Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-12-28

honey fer sweetnin'. I doan call hit no
Wlld-gOose chase, Chef Perkins"
We'll, hits wild turkey chase, any
how, If that suits you better, ole wom-
an, answered the old man, chuckling
over his rude wit. But the woman had
no heart for joking.
Come, set up an eat your supper,
Chet, afOre the Try an con bread gifts
cOld,' she said, sharply, and sitting
! down essayed to eat little herself, but
the gathering darkness and wind whist
ling dIsmally around the cabin filed
Ter with al anxiety that made eating
81 lmpossibility, and presently, when
her husband had finished and settled
down before the fire again, making no
move toward going out IN search of the
boys, her anxiety became too great to
endure. Gong up to HIM, she laid her
hand determinedly on his shoulder.
"Chet Perkins" she asked, indignant
ly, AR you gwlne ter 90 an hunt them
thar children, er am ?''
"Mebby you air. said the man sur
lily; 81 hain't. Eff Their will 90 er ram
pagin' roun' this kentry in sech unsea-
sonable times, ther must take Their kon-
sequences. Not er step am [ gwine ter
stir out er this house ter-night.
The woman opened her lips, as if 10
speak, and shut them again in a hope
less SORT of way; then busted herself
with wrapping some bacon and corn
bread IN cloth. A moment later, she
had thrown shawl over her head,
and taking lantern, left the house ST.
lentlv and started. out into the darkness.
Reader, have you ever been out in q
snow storm on the mountains, at night
Ii not, you cannot appreciate the mag
nitude Of the Woman's undertaking.
The two boys, Boss, a lad Of IA. and
Bud, four years younger, had their
traps set for wild turkeys on Chestnut
Ridge, a low timbered range of noun
tains. Here the wild turkeys abounded
at certain seasons, and the boys had set
traps, hoping to catch them for market.
| Thlther they had gone early in the
! afternoon, and their mother knew that
something had occurred or thev would
| have returned before night. 1t was a
mile to the ridge, and until she reached
1t, the WOman's task was not so difficult
Tor the wind, though raw, was broken
by the timber, and the snow excepting
on the mountains never amounts to
much. But after she had reached the
mountains and began the ascent, it was
! different. 1t was exceedingly dark, ex-
cepting for the lantern. The steep,
rugged path was difficult at anv time.
The trees took on fantastic shapes IL
the darkness, and groaned and writhed
| in the wind that swept through the des-
olate passes. The air was full of swirl
ing snow, and the night was wild with
the weird shrieking voces of the tenn
pest. The woman knew the place
where the boys had their traps. The
trail, though difficult, was familiar
| However, in the darkness, battling
against the mountain blizzard, her cour
age almost forsook her at times.
Pushing on, she reached the spot
where the boys had their traps, but nc
sign OF either of the children could be
found. She called them again and again
but her voice was drowned in the tenn
pest.
"Tain't no use" she muttered with
half sob, they hain't haar, fer certain
Their pore little fellers have gone an
started Ter home, an somethink hal
happened ter EN- fer shore. Their will
fruze ter death afore mornin' -
She stopped suddenly and bent Gag
| erly forward listening intently. In tn,