The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-03-02

| cuss, John Biggs, that we sent after grub
to Atticy, IL git drunken IAN billed owl,
and not come back till we go after him, like
as not"
With this they turned their horses around,
and rode away In the direction of home,
| leaving the stranger standing in silence
! looking after them.
Ike Dover-for such was the strangers
name-turned and entered his shanty.
oval hit means pull out, 1 reckon" he
muttered; ''but I'll iist stay hyar till morn
| in anyway"
The sun had gone down behind bank Of
tawny, purple clouds, and an ashy pallor
| overspread the sky.
"Goin' ter have bad weather." observed
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 IAN all git out
We've got ter git up an find some more
covers. Gee whiz! listen ter that windw
Bill got up and struck light and put on
his clothes.
The weather had suddenly grown intensly
cold, and the wind was roaring across the
paririe, 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-1akes with it
and eXtinguished the light.
"a blizzardp exclaimed Bill, slamming
the door and relighting the lamp.
Joe had also got up and was putting on
his clothes.
eve must see ter the hosses," he said,
drawing on his heavy boots. They'll freeze
ter death in that shed if they h'aiu't blank
eted."
He opened the door and went out, and in
few moments returned.
"The bosses air gone!' he exclaimed"
'broke loose and been driven away by the
blizzard.'
"One NV us must go after 'em," exclaimed
Bill. 'H'it won't do TO lose 'em. They'll
die in this storm if they don't find shelter"
Eyes, an you'd die dozen times fore
ye'd find 'em in this storm"
"Poor animals!' exclaimed Bill, "but hit
can't be helped"
Bill kindled 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 fame from q
pile of coal in the corner of the room.
Morning came at last, gray and desolate,
with binding clouds of snow and sleet
sweeping across the prairie. The storm
showed no signs of abating, but was increas-
ing in its fury.
Joe" said Bill breaking the silence, "no-
body can't come from Atticy ter-day; and
the pervisions! thar's nothin' in the house
ter eat.''
Joe got up and looked out at the small
window.
Hits as yer say, Bill; thar can't nobody
come from Atticy ter-day-" And then,
huskiy: Hit may be week for they
can"
The two men looked at each other, and
each read the others thoughts.
THAR can't nobody git nowhar now, and
mebby not for week. Bill, we air in Dad
fix"
Bill made no reply, but filed a large black
pipe, lit it sat down by the fire and began
putting away in silence.
Joe brought more fuel from the corner
and filed 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
DAYS and az tbev loo,ed ont oorons ~ tbd
desolate, snow-covered plain, their hearts
SINK within them
Bill" said joe huskily, i've can't hold
out much longer. H,ipll he more IAN a
week fore anv one couId cir hvar or we
could git away
"Yas, an that will be too late" answered
Bill, an ashy pallor oyerspreading his thin
face.
The next morning Joe arose, kindled the
fire in the little stove, and sat down in
silence. .,..4s. ...s-.......t ..
Bill did not get up, but remained in bed.
pinched look settling over his features.
1t was getting late in the afternoon when
he called Joe 70 the bedside. t3 .|
joe" he said, feebly, II h'ain't got much
longer ter stay with We. This we're cold is
freezin' my thin blood, an I'm gittiu' weaker
an weaker. r.