Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-02-18
TWO WINTER NIGHTS.

TWO WINTER NIGHTS.
A little farther. just little farther,
darling! Sisters pet Will be brave,
and keep up Just little longer.
Il can't, Marion, It's so cold and L m
so tired-take me home"
mora, dear, see the pretty snow
flakes Don't lean back so-sister
can't walk. NO, you mustn't SIT down
Nora. Heavens is she falling
asleepf
Marion King threw back the heavy
cloak, and looked at the little face 1t
protected. 1t was perfectly calm and
quiet, all fretfulness gone.
Good God| the girl cried, pas
'ionately. "Haye l killed her
my lamb, my baby-and l cannot
turn back
Tossing aside the umbrella with
which she had been trying In vain
to shield the little one and herself
from the winter storm Marion sat
down IN the snow and, drawing the
child to her breast, strove, by tender
word and caress' to arouse her from
the torpor into which she was fast
sinking Moments that seemed hours
passed by. Nora no longer needing
her sisters frantic efforts, slept peace
fully IN her arms, and Marion, hold
ing her close and rallylng all her
FORCE cried aloud for the human help
that' a few hours before, she would
have haughtlly declined.
The wind swept angrlly by, hurting
the snow'drifts at the helpless pair
with a sort OF hendlsh mallgnity, and
the girls voice sank hopelessly away.
Just as we'll" she muttered, half.
aloud, we will be together" and
mastering the instinct to make one
more effort for life, che leaned her
head on the child's, and yielded to
the exhaustion against which she had
been lighting go bravely.
"Why. Rover, what ails thee to-
night leading me of after such a
fashion? Come back to thy sheep,
lad-hear them bleating for us p
Gilbert Foscom, swinging his lantern,
would have retraced his steps, half
vexed at his dogs persistence. had
not his eyes fallen on a dark heap,
already whitening beneath the falling
snow. STOPPING hastily, he uttered
an exclamation Of dismay:
"a woman linen did near cries
i'''ie whiie ago-ano chiid
MOVER Jake .he lantern ana iignt u'
~, nome l Sna'' nave all l can 40 mere
Inc sneeP may 'ake themselves &c
the iold.
AS ne SPOKE ne selzed Marion and
dragged her up. Still clasping the
chiio, she staggered to her feet, look
ing about wildly.
Hiioert wasted no words or time
"Foliow, ne said, loosening the stiff
ened arms and taking the little form
to his own breast. The wind had
iessened somewhat, and few stars
twinkled brightly through the bitter
air, as they moved slowly and pain.
fully across the heavy drifts, the dog
,e"u'ng ano MARION stumbling pind'
~ oenino' ana sometimes steadyine
herse'I oy olutch at her guide.
AT last, welcome lights shone out
OF the darkness. Gilbert rested the
cnild on MS knee, while ne opened 9
gaze "h'cn moYed unw'''ng'y through
the heaPeo-up snow ana ID a re"
more seconus, MARION iound herse'i III
'ne m'dS' Oh ngh' ana nea'' 'nougn
qui'e unheeded, as TWO women IN Inc
rr'e"oS garo oen' over NORA Win
Ep''y ana surprise II was not until
.ne '''.'e V"e nao "een c"re,ui,y IN.
dressed Piaced IN war" oed' ana
reused sumc'en.,y TO swallow some
%o' "''N' 'n"' MARION met PAIR 0,
piue eyes seen '"ouen milo, ano
nea'u 'ne "orup' que.,'o" "n,
o'o 'hee Jake 'ne ch'id in'o sucr
90
neVsi .nouen' 70 har, ner
on'y ""n'eu " &c. away-'o 'ose my
'e'i-anu Dro'gn' ner oecause she
was I'LL Hdu III the WOTIO.