Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-06-12

I
First rate" was the reply of the mono
syllable potentate, dropping his dough int
the fat.
Hunting partiesl"
"Game every evening" glancing at yari
GUS ,discolored packs of cards
Laddy did not see the glance. His eve.
sparkled Ever see catamountTr he asked
breathlessly.
Crying round the camp soon's it's dark |"
"Reallyp with his eyes opening wider.
'Way they hev. Cry like child ter toll
the men outn
do they ever goi"
"Whcw
"Why, the menI" wishing this one were
more communicative
What d they go fort Ter be torn ter
piecesP
Laddy looked at him a moment, trying to
extract what might be kernel of truth from
the chaff. ''Can | have doughnutg" he
asked then.
"All you want" And, helping himself to
that very solid reality, he went out to investi-
gate the oxen, the logging roads, the great
frozen lake upon which the logs were hauled
to be all afoat and ready with the breaking
up of the ice in the spring. And then, in less
/ N-r@fNf
out careering over that crystal glare of ice.
making ''fggery eights," cutting his name
with his heel, doing the outside roll and
speeding away over the long reaches among
the islands with which the great lake was
sprinkled
1t was light much longer out on the open
ice than in the dim aisles of the woody
places; and delighted and exhlarated with
the glow Of his swift motion, Laddy did not
think anything about time till he saw large
snow flakes dancing all about him, when he
turned and found that the light was only that
of gray cleaning, and chill, damp wind
was blowing in his face with snow storm on
itswings. However, there would be no trouble
about skating back, and he went flying
against the wind, when all at once the screw
of one of his skates snapped and sent him !
tumbling headlong, rolling over and over.
When he had picked himself up and adjusted |
the skate again he could not tell in what |
direction be had been going, up or down.
along or across the lake. The shores all looked
alike There were no lights of the Camp.
whether hidden by the islands or the project
ing shores, aud try as he might to find the
track Of his skates he could not, either for
the dim light or the snow that had covered
and was covering it. The gloom was deepen
ing. too. When he had skated a mile and
still saw no lights Of the camp, he was sure
he had been turned about and he reversed
his motion and went in the other direction.
But still there were no lights-not twinkle
anywhere, and when he halooed no answer
came but far Off echo
Well, this would never do, he said: some
'ne of all these logging paths would lead to
amp, OF course And he took off his skates
md climbed the shore and went trudginp and
shistling along. But still no lights Well.
hadn't the camp been on the edge of the laxel
ie would wind along the edge, then. and
ooner or later he must come to it. Alas it
'egan 10 seem as If it would be later, much :
alter, rather than soon. And now it was
more than dusky among the trees; he had lost
be broad CLEAN of the lake. he had lost the
lain logging path along the shore: he did Q
OF know which one Of all the dim openings a
las the right one; the snow was bewildering; y
was already Oakland he was lost himself q
He sat down on fallen log; the snow was L
hiring and floating and falling round him. q
ow and again a soft bough swept low and s
'uched his cheek in a sort o. cold cares. He o
lought he would lilo down under the lee of n
lie log and stay all night, be was 50 tired. Il
He sat down there and leaned against the a
ZEE, Nothing was Of any use In spite of a
nlself the tears spurted forth He was lost &,
the woods. He was going to freeze and il
e here. He was going to be buried in the W
ow. He should never see his darling 81
other again. Oh, il he had only taken the ii
10y up when she reached her hands TO him tr
9 other morningl m
No; he should never see them again. IL "a
as all up with him. He had been wicked tv
y; he must take what came But how eli
ey all must feel; oh, how badly they would pc
III Annie would cry ct to break her on
art His father would forgive him. but Of
would declare he never could forgive him -
[, and he would be pursued By the sorrow
1t all his life. And his dear, dear. dear
'ther-the image Of her pale, sweet face
S too much for him, and he was CRYING =.
nself with all his might. And then, u,
aried out, and wondering if he should 90 "a.
heaven, or where, and If it was very hard
iie-and sending up now prayer for his ~
ETY., and now prayer that they might not n
too badly at home, all at once, he was ~.
nd asleep, and the great hemlock tree was ~ ~
ding down its branches heavy with snow ~
ut him, and sheltsring in its kind embrace /.
poor, lost, lonely little fellow When at r..
(, reused by the commotion about him. the ~.
of voices, the blast of horns, the dash OF W
terms, Laddy sleepily opened his eyes again, -
night, indeed, have thought it was heaven, i
b some great light glowing on an angels ~
}, only he knew he deserved nothing of 49,
sort In another moment he saw that - -.
as his mother, and without asking how D.,
came there be had thrown himself into 49,
arms -,
le facts IN the case were that when Laddy A
not returned TO the camp, there had been inv.
iarm given and the whole body of men viz
gone out in search parties after him and 80
Peaehblow. IL was one OF these parties. D.
ing in the distance, that had brought him
from his instants dream of the Wild
5 an hour or so before. Aud his mother ID
wing down from the upper camp, with a In
e OF bells and flashing Of sleigh lamps. 10
As group Of the men had paused, won -,
& at this place not far from the way - ~
where for a circle Of some dozen Yards :, /,
ameter the snow was pretty well trodden ~
/ round the old postoffice tree, the very p,,s.
J where poor Laddy had done his a. !
ping-his father had stopped and come fbor
e what was the cause Of the excite 49,.