The record-union., 1892-07-09

little child stood up in bed, looking with
dancing eyes through mass of yellow
hair at the loaded table in the kitchen.
Boys" said the Judge, as we gathered
round our fire a few minutes later
boys, think we raised the ante that
time, raised the other crowd clean out of
the game: they didn't even have chance
TO draw cards; kind o. knocked the little
parson all OF a heap, didn'tit? Well, good
square meal viii do him good, and l guess
the racket won't do any of US harm.
goodnight pve got to run up to BrGn-
TONS cabin. l promised to bring his
young kid some Christmas things, and
CONT want 10 disappoint the little devil.
Merry Christmas to YOU; God bless YOU
all. Goodnight" and before we could
stop MIN he was OF. 1t was showing
very hard, the wind blew gale, and the
night promised to be the coolest of the
year; the mercury was falling fast. We
fingered few minutes, chatting around
the fireplace, and then tumbled into our
peas, 10 cream OF old times when we were
happy boys, long, long ago.
Christmas morning dawned bright and
clear-the storm had worn itself out dur
ing the nlght-not q cloud was to be seen;
on every side the new-fallen snow lifted
It's pure white face, as if to receive the
great message of the day from the heaven
bending above
We had gathered in the dining-room
and were waiting for the Judge; we had
decorated his armchair with flowers,
brought all the way from Denver; our
h1t!e presents were piled by his plate; we
waited half an hour, but no Judge APP
peared, and reluctantly we sat down to
breakfast without him, expecting to see
MS jolly face enter the room every mo-
ment. An hour passed, still no sign of
the Judge-we began to fear he was i'll.
While we were talking. Brunton, who
! lived on the cliff at the back fthe Judges
house, came in. Boys, have you seen
the Judge this morning? He promised
nay Kid he'd bring him some Christmas
things last night, but he didn't show up.
| stopped at the Judges cabin on my way
down, but l could get no answer. You
are sure he isn't somewhere about?" In
moment we had thrown on our heavy
coats and were hurrying up the mountain
TO the Judges cabin; we knOcked-there
was no answer; we pushed open the door
the light was burning brightly-the fire
was out, the cabin cold and deserted the
Judges bed untouched. Quick as posi-
bic, our hearts beating fast, we ran along
the narrow path leading from the Judges
cabin TO Brunton's house; the path we
knew the Judge must have taken after
leaving us last night A hundred yards
beyond we came to the cliff, the most
dangerous part of the way; here the path
ran on the very edge of the rock and
there was an ugly drop of two hundred
feet to Boulder Creek, in the gulch below.
A shout from one of the party in advance
brought US quickly to his side. Looking
! in the direction he pointed, we saw far
below us the body Of man lying half
covered by snow on the rocks. Ten min
utes' hard climbing and we stood on
the spot-and there lay the Judge-dead-
a bundle of toys grasped tightly to his
breast; to the heart, few hours ago so
full of love for everyone. Gentle, kind
dead. Battling through the storm on a
mission of love to little child, he must
have lost his way and fallen over the cliff
In the hight of the storm he had crossed
the range and gone before that Higher
Court into the presence of the Great
Judge.-Advance sheets of Cornhill.