Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-01-01

and hurried on.
eth Teller is late gittin' up." noted
one, as the little calvacade drew nearer.
"Why, he's gonel" said Zeb. "I'm
afraid they amt nobody ter homo ter
receive our call"
The blizzard's first fierce breath struck
them as he spoke, and before they could
dismount the fine, feathery flakes Of
snow were covering their coarse coats
with white.
"If they've gone out in this storm"
zeb began.
ats tn end of 'em, completed COM
panion. 'But let's hurry, boys. Hustle
in an we'll warm little an skip fer
home"
They needed no urging, and in q mo-
ment all were huddled around the
earthen fireplace which did duty ct one
end of the cabin for cooking and heat
ing purposes. Zeb began picking up
some papers to light q fire. Suddenly
he stopped, and, faint and weak as ne
was from his recent illness, he looked
almost ghostly in his trepidation.
"Did-did-any of-you- fellers bring
this here?" he asked, slowly, and with
terrible distinctness.
All shook their heads, crowdlng around
to see the object in question which no
held in his hand. 1t was a country
newspaper published at an interior Ken
lucky town, and he was pointing to an
address label on the margin. 1t read:
'Haniford, Mary E.-Jan. 1, 49,"
1.-The camper must hev left 1t here"
Zeb muttered as If speaking to himself.
81 thought she was dead years ago, an
this is only two months old. Boys" he
exclaimed, with sudden burst Of ener-
gy, 1--WE must catch that camper"
mo, Zeb, we can't now; the storms
gittin' too bad" replied Mangel. The
frame of the little cabin shaking in the
wind seemed to emphasize his state
ment.
81 say we mast" was Zeb's response.
''She may be along-who knows?" He
strobe through the door and vanished in
the sleet clouds without.
HE mustn't go like that, him sick so
an ALL" spoke O stoop-shouldered Yer
monter known as McNash.
"Kerrect, but we'll all perish in this
blizzard Of we follow him. don't know
ez we kin git home anyhow" replied
Mangel. "Yit we'll try" he concluded,
leading the way to the bunch of ponies
outside.
Zeb was speck on the south-bound
wagon trail, and they raced with the
wind toward him.
'All tn wagin's goes this way" he
Numbered above the noise of the storm
when they had overtaken him.
They spread far apart and galloped
on. Zeb led them. He seemed to have
an unerring instinct that was taking
him to the object Of his search.
And it was q true one, for as they
dashed down a slope into one Of those
draws" or ravines, that cross the roll
ing prairies in every direction they
came on q travel-stained prairie
schooner, or covered wagon, seeking
shelter behind struggling group Of
sunfowers, while team was shivering
just beyond.
Zeb leaped from his painting calouse
and threw back the curtains that closed
the end Of the wagons covering.
For an instant his eyes were unable
to pierce the semi-darkness and then he
saw the ill-deflned figures of an elderly
man and o woman.
Half dazed, they sat up.
''Mary!" called Zeb, feeling rather
than seeing that his hearts wish was
realized.
Her answer was not distinguishable
but in moment the rescuer was inside
the wagon, chatting her numbed hands,
while the others were doing like serv-
ice for the father.
1--WE must git back to tn cabin, boys"
said Zeb. "We'll freeze here. They're
half froze, now"
"All of us can't stay thar" spoke up
the Vermonter. ''Mangel kin help ye.
an tn rest of us'll slope fer our shan
| ties"
This was agreed to, and before the
ponies and their riders were entirely
out of sight over the bluff, Zeb was driv-
ing the team of the campers at a rafting
pace toward his claim.
1t was two days before Mangel could
return home, but life was not unpleas-
ant in the cabin with the campers stores
for rations. And then to see Zeb's hap
piness was something.
"Just to think, Zeb," said Mary, as
they were bidding Mangel goodbye,
"that for ten years had thought you
as good as dead and you were certain
that was--and to find me and father
on the way to brother Toms as you did
| 1T is like novel;"
''Only amt quite so pretty ez used
to be-" put in Zeb.
"While I am an old maid dwell,
won't tell how many years." laughed