The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-03-15

he muttered "but II jist stay hyar till
mornin anyway" 7A
The sun had gone down behind a
bank of tawny, purple clouds, an asby
pallor overspresd the sky.
"Goin' ter have bad weather." OBJ
served Joe Scaggs, as they rode
through the fast gathering darkness.
Late that night Bill punched Joe
in the ribs with his elbow, and said:
'Joe, hits gittin' colder an all git
ont. We've got ter git up an find
some more covers. Gee whiz! listen
ter that windl"
Bill got up and struck a light and
put on his clothes.
The weather had suddenly g,own
intensely cold, and the wind was roar
ing across the prairie, and sweeping
through the dead grass with sharp
Kissing sound.
Bill opened the door and looked out.
A great gust of wind swept into
the room, whirling cloud of snow
flakes with it and extinguished the
light.
"a blizzard" exclaimed Bill, slam
ming the door and relighting the
lamp.
Joe had also got up and was put
ting on his clothes.
"We must see ter the hosses,' he
said, drawing on his heavy boots.
They'll freeze ter death in that shed
if they h'ain't blanketed."
He opened the door and went out,
and in few moments returned.
"The hosses air gone!" he exclaim-
ed "broke loose and been driven
away by the blizzard
"One nv us must go after EN-" ex-
claimed Bill. "H'it won't do to lose
EN-. They'll die in this storm if they
don't find shelter"
"Yes, an you'd die dozen times
fore ye'd find EN- in this storm"
"Poor animals!' exclaimed Bill, "but
hit can't be helped"
Bill kinded a fire in the little sheet
iron stove in the corner.
The air was growing colder and
colder every moment, and the circle of
heat around the stove grew smaller
and smaller with each surge of the
wind as it shook the roof and sent the
sleet and snow kissing through the
crevices.
The two men drew their chairs near
the stove after replenishing the flame
from a pile of coal in the corner of the
room.
Morning came at last, gray and de-
solate, with binding clouds of snow
and sleet sweeping across the prairie.
The storm showed no sigus of abat-
ing, but was increasing in its fury.
"Joe," said Bill, breaking the sill
euce, "noboby can't come from Atticy
ter day; and the pervisions! thar's
notGin' in the house ter eat"
Joe got up and looked out at the
small window.
"H'lt's as yer say, Bill; thar can't
nobody come from Atlicy ier-day--"
Aud then, huskily; 'HIt may bs a
week for they can
The two men looked at each sother,
and each read the others thoughts.
Thar cant nobody git nowhar now,
and mebby not for a week. Bill, we
air in bad fix"
Bill made no reply, but filed large
black pipe, lit it, sat down by the FIRE
and began putting away in silence.
Joe brought more fuel from the Cor.
uer and filled up the stove.
The day passed and night came
down, and still the storm ragged and
the snow fell in binding clouds.
1t was at the close of the fifth day,
and neither Bill nor Joe had tasted
food for four days, AMI as they looked
out across the desolate, snow-covered
plain, their hearts sunk within them.
BILL" said Joe, husklly, "we can't
hold out much longer H'it'll be more
an week fore any one could git
hyar or we could git away"
"Yas, an that y i'll be too late," an.
swered Bill, an ashy pallor overspread.
ing his thin face
The next morning joe arose, kindl-
ed the fire in the little stove, aud sat
down in silence.
Bill did not get up, but remained in
bed, pinched look settling oyer his
features, 1t was getting late in the
afternoon when he called Joe to the
bedside.
'Jo',' he said, feebly, 81 hain't got
much longer ter stay with ye. This
yere cold is freezin my thin blood, an
I'm glL,in' weaker an weaker.
"Como, come, Bin" said Joe, great
lump rising in his throat. "Cheer up;
mebby som'thin' i'll turn up; mebby-"
"Tain't no use, Joe. We've all got
ter 60 sometime, 'Tain't 40 use in
hopin' when thar h'ain't nolhin' ter ex-
pect
Joe made no reply STOPPING do Rn
presently he drew little box from
under the bed and took out small
piece of dry, hard bread and laid it by
the side of Bill.
81 saved hit FOR ye, B;ll," he sail
turning away.
"No-no!' said B II; "h'it's better fer
one Nv us ter go AN both NV us. Meb.
be, as ye say, somethn II turn up, an"
A muftied sound like footsteps in the
snow came from the outside, ami
something like the sound of human
voice mingled with the Kissing wind.
10 listened, but the sound was TO.
repeated. He opt ned the door and look
ed out.
A few feet from the threshold, hall
buried in the drifting snow, wa, the
prosurate figure of man, a large bun
die of something at his side. A mo
ment, and Joe was STOPPING over the
PROSTATE figure. He shook him but
he did not speak. Then, by series
of heroic efforts, he dragged the un
conscious man into the dug out. A.
he did so bundle that was strapped
about the shoulders of the unfortunat,
became detached and rolled over oil
the floor, displaying a small bag OF
flour and chunk of bacon.
"Hit's John Biges come back" ex
claimed Joei san he's brought enough
i ftus.. Il