Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-11-05

Bill got up and struck a light and
put on bis clothes.
The weather had suddenly grown
intensely cold, and the wind was
roaring across the prairie and sweep
ing through the dead grass with a
sharp, Kissing sound.
Bill opened the door and looked out.
A great gust of wind swept into the
room, whirling a cloud of snowhakes
with it and extinguishing the light.
"A blizzard r exclaimed Bill, slam
ming the door and relighting the
lamp.
Joe had also got up and was putting
on his clothes.
"We must see ter the hosses," he
said, drawing on his heavy boots.
They'll freeze ter death in that shed
if they hain't blanketed. "
He opened the door and went out,
and in few moments returned.
1.-THE hosses air gone" he ex-
claimed; "broke loose an been driv
away by the blizzard.
Zone NV us must go after 'em," ex-
claimed Bill "Hit won't do to lose
'em. They'll die in this storm if they
don't find shelter"
"Yes, an you'd die a dozen times
fore ye'd find 'em in this storm"
Poor animals!" exclaimed Bill;
'ebut hit can't be helped"
Bill kindled fire in the little
sheet iron stove in the corner.
The air was growing colder and
colder every moment, and the circle
of heat around the stove grew smaller
and smaller with each surge of the
wind as it shook the loose boards on
the roof and sent the sleet and snow
kissing through the crevices.
The two men drew their chairs near
thestov after replenishing the fame
from pile of coal in the corner Of
the room.
Morning came at last, gray and
desolate, with binding clouds Of snow
and sleet sweeping across the prairie,
The storm showed no signs of abat-
ing, but was increasing in it's fury.
"Joe," said Bill, breaking the
silence, nobody cant come from
Atticy terday, an the pervisions-
thar's nothin in the house ter eat"
Joe got up and looked out at the
small window.
'sHit's as ye say, Bill; thar can't
nobody come from Atticy terday"-
And then, huslSily, "Hit may be a
week fore they can"
The two men looked at each other,
and each read the others thoughts.
'sThar can't nobody git nowhar
now, an mebbe not fer week.
Bill, we air in a bad fix"
Bill made no reply, but filled a
large black pipe, lit it, sat down by
the fire and began putting away in
silence.
Joe brought more fuel from the
corner and filled up the stove.
The day passed and night came
down, and still the storm ragged and
the snow fell in binding clouds.
1t was at the close of the fifth day,
and neither Bill nor Joe had tasted
food for four days, and as they
looked out across the desolate, snow
covered plain their hearts sank
within them.
"Bill, said Joe, huskily, 1--WE can't
hold out much longer. Hitu be
more AN week fore any one could
git hyar or we could git away"
"Yas, an that will be too late" an
swered Bill, an ashy pallor over
spreading his thin face.
The next morning Joe arose, kin
died ihe fire in the little stove and
sat down in silence
Bill did not get up, but remained
in bed, pinched look settling over
his features. 1t was getting late in
the afternoon when he called Joe tc
the bedside.
"Joe," he said, feebly, II hainf
got much longer ter stay with We
This yere cold is freezin my thir
blood, an I'm gittin weaker al
weaker"
"Come, come, Billw said Joe, {
great lump rising in his throat
"Cheer up; mebbe som'thinll turr
up, mebbe"-
""Tain't no use, Joe. We've all go
ter go some time. Tain't no us'