Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-02-04
HOW JACK WENT HON B.
lBY MRS. G. s. vALENTINE.]


intendent for the first year.
"And you will write often to me, Jack,
dearP" she asked. turning her love lit eyes
sadly up to his, and trying vainly to repress
the sobs that seemed to stihe her.
ssWe shall be twenty miles from the sta
tion, my dearest; but every Wednesday, no
matter what the weather, will ride over
and leave my letter and receive the one
always hope will be awaiting me from
you"
The girl sighed. Once week seemed
too seldom to hear from her lover, but she
knew it was the best she could expect, and
she tried to feel satisfied.
Then came the last sad parting. Then
he covered her face with passionate kisses,
and she clung to him as if they must not
part. Jack gently took her hand in his,
gave one last kiss. and rushed away with
out one backward glance, lest his strength
should fail and he find it impossible to go.
Saddened and depressed by this parting.
JEANNE waited impatiently for her first let
ter. When it came 1t was full Of descrip-
tious of strange life in q rough, new min
ing district. But the letter did not half re-
veal Jacks astonishment and dismay at
the hardships and privations which he
found be must face, because he knew his
little sweetheart would be anxious and
grieve if she thought of him amid such sur
roundings. So he bravely kept all the un.
pleasantness to himself aud presented only
the bright side to her. He dwelt upon his
great love for her, and filed his letters with
plans for the golden future. By a years
good management he hoped the mine might
be made saleable at large profit, and he
could return to her . rich man.
JEANNE read his letter over and over, and
loved him more for the sepal alton; and
Jack rode faithfully the twenty miles to the
postoffice every Wednesday to exchange
letters, Hers we're more to him than his
daily bread, and he put them reverenty
away after he mad read each one SO often he
almost knew its contents by heart. Thus
the time passed, and winter came on. In
the spriag Jack hoped to sell out, and JEAN
ME wrote of the wonderful trousseau that
was being prepared for the future sMrs.
Jack Symmes'' aud of the home they hop
ed to have "wLen Jack comes home"
Christmas-time was drawing near. and
Jack bad handsome nugget dug out of
the mine, which he wanted to send Jean.
ME. The Wednesday before that holiday
he made his preparations to ride over to
the postofice; he mounted his horse, and
stopped moment to speak to eas OF the
officers, who, with himself and two other
men, dwelt in little cabin near the mine.
ssMr. Symmes, don't just like the looks
of the Clouds" said Flynn, sit looks like a
heavy snow might be coming"
Flynn looked anxious. but Jack only cast
a careless glance al sha heavens. and shook
his head.
Perhaps his mental picture Of Jeanuie's
delight at receiving the nugget from the
sLone Gulch" on Christmas day had made
him imprudent, for he said: 81 think not,
Flynn. You've predicted snow for g
week and it's failed to put in an appear
ance. But Hero and can beat any kid
of storm, can't We. old boy?" and, lightly
touching the horse with his whip, he rode
away, looking back to wave an adieu to
Flynn, who stood watching him anxiously,
as he rounded the road and passed out OF
sight.
A stray sunbeam fell on Jack Symme's
golden head, just as he disappeared, and
Flynn dismissed his fears at this good
omen.
'.A letter and package from jack" said
Mr.. Trumbal, tossing them in Jeannie's
lap, as she sat musing by the fire Christ
mas morning. s'Dear old boy" she muir
INJURED, fondly. 81 wonder If mine reach
I'D him in time to take away the dreariness
from his Christmas day?' and with an in.
ward prayer for his safety she tore open
the letter, and was lost to all else until it
was read through. Then she opened the
packet his loving hands had sealed, and in
The midst of her pleasure at the gift she re-
joined in the love OF this brave, true heart
I'D man.
A.. .. I'll. t,n 80. of,ar1 <ho I;ttlo frad;no
station few minutes after noon, and rode
up to the postofice, which was the express
office also. He sent his package, contain
the mail for the camp. He sorted the mail
from his sweetheart 80 far away, and piae.
ed the rest in the pocket of his great-coat.
Then he mounted Hero again and started
slowly on the homeward trail. Letting the
horse jog along at his own gait, he tore
open the envelope and began eagerly to
read. The letter was SO bright and full of
the confessions of pure, young love, that
he became completely engrossed in Its con-
tents and the train of thoughts it evoked.
Instead of wild stretch of hill coantry be
beheld fair lawn surrounding beautiful
house, and in the doorway fond wife was
waiting for her loved one to come
home. The woman was JEANNE, and he
was the husband for whom she waited in
the doorway of their own home. No won-
der this vision engrossed his whole mind SO
that the low-hanging, dark clouds that ap-
peared on the horizon passed unnoticed.
Presently the snow began to fall softly.
but in large fakes, and this reused him
from his happy reveries. Though at first
it came softly and slowly, it soon came
thicker and faster, and Jack urged Hero to
q quicker gait. He was not at all alarmed,
and even smiled as he recalled Flynn's anx-
iety in the morning. But soon unmietaka-
BILE sigus of a severe snow storm aroused
Jack from his sense of security, aad, for
the first time since he had owned Hero, he
used the spurs. The horse, surprised and
indignant, jumped SO violehtly that Jack
was nearly unseated. "Come, old hoy, you
must forgive that" he said, soothingly,
'sfor we must get out of this as quick as
we can. Old Flynn was right, after all"
Thus urged, Hero became quiet, and step.
ped out grandly.
Now, the snow was coming in great
whirls and gusts, and horse and rider were
both well. nigh blinded. Still Hero kept on
bravely, and Jack, to encourage him aud
to keep up his own spirits, patted the horse
and spoke kindly to him from time to time.
Jack conld not make any accurate cslcula-
tiou, but thought they we're nearly home,
when it grew dark, and the trail was com
pietely lost His heart thrilled with great
fear as he realized hs could not tell which
way to turn.
Hero" ne said bending low and speak
ing in his ear; Hero, you must find the
way. for my sake. Zero, and for-hers, -
and his vOics ended in q sob.
The horse struggls ed along bravely, as il
he could understand what life meant to
those two young hearts. But it was hard
work, and he was blinded by the snow and
chilled through with the cold; and present
ly, with an almost human groan, he sunk
exhausted in snowdrift and could net rist
again.
a bitter CRY rosa % Jacks lips; and b
; tried desperately 10 push forward On foot
But whichever direction he turned tn
snow was piled upin walls, and he reaiize'
they we're in drifts and escape was i'm