Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-10-01

my fault. The lad loved the little
beast, and I was angry, God forgive
But that little stain Of blood across
the chubby fngers-I couldn't stand
it, that's all for Jamie is all the
world to me now. IL was love that
erred-more love in this bosom than |
ever dared confess to heaven, for fear
that the dear child should be taken
from me, just as his mother was, be.
cause of this over-fondness. Cry out
again, boys ! Louder ! louder My
voice is all gone--he would never hear
me now but you
Hush-hark
The scattered little battalion halted
as one man. On that desperate march,
while the monotony of dread was
broken only by the fathers rawlings, a
keen ear at the extreme left caught
the echoes of strange wall borne
upon the mournful winds--shriek of q
beast, yet with voice more than half
human, 40 pitiful, so despairing. With
wide, staring eyes the little band
peered into the. depths, moveless,
listening. AgainAhqt low, drawn wall,
fainter, more lppel ess, ending in a
broken yelp, Ii 81 death-cry. The
stricken father Aeaph il, and raised his
hands above im,kplunging through
the darkness in the direction of the
precious call to rescue. Its Pinto !
it's Pinto They are there--yonder
ON the other side of the ravine.
Quick quick!"
These wild shouts seemed to ex-
haust the old man, for his throat was
swollen with calling. There was no
seconding voice. Like brave soldiers
to their commander bidding the whole
body flung pell-mell over the steep
decliyity, each hoping to be the first
to take the little child in his rescuing
arms. In their rear, painting and
utterly broken, the father struggled,
once or twice prodding them with a
shrill ry,though they needed no spur
to their duty. Then suddenly stumbl-
ing over the ice-bound rocks, he fell
at full length and lay there, stunned
and painting.
1t seemed long time; but at last
the shout from afar, "We have found
him-thank God We have found
him." The old man regained his feet.
raising his hands to heaven, uttering
broken prayer. Then he started on,
but soon paused, for he saw that the
little group of lanterns about the
precious spot on the hillside beyond
was strangely still. What had hap.
pened? A new and terrible wonder
came into his heart. Was the boy
dead? He tried to call out, but there
was no strength in the futtering
hnspua- -Sinkino a his knees- in the
driving snow he waited, his heart in
his throat.
At last, after this maddening pause,
there was stir about the little group,
and then came the triumphant shout,
"He is alive, Marlowe--lit,le Jamie is
alive 1t is nothing short of
miracle" They had lifted the little
treasure and were bearing him hither
tenderly, triumphantly; and in the
hush between the wind walls, the
father heard their commingling
chatter, like men from whom death
sentence had been lifted at the ninth
hour ut is providence Marlowe.
The dog alone saved him. He was
lying across the child's body, his
heavy coat covering him like blanket
1t is nothing short Of n miracle. "
Then the bearers of good tidings APP
preached the thankful father, laying
the still unconscious child in his great
arms and with many blessings from
the broken heart that hour made
whole the grateful band started back
toward the village.
Some time later little Jamie lay
upon his pillows in the white cot by
the south window of the homely cot
tage in Macklin. His father was
kneeling at the side Of the couch,
clasping the chubby hand, through
tears watching the return of conscious
ness TO the stunned brain. Poor
Jamie had been lowering very near
the border-land of the eternal and
the old doctors assurance that he
would recover this shock was 10y no
means positive. But at last the CULVER
ing eyelids parted, and a smile of
light illuminated the cherub face.
There was hush in the somewhat
crowded chamber; and through the
silence was heard the sound Of dis
tant chimes.
"The bells, father what are they
ringing for p
"Glad tidings my son." responded
the old man with sort of exultation.
'For what What has happened |?
These people-all these people; why
have they come here ?"
They, have come to welcome You
back to life again, my boy" was the
! earnest reply.