The sea coast echo., 1897-09-11

stricken father heard 1T, and raised his
hands above him, plunging 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 quickl'
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 commanders bidding the whole
body flung pell-mell over the steep
declivity, each hoping to be the first
to take the littlschild in his rescuing
arms. In their rear, painting and
utterly broken, the father struggled,
once or twice prodding them with o
shrill cry, 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
a 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 huttering
bosom. Sinking to 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 camo the triumphant shout,
''He is alive, Marlowe-litile Jamie is
alive 1t is nothing short of a
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. cit is n providence Marlowe.
The dog alone saved him. He was
lying across the child's body, his
heavy coat covering him like q blanket.
1t is nothing short of miracle. ="
Then the bearers of good tidings ap-
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 tho 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 by no
means positive. But at last the quiver-
ing eyelids parted, and 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 little one tried to speak, but
the play of bells reused his innocent
wonder Fixing his eyes upon his
fathers fearful face, he whispered
''The bells, father what are they
ringing for ?"
"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.
''Me -? Where have l been =? What
has happened p Then, after strange
pause "Oh, papa 1 remember, |
remember. Pinto and were going to
grandpa's 's.away over in Esperence. |
did not know it was so far-and the
snow was SO deep-aud / got tired
and laid down in the snow aud went
to sleep But the little reverie was
broken with another thought and a
look of pain spread over the infant
face as he struggled upon the pillows.
"Pintol' he cried anxiously. where
is poor Pinto, father?"
The kneeling man drew deep
breath, recoiling without word.
True, true Where was poor Pinto,
the rescurer, the saver, without whose
sheltering warmth the child would
have perished, without whose wall
ings they would never have found
him ? A deep spirit of guilt came
into the listeners heart, and he turned
his face away, for the child's look was
like a Judgment.
The little one saw the uncertainty
of the parental aspect and put forth
his hand, touching appealingly the
flowing white beard. 'Father,
father p he moaned, ''you have not
killed him-you have not killed my
Pinto ?"
''No, no |" answered the trembling
culprit after struggle. ''Never fear.
L will go and bring him to you. Never
fear, laddie. Pinto is safe. / will
prove it to you"--
go, father, please = please p
pleaded the little one and the old
man sprang up to do his bidding, as
if it were the command of an angel.
Down the lone stair and out through
the darkness to the barn old Marlowe
hurried. There he hastily bridled
his horse, and without even throwing
a blanket over the beasts back
mounted and started at full speed
down the valley road toward Esper-
ence. How mean he felt within him