Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-09-19

taken, l should have to part with them
both.
Her life would die with his, for sorrow
iorges stronger bonds even than joy, and
they had suffered SO much together, his
love always supporting her, that he had
becum. life OF her life. She could moi
exist alone.
struggled hand to hand, and sick al
heart against what felt to be an in
.xorable tate, and, on the afternoon Of
tho eighth day, found myself alone and
almost despairing, save for tho hnppi-
ness Of the two I had loved best in the
world.
The sunset came, as I sat by the lake
side, flooding my desOlated world with a
heavenly glory, like a sign from them TO
tic OF their new-found Joy.
The stars had come out, before ven
tured to return to the worse than deserted
nonse. l could not hope for help from
my neighbor until l sought it out myself
.hn ncxt day, and l had to look forward
70 night, how horrible. l did not fore
&c OF l could not have endured it.
Nhnt followed 1 could scarcely credit
nyself, if did not bear on my hand
~mgille proof. in well-detined scar
md, oven now, kcould not bear 10 write
Il that nights experience, had not my
.liildron's laughter, and my loving hus-
.and's care long since banished oil un-
,atural gloom from my life.
While Ind been sitting alone on the
Ike shore, toward the evening, had
card distant shot it scarcely reused
I'd. A sportsman, thought, had wan
ero,l from his encampment on the OPP
.usite shore, and seen some game in our
,ildwoods, killed it, and his canoe had
ng since carried him away. In the
altering darkness l CROPPED my way
Jack through the familiar little path,
nd reached my own door. l alone
,hould pass the threshold in the future /;
'hoir feet were still the busy feet that
had toiled for me, followed me, and had
been ever near me ! was to go on my
rugged path alone Heartsick and over
come, stopped at the door, and, leah
ing my head against 1t, sobbed in un'
comfortable despair. Tired out atlength,
had grown quiet, and was about to lift
the latch, when faint moan, as of on
animal in pain, and close to me, startled
me then death-like silence reigned.
l knew l had been mistaken. l fel
that l must forget myself and help TIN
poor creature in distress. " II il yer,
good for strength to know that some on
needs you to be strong" No longe
hcsitating I hurried into the little cabin
struck light and went in the direction
whence the moan had reached my ears
l thought Of the shot I Ind heard. ]
was quite possible poor wounded dec
was lying in the bushes. Yes, coul
now soc its skin-unmistakably faw
spotted dun color. Itlay quite still
perhaps that moan had been its dym
:: gasp-and so 1 came quite close to i
) leaned over, and, paralyzed with horro
saw my mothers face, only young al
). very beautiful, as she must have locke
when q girl. Deathiy pale, possibl.
: she lay-mattod hair all about her fac
= and clothed in doe-skin. Just then 81
: stirred; it was not death. All wond'
!, ceased within me, every feeling fled b
" fore the thought that this being wha
It ever, whoever she was, might be save
IS to life.
8 dragged her the few steps into tt
house, laid her on my hemlock bough
Il untouched by me since the sickness vi
T. tied us. Then I found wound in d
Is poor creatures side and bound it u
Is batlied her head, and, in the quiet, ne
Ne again I felt startled at seeing my mot
lie er's image, young and fair, before II
Oh and, when at length her great ey
Iy opened, I felt it must be that sister Il
a. 10 me till now, and sent back in this 8
IN hour TO take my mothers place.
leaned forward, in. an access Of tend
er ness, to welcome her, when look
III fright al animal-likc wild terror, to
ne possession Of her face, and low sort
st snnrl broke from her human lips.
as The start she gave c,iuseu u fresh Il
a Of blood; dimness passed over her ey
cd Again stanched the wound and p
a pared nourishmeot in case she walk
wo Too busted in these ways for furtl
ali speculation, only with strange wei
no at my heart and weariness Of body, 81
ell denly felt the CLEAN Of eyes watch
.rt me. Such strange eyes No hun
en- expression about them; a steaithy Il
nv in them now. Gently as l could 1
ad proached her side. She trembled (
ID, tried to hide her head when l offe
w. her my careiully-prepared food. limo
en- away and studiously avoided any
on pearance of watching her. Yet
,ty intensely conscious Of her every me
lot ment. could see her eying, wit
ne. wretched, famished look, raw veni
we steak that had been forgotten and
in on the table close beside her. Stenl
i've ly, like beast Of prey, her feeble IA
to stole toward it, and in q moment
DDS had torn it in pieces and deyoured it
md Horror filled my heart. Could
Oh. creature be human l sat still in
corner, where, myself unseen, l C,
ur. watch and restrain her ii necessary,