The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-08-20

despairing tears.
An atmosphere OF fcverish expect
ancy pervaded the usually quiet sur
roundlngs of the Post. People were
hastily gathering from all quarters
upon the lit lie mound beside the
church. The oil depot aud factory
were deserted, and tue wollish dogs
might pass the unguarded door and
drink their fill from the uncovered
watts of oil.
The missionary's tidy children JOS
tied with the crowd of natives I'M
noticed by their nurse. The baker
and brewer stood on the Mission
house porch, putting vigorously at his
long Dutch pipe, while his little frau
beside him conversed eXcitedly with
the gardeners wife who leaned from
an open lattice.
a rising hum of eager voices came
from the hlllock where the throng of
dusky EsqulmauX was steadily in
creaslng and every eye was strained
upon the entrance to the little bnv.
The cause of this unusul agitation
had been signal gunshot from the
hill, fired 10y the sentry stationed
there to keep lookout for the long
expected ship. 1t was TO bring them
news from Ger the sea, the history of
the great worlds doiugs for year
letters from relatives and friends.
presents and messages, supplies aud
stores; their first intelligence for n
long twelve months. What wonder
then that they looked forward anxious
ly, counting the months and weeks
and days aud hours until the time the
vessel might arrive.
And one there was to whom if
brought n bride. He was the Young
est white man at the post Tie had
had her picture, brought through
winter SHOWS and stormy twilight by
the native messenger who journeyed
over the frozen channels with his
sledge to the lower Missions, where he
met the factor of the great company
buying furs, and who brought few
precious letters for the Post forward.
ed by winter courier from Quebec.
Two thousand miles the print had
come by sledge, aud every day the
young man studied it, noting the
charms OF youthful eyes and mouth,
OF rounded cheek aud wavy hair.
specializing upon her character and
longing for, yet droading that mo-
mentous time when they should meet
to either love or hate.
Which would it be, and could he
gain her love? How should he greet
her? He, n gNwky youth, who, guard
cd in his school, asceticaly trained,
hud no experience with the other sex,
regarding them rs quite beyond his
ken, knew nothing of the paugs of
boyish love, and only had crude nb-
stract idea of the happiness, duties,
sacrifice md pain involved in the mys-
teries Of married life.
The elder of the Post mad said the
time was ripe for him to take wife.
Obedient to the mrgnato Of the church
he had written, Mt dictation, his re-
quest.
Aud now the signal shot hal let
them know the vessel bringing her
was drawing near.
lie left tue store with speed, heI to
his room, bIthcl, combcd nul dressed
him IN his best; looked at the photo
graph IN put it back within it's vel
vet cover next his heart, laughed au
halt cried, aud paced the polished
door, and through the open window
uervOusly watched aud wuitcd for the
coming ship.
The murmur OF the voices now in.
creased aud swclcd into shouts of
"Gleauerakoot.a.ko-o-o-t!" and round
the precipitous point with white sails
set AMI pcnu1nts flying swept the
noble brig. Td1 hay was dotted now
with bright kayaks, aud vollcy onvol-
ley rang from u hundred guns; the
church bell po1lcd. the DOS yet up n
howl and s1ug their weird chorus lust
lily; ilngs iluttered brayely from the
Mission roofs and presently the briggs
signaling cannon doomed.
The novice hid his fuce within his
hnuds,with nuttcring heart of mingled
Joy nni fcur aud wished himself ten
thousand miles AWAY
\ week bad passed 'ho brig still
lay at anchor IN the ba-
Within his study the Mission cldcr
sJt; h's long gray beard falling ia
tangled waves upon his breast.
Ills keen gray eyes wcro bent upon
tine novice md tho girl who stood re-
specially waiting ull hc should
speak
For forty years he hel lived his
mission life, onl his thoughts were
busy with that timo long passed. when
he had been just such another youth
and hal obeyed just such a cali to
we'd His helpmate's s.lyery hair WINS
auburn then; her dear old wrinklsd
face was smooth and fair The chill
dren Of their love were scattered wide :
ono hal been sent to Asia's inf Gel
land, another lived beneoth Che eeorc1