Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-03-27

dunno who he lsend. Icoulden fine my
way back thar to save my soul. /
know every inch O. the road, but, the
roads kivvered deep. A feller'd hev
to know the mountains to fine that
coach tonight"
II will go with you," said I to the
man, as he was about to depart.
Basil had listened intently to all that
had been said. Now he spoke in an
undertone to his mother.
"Mr. Nicholas" said she, s'Basl will
put the man on the road to town. He
wants you to stay here to-night.n
Hooked at the boy inquiringly. His
anxious, beseeching expression decided
me.
"Put the driver on the right road,
Basil. l will stay"
Basil went out with the man. In a
short time he returned.
''Mother;' he said, 81 am going to
the coach"
"Not tonight"
eyes, mother, tonight"
care you crazy, Basil?"
Nervously and with great gravity he
answered:
"No, mother. What the driver said
is true. If the passengers get out of
the coach and try to find him, or to
come to town tonight, they will get
lost, and will freeze to death. Some
body that knows the mountains must
go to them. There's no one else knows
them as well as 1 do"
Almost in a whisper he added: IF
father was in such danger, mother we'd
want somebody to go to him."
II will go with you, BASIL" said I.
"Oh, no, sir! want you to stay
| with mother"
Mrs. Stout had great confidence in
her sons ability to take care of himself
in the mountains, and the allusion to
her husband had touched her heart.
eff you must go, Basil, the sooner
you get off the better"
Put two loaves of bread and astone
bottle full of hot milk into my KNAPP
sack, mother. I'll put my over :
coat and get my snow-shoes."
All was ready. Basil cast his eyes
about the warm and brightly-lighted
room, then looked at his mother. It
was hard to go.
ooh, Basil! Must you go?"
Goodnight, mother!"0
This was all he said, but the fervor
and strength of affection thrown into
the words 1 will never forget. He
kissed her, chung to her a moment, as
if he could not go, kissed her again,
and was gone.
followed him into the road. The
storm vas at it's height. The tempestu-
Gus air was filled with binding snow.
The atmosphere was intensely cold.
"My boy,"I said, ..you had better
not go. You may lose your life"
"Mr. Nicholas, I mast go. I sent
word to the agent by the driver that l
would. There is no one else that can"
Then, almostunderh his breath. s.There
was One laid down His life for us all. |
Will you please see that mother has
whatever she needs, sir, until I get
back?"
lPressed him to my heart and gave
the desired assurance, clasped his hand
for an instant, and longed to detain
him. Impulsively he Embraced me,
and instantly departed toward the
mountains.
The next morning the storm had
abated. With difficulty I plowed my
way through the deep snow to town.
Going to the coach office, I learned
from the agent that a strong force of
s.hands'' had been sent to cut a road
Through the drifts to the lost coach.
"Ihe coach a not arrive" he said,
'till some time this evening""
When school was dismissed I went
again to Mrs. Stout's..
NO" she answered to my inquiry,
''Basil has not come back. 1 think he
will be on the COACH"
l returned to town to wait for its ar
rival. 1t got to the Office at nine o'clock
that night.
The passengers spoke with admira-
ton of a brave boy WHO hailed the
coach at about two o'clock in the
morning. The "~messenger'' had got
out to talk with him. The storm was
at its worst. The boy told the messen-
ger he had seen the driver, and had
been sent by him to warn the passen-
gers to remain in the coach until
the agent should send a party to rescue
them. If they should disregard this
counsel they would almost surely per-
ish. He then gave the messenger a
bottle of milk and some bread for all
who were storm-stayed.
The messenger urged him to seek
refuge in the coach.
lis there a sick man en- board?" he
asked.
On being told there was not he said
that he must return to his home; that
his mother would hardly rest until he
was safe under her roof again; and
without delay he departed homeward.
Among the passengers relieved by
Basil was his own father.
MI. Stout's arrival at home unat-
tended by his son filled hif wife's heart
with dismay. She told the story of
Basil's departure, and at once it be-
came known to Mr.. Stout that the
brave boy was spending his second
night in the SHOWS of the mountains.
The anxiety and distress of both Pc
rents were extreme.
The father at once proceeded to or
ganize a party to search for the missing
boy. Hardy frontiersmen secured the
range day and night, but NO trace
OF the lost could be found, MANY
months passed, but Basil did not re-
turn.
One fine day in June I took some of
nv 1nrpar nunils and eyplorod ~ ..s