The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-05-21

PART H-CoxfIHuRD.
For some time after Cornish Tom
)eased speaking there was silence in
the tent. But at the end of an hour
the full sense of their own danger
forced itself upon them to the exclu.
sion of every other subject. The fire
had burned out, and there was not a
stuck in the place they could use for
6rewood; the cold was intense; and
their situation was growing every mo-
nent more perilous.
''Dick," said Gentleman George,
s'hefore Tom commenced his story you
fancied you heard something. What
was itfn
Men crying out" replied Dick
Driver.
Perhaps" said Cornish Tom, ''the
men from the next gully. What do
you say, mates. to going to look for
them7 No ones in the humor for
sleep. and the moon is rising, so that
we shall be able to- pick our way.
Who's for it?"
They were all glad for it, glad of the
opportunity for action. 1t was resolved
that all but William should go, and
that he should be left to take care OF
the tent. They calculated to be back
before sunrise. when they would COM
mence in serious earnest the task OF
cutting their way out of the region OF
snow. They took some long poles and
ropes with them, and in a few moments
William was alone.
Standing by the tent door, he watch
ed his mates treading their way care.
fully along until they were out Of sight
and then he set himself to the task oil
getting together the things they should
need to take with them in the morn
ing. This occupied him an hour, and
then he threw himself upon his stretch
er and fell into doze
Lying thus. a strange fancy haunted
him. Cries for help, sounding from
afar, travelled toward the tent. These
cries. growing fainter and fainter. un
ill they died away altogether, formed
part of his dreams. and it was only
when they ceased that he aroused him
self and listened. i'm doubt whether they
had actually been uttered. The wind
had lulled, and, hearing no sound, he
<ozed off again, to be again awakened
by faint cry Yet when he went t.
the door he heard no sound. Nothing
but the snow-covered peaks and hills
could be seen. No sign of human life
was visible, and he shuddered at the
fancy that he was alone in the world
al L.
mortal face again. As this fancy
grew upon him with the
strength of conviction, the scene
reminded him strangely of mis- last
Christmas Eve at Warleycombe. He
looked around. almost expecting tc
see the queer faces and the shadows OF
his dreaming. The hill down which
the avalanche had swept was before
him: the faces he had seen at Marley
combe were not there. nor the tree be-
meath which he had fallen asleep, but
he saw the white plain undulating
His fevered fancy peopled its surfaces
with snow-elves and shadows, staring
at him with giittering eyes and beck
Oning him to approach. Like one in
a dream. deprived of all control ovel
his will. he walked toward them until
he WAS some distance from the tent
The shadows continued to multiply in
numbers and waved him onward. A:
he advanced toward them they retreat
ed. but beckoned him still to come. HI
seemed to be drawn forward by an in
visible power. until, overcome by nerv
.ous excitement, he sunk, half insensi
bile, to the ground.
NV life is over" he groaned. Hope
has departed from it: love has melted
out of it. The woman l adored was
falser'
Nor cried thunderous voice: and
the word was echoed and re-echoed {
thousand times by the surrounding
hills. Then. as at a word of mmand
the echoes suddenly ceased, and. like s
bell-note upon the rarified air, clear
and sweet, stole another voice, which
smote him with mingled pain and
pleasure.
MOI it said: .'the woman you loved
was faithful. She is as pure as the
snow which may be your grave. Mis-
cradle man, you have destroyed ant
withered her young life. Tear from ths
Rose of Love the Parasite Doubt, ant
awake from your dream.
The voice ceased. the shadows faded
into thin air, and William rose from
the ground, writing at the possible
truth contained in this delusion of the
senses. He had wandered far from the
tent. and he was about to turn thither
ward when a dark stain on the white
surfaces caught his eye. He moved
forward, aud saw, stretched upon the
ground. the bodies of two men. HI
knelt and tried to rouse them. In
vain; they were insensible, perhap:
dead. The cries he had heard vert
real and had proceeded from these two
men. He could see plainly their face:
in the monaghan; and one. bearded
rs it was. struck upon his memory like
that of an almost forgotten friend. Ont
by one he dragged the men. still be
numbed, to the tent, and. without sue
cess, tried by every means in his power
to restore them to consciousness HI
searched in their pockets for means o.
Identification. On enc he found s
matchbox full of gold and an empty
pipe; On the other he found pocket
book. As he knelt over him to take i
from his breast and looked into hi:
face the same expression of an ole
familiar association occurred again Il
him. and he passed his hand across hi.
brow in the endeavor to trace the con
meeting link to the fancy which en-
thralled him. The next moment b,
opened the pocket-book.
Was he dreaming still? He startet
60 his feet. aglow with excitement, TO
in his hand lay the picture of Laurs
Hsrrild, with her truthful eyes directed
fo his fare With tran, hl;p~ hands h