The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-12-14

The sun had gone down behind bank
Of tawny, purple clouds, and an ashy
psll0r overspresd the sky.
~G0in ter have bad weather. observ-
ed Joe ScAggs IS they rode through the
fast gathering darkness
Late that night Bill punched Joe in
the ribs with bis elbow, and said;
"J0e, hits gittin' colder an al git out.
We've got Ter git up an end some more
covers Gee whiz listen ter that wind %
Bill got up and struck light and put
on his clothes.
The Ees;her had suddenly grown in
tensely cold, and the wind was roaring
across the prairie and sweeping through
the dead grass with sharp hi.sirg sound
Bill opened the door and looked out
A great gust of wind swept into the
roon, whirling s cloud Of snoEa1kes
with it and exEinguishing the light
"A biizzard7 - exclaimed BIZ, slam
ming the door and relighting the lamp.
Joe had also got up and was putting
on his clothes.
'We must see ter the hoses" be said,
drawing on his heavy boots They'll
hreoze ter death In that shed II they
hAin'I blAnketsd-
he opened the door and went oct, and
in a few moments returned.
The HOSES air gone - he exclaimed
-broke loose an been driven away By
the blizzard"
~Oee IL - mus 90 after en- exclaim-
ed Bill ~Hn won't do to lose EN-.
They'll die in this storm If they don't
find shelter
ayes, an you'd die dozen times fore
ye'd find 'em in this Storm
~POor animais" exclaimed Bill; "bat
bit can't be helped
Bill kindled FIRE in the little sheet
iron stove in the corner.
The air vas growing colder and colder
every nonen.. and the circle Or heAs
around the stove grew smaller and small
sr with each sarge OF the siEd as il
shook the loose boards on tie roof Lnd
sent the sleet and snow Kissing through
the ereviees.
The two ren drew their chairs near
the stove, after replenishing the fame
from 3 pie OF coal in the corner Of the
room.
Morning cane At last gray and desc
alate, with binding clouds Of snow and
sieet sweeping across the prairie. The
storm showed no signs Of abaiing, but
was increasing in is fury.
Joe said Bill, breaking the silence,
'nooOdy can't come from Attiey terday,
an the perTisions-ihzr's nothin' in the
house ter eat
Joe got up and looked out al the small
window.
Hits as ye say, Bill thar can't no
body come from Atticy terdsy7-And
thea. huskily, Hit nzy be = week fore
they can"
The two men looked a. each other and
each read the others thoughts
Thar can't nobody git noNhar nov,
an mebbe not fer week ELL. We air
in a bad fix
Bill made no reply, but filed a large
black pipe, liz il, sal down by the fire
and began putting away in silence
Joe brought more 11ei fson the corner
and filed up the stove
The day passed and night came down,
and still the storm ragged and the snow
fell IN binding clouds
II was At the close OF the fifth day, and
neither Bal Tor Joe had tasted food for
four days, ard as they looked cut across
the desolzte, snow covered plain their
hearts sank within them.
~Biil," said Joe, hGskiiy, we can't
hold out much longer. Ht'll be more
an week 'fose sny one could siS hyzr
or We could GIT away"
~Yas, and that vii be tco lzte,7 an
ssered Bill, an ashy pallor-spres1ing ais
thin face.
The next morning Joe arose, kindled
the FIRE in the little stove and sat down
in silence
Bill did not get up, bat remained in
bed, q pinchei look settling over his
features Il was getting lzte IN the sner-
noon when he called Joe 70 the BEDSIDE.
Joe" he said, feebiy, Il hzint got
much longer Ter stay With ye- This yere
cold is freezin' my thin blood, an IN
giitin' weaker an weaker
Come, come, BiIl7 said Joe, great
lump rising in his throat Cheer upi
meb6e sOnthinu turn up, nebbe' -
-'Tzin't 10 use, Joe We've ali got ter
20 some time. Tain't no use hopin'
when thar hsin't noihin' 70 expect
Joe made no reply. STOPPING down
presently he drew little box from under
the bed and took out small piece Of
dry, hard brad and laid il by the side
of Bill
Il saved hit Ter ye. Bin,- he said, turn
ing away.
-No, no = ~hit's better fer one uv us
ter 20 an both Nv Us Aebbe, as ye SAY,
somethinT turn up, an
A nufisd sound ike foO.steps N the
sooE came from the ocfside, and some
thing Ike the sound Of = human voice
mingled With the Kissing wind
Joe listened, but the sound was not
repeated lie opened the door and look
ed out
A few fse. from the threshold, half
buried in the drifting snow, was the pros
trzte figure Of man, large bundle of
something at bis side. A moment, and
Joe was STOPPING over the prostrste
figure He shook him. but he did not
speak Then By series Of heroic efforts
he dragged the unconscious man into the
dagout As hs did soa bundle thz; was
strapped about the shoulders Of the IN
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