The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-07-06
"ycs. 7 saw Il. " WA, the meek response

go into the paperl"
40, YOU don't care You're like that
worthless brother Of yours; If you were
boy, you'd desert 1ne like him-thats all
YOU care about your father"
He was in grimbling mood to-day and
did not spare the patient slave who served
him She would not allow, however, the
allrsion to the boy who, four years ago had
gone forth with mothers blessing, TO seek
an honorable livelihood
What has Will done!" she asked, hotly.
ITO be sure, he has never come back, but
he has sent you money and will some day
come to us. But never mind, dinner is
ready
She saw that he was waited on, and then
went to the window. Far down in the town
she could see the people thronging church
ward. for the special Easter services had
been widely advertised and the churches
would be crowded. The sky was covered
with gray, misty cloud that was drifting
swiftly to the southwark. She listened TO
the gusts of wind that shook the building,
and she thought of the blizzard that the dis
patch had said was coming.
''Tm goin' down town, Madge," SAID her
father as he rises from the table.
"Stay with me-" she pleads, but siam OF
the door is all the answer she receives.
biting north wind grew tiercer and wilder.
At three o'clock the snow commenced fall
ing. Notin large, feathery flakes as IN we'll
regulated Eastern skies, but in tiny, icy PAR
ticles, that pierced the skin of the traveller
exposed to them. The storm howled on, ana
by five when Madge saw her father come
unsteadily around the corner OF the mouse,
on his way home from Il favorlte lounglhS
place where he had spent the day, the snow
was binding and the cold had almost CON
uucred the feeble efforts OF the kltchen
stove
We'll, air We goin to the office" asked
Haven, in a somewhat liquor-weakened
voice.
NO; there is no paper on Monday morn
ing. YOU know" replied She compositor.
That's so, forgot about it, It's mlghty
cold here: what's the mattcr'"
.sThe coal is nearly gone. Didn't you get
some Yesterday"
Didn't have no money, an now I'm out
of Job, can't get none Whatl we do,
Madge9'
'sIll have my months wages soon, and
then it'll be all right"
II heard somethin' ter-day."
"What was it, fathers"
"That Horris told on me, so as to get my
Job. Said to the comp'ny that was good
for-nothin' an got me discharged. I'll get
even with him, doggon his doggoncd picter,"
and the man clenched his hands angrily.
Suddenly his face lighted up with a strange
expression. "He comes back tonight from
the Gulch doesn't he!'' he blurted out, and
then went to the door. The wind was sun
fercer. and the air was fairly black with
snow. The thermometer had been register
ing below zero for two hours, and now was
4, 70 ha ttvpDtV 1nVrnp mark,
No church bells could be heard; indeed that
Easter Sunday is to this day remembered
as one upon which no evening services were
held. on account of the terrible storm. up
from the stream to which the steep banks,
separated from the house by the narrow
wagon road led, came the roar OF the waters
as they dashed eastward, as II getting q
good Roadway for their long, sluggish Jour-
ney across the plains to the sea.
sTn fix him, the girl heard him mutter
in his alf-drunken frenzy, and then taking
a lantern from the closet he went with II
out into the night.
What can he be doing!" she thought, and
waited with breathless anxiety for his re
turn 1t was long time, but when he came
| it was without the light and with buster
ing and blowing that told he had been facing
the storm.
''Nncft ~ INC ldlltIu, ldtliOL' oAS A+i
quired.
1T went out, and had to drop it, to hant
on to myself he replied with leer.
Sheis not satisfied, but can get no other an
swer: and. as the fireis dying and the bitter
cold is creeping overher flesh, she goes to tho
| single stairs room of the swaying cabin
where she prepares TO sleep. Before dolni
so. she peers through the curtainless WIN
3ows. She can see nothing, but she cal
feel the dust.like snow sift against her fac
as il is driven through some crevice IN tn
wall. All is black outside. just as she !
turning away, however, she thinks she see
"a twinkle of light toward the river. Sh
looks again. Yes, surely il is there. Can
traveller be abroad in such tempest
Surely not. for the light remains still. Sh
puzzles over it moment and thena though
comes to her that makes her tremblc
1t is the lantern which her father ha
hung out-why: There can be but one ar
swcr-to misguide his rival, who must fore
his way through the storm tonight an
bring through the mail and stage from tn
Gulch. The light will cause him 10 turn
the right and throw stage driver and horse
over the bank, and send them rolling to
death plunge in the ice filled river below.
'.In his drunken fury Ire is not himself
she thinks. in excuse of the deed, and dete
= mines TO undo the crime which was abol
TO be committed.
, Hastily wrapping n cloak around h'
shivcring form, she crecps back to the lowe
2 room. Her father is sitting before Il
stove, apparently brooding over his comil
revenge As noiselessly as possible 81
n opens the outer door; and though the M;
v turns and secs her slipping through, she hi
= vanished iuuo tho blackness of the storm b
i fore he can call TO her.
In an instant he recognizes her crrant
the thought of the slight girlish form ba
Ting with the fearful tempest, sends u
q blood back from his heart and makes
!. sober man of him in flash.
:. He rushes to the door and calls, 'Madge
/. with all his strength. 1t is of no USE. Not
ing but the wind and the roaring Smoky l
& ply. Putting on his overcoat, which, ragg
d as il was, would afford some protection,
Z starts to the rescue. He turns the corner
}, the house, and as the blast strikes him,
n is almost driven back. But he struggl
i on and reaches the spot where he thinks
left the lantern-nonc is there, nor can
II find trace of the daughter whose body
d somewhere being drifted under the sno'
5. covering. Back TO the house, reached wi
I, difficulty he takes his course, and III ago
@ alternately upbraided himself and mour
the absent child.
Of
IN "Bless me, driver, but this is hairy 81
III of night" and the only passenger OF
te Red Gulch stage drew his ulster clos
III about him and even then shivered a lit
4, with the cold.
IN IN "Yes we'd orter hev stopped back yent
- until mornin', but the mail haz ter