Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-03-25
The fork of the tree stood that height


pipe, refilled it with more than usual
care and elaboration
They followed his movements, know
ing he had something important to say.
Pressing the tobacco into the bowl of
his pipe with his left thumb, he said:
81 reckon we're in for tight Job.
We've about three days grub in the
tent, and there's no getting any more
within twenty miles of this The snow
storms going 10 last, and I'm blessed
If see how we're going to fight it out
In this gully Wen have to make our
way out of it,
And leave behind us claim that s
turning out an ounce of gold to the
tub?"
That's so.''
with the chance of never being able
to find the place again."
Right you are"
No one ventured to dispute long wit h
Cornish Tom: he was known not to BE
fond of giving idle opinions.
We'll" said Gentleman George. Il
reckon there's no help for it. | was
once told by shepherd that places
ike these were showed in at this season
of the year sometimes for months to-
gether.n
The only thing we can do" said
Cornish Tom. lis to try and hump it
back tomorrow. It'H be no easy job,
and it II take time. Did any of you see
smoke rising from the next gully this
morning.
NO" they all replied
The men there have made tracks,
then, knowing it would be death to
stop. Wen have to follow their exam
pie, mates. An eternal shame it is that
when we've found rich gully like
this we should have to run away from
it. Why, we could make pile in six
months! wonder what sort IF ground
they've been working in the next gull
ly."
Il wonder if they're well off for pro-
visions, specialized Gentleman George.
Its all very well" said Dick
Driver, speaking very slowly. Ito say
that we shall have to follow them; but
it strikes me we shan't be able to get
out of this as easily as we think. Look
here and he kicked the side of
the tent against which 4 mass
of accumulated snow was he avily press
ing; '.there's a big drift setting in; the
old tracks are rubbed out. and if the
fork is buried. we might As well try to
walk through the sea "a attempt to get
out that way. l shouldn't be a bit
surprised if we were never to get out
at all. Hark. What is that?'
They inclined their heads and lis
tened. The only sound they heard
was the rushing of the wind past the
tent
did you hear anything?" they
asked of Dick Driver.
Il suppose it was fancy he replied.
AT such time as this a man ain ac-
countable for everything that passes
through his mind. | was never given
much to religion; if l had been, |
should say my prayers twice over to-
night"
The only answer Gentleman George
and Cornish Tom gave to this was a
steadier putting at their pipes. They
were well aware of their danger. but
they did not care to talk overmuch
about it. Indeed. every man in the
party but one had. before this time.
grasped the full extent of the peril
every man but William Fairfield. He
had not clearly realized it until this
night, and now it came upon him with
terrible force. Never to get back! To
be buried here, and lost to the world
foreveri Never to see dear Devon
again, Never again to see or hear of
Laurai An intense and burning desire
seized him to see and speak with her:
for he loved her still-loved her dearly.
1t was maddening to think he should
never look upon her face again.
Would it have been better for me-"
l.. IL l.-A,-1+...I !, 81
doubts, mot to have seen? 1t would,
for should not have known; should
have been blessed and happy; and
now"
He went again to the door, and,
needless of the almost binding snow.
stepped out. He strained his gaze
across the hills, as if he hoped by so do
ing he could conjure up Warleycombe
in the distance. And if he could have
done so-if at that moment a vision of
what was passing there had dawned
him. what would he have seen and
heard?
He would have seen Laura sitting
Iistlessly at her favorite window, over
looking the garden, now radiant with
natures loveliest gifts. He would have
observed how thin and pale she had
grown in the few months that had
passed since Christmas. He would have
seen her gazing wistful look far. far
beyond, as though she too were striv-
ing to annihilate space. and look again
upon the form of the man she loved,
for she had not turned her heart from
him, and had he presented himself
to her she would have taken him to
her breast, and wept over and forgiven
him.
He would have seen her father enter
softly and stand by her side, with his
hand on her shoulder. He would have
heard Reuben Harrild say:
THE old wound. child2"
The old wound. father" she an
swers. sadly; lit will never, never be
healed"
Child, childr' Reuben Harrild cries,
The is not worthy of you.
She lays her fingers on his lips.
He is mistaken. father, and has mis-
judged me. He will know it soon, per-
haps does now, and thinks better of
me. Oh, that he were here. that might
tell him forgive him.
And later on, when Laura was alone.
William would have seen her on her
knees. her prayer being that her lover
should return to her or that she should
die.
Had he possessed the disputed gift of
clairvoyance he might have turned to
another home-that of Stephen Wink
worth. There he would have seen poor
crippled Alice lying sick on her bed,
and Stephen standing by in anguish;
DIR. Bax, also, being present, looking
somewhat graver than of old.
May children never make faces at
medicine again. says the little doctor.
in cheerful voice, IF you are not
snmafhinr better to-day Alicni We