wants one LITTLE
nap.'
Il shook her again like fury, call
ing he" all sorts OF hard names, jes
to rouse her by making her mad.
.'At that minute some cussed vol
hOwled agin right close TO US; anC
atore I'd time to catch the brides
both hosses gin wild snort an,
started off on a run, leaving us boil
thar afoot in the swamp, the poo
gal freezing TO death, and the hun
CRY varmints all round, ready t.
tear us to pieces at the fust chance
| tell you, Jim, nobody knows Wha
my feelings war then; they Wa
awful and as l drawed q pistol witt
one hand, and shook the poor dea
gal with tother, I felt the sweat
cold as the night war, start out al
over me. Eff thar'd bin any chanc
of catching the hosses, [ couldn'
hev left Phoebe a minute-for sh
war determined to sleep-and tina
itself would be death, even ef tn
wolves didn't git hold of her, whicl
l l-nowed they would; though from
the way thar yelps cams TO us nov
-gitting sharp and angry, but furde
and furder off que ssed they wa
arter the hosses thems elves.
s'But what war to be done wit
Phoebe ? for the poor gal war so mig
gone that l couldn't rou Sc her fear
4 bit, and scarce git an answer t.
my questions when 1 hollered 'en
into her ear. [ stood her up o.
her feet, and held her thar, an,
shook her. and walked her about
and scolded her. and told her ever
sl1eery thing I could think on; bu
the minute l let go on her, down sh
dropped, as eff she war determine,
to sleep her last.
| r