The Irish standard., 1897-03-06
"DOC'b" STORY.

when he joined the evening group at the
Alfalfa European hotel. He had enough
Of morning penltence, left in him to
make him grave and even dignifed. at
the same time lie had started in upon
an evening accumulation, and had al
ready become warmed into that friend
| " mood which helps one to realize that
| all men are brothers.
"Good evening, gentlemen" said the
! ttlush," and he said it as it it were the
! preliminary to an Grafton.
Good evening, sir; good evening" re-
spouled ''Doc" Horne, with a. slight in
clination OF the head.
| s'Sit down and make yourself miscr-
| able" said the lightning dentist, who
could be entertaining at times.
! "Come join the feast of reason and
the flow of SOUL" added the book agent.
who could be original, il not enter
tanning.
"Sure, that's right" added the BIZ
cycle salesman.
| The Flush" seated himself and asked:
''Well, gentlemen, what is the subject
under discussion?"
eve were just ta!i<ing about the cold
weather, and saying that it must be
pretty tough on some people, said the
! lightning dentist.
"There's nothing personal in this, is
! there?" asked the 'slush."
'Eertainly not" said the lightning
dentist, laughing. "Doc" Horne
chuckled, and the large book agent
| smiled in a conservative manner, as il
he feared to compromise his profess
s;onal dignity. go. -.
| The bicycle young man was puzzled.
He did not see why the laugh came in,
so he settled back in his chair and tried
to think it out. The task was long and
difficult, for be laid but few words
during the remainder Of the evening
~ don't think there is so much suf-:
fering. now that the weather has mod
Grated" said the "lush."
81 :hope not" said doc" Horne. '1t's
terrible thing to be cold and hungry
for days at time. can tell you that.
If any. of you gentlemen ever SO
through what I did you'll appreciate
that fact, too"
"How's that, .Doc?''' asked the
Flush"
II thought had told you Of my ex-
perience in the winter of 81 and '68,
when was moose hunting with Gen.
! Foster up in Canada. No? Well, we
had party of gentlemen from New
York and Philadelphia with us. The
weather was bitterly cold. but we were
living in the generals hunting lodge
| and we managed to keep comfortable
| One day was out with party, and we
were up on the 6essikoochee river"
"W'at's the name, 'Doc?'" asked the
lightning dentist.
seThe Observation-Disclosures name, you
know. 1t means lofty pines I had
two New York gentlemen with me, and
| we were tracking a. 1noose--had been
ON the trail for several hours. Icrossed
the river on the ice TO take up what
seemed to be a new trail, and got sep
arated from my two friends. suppose
was intent on. following this trail,
and that's why paid so little attention
| to the weather. The first thing knew
| the snow began to fall, and discoy-
cred that the sky was overcast, with
every indication of blizzard. started
| back along the trail, but in ten min
utes the air was filled with binding
snow and the wind was blowing q per-
feet hurricane among the trees. OF
! course it was impossible to see very
far in any direction, but 7 kept ON, and
thought Twas going toward the river.
! knew if struck the river could find
the house all right. Darkness came on
Il had no idea it was so late--and the
wind came from the northwest and cut
me to the very bone. I walked and
walked and walked, but didn't come
to the river, and then realized that
probably had been walking away from
it adj the time, OF course nay inclina-.
ton was to sit down aud rest, but
knew I didn't dare to do that or I'd
freeze 10 death"
"It must have been awful" said the
bicycle young man.
''Well, it wasn't any pleasure excur-
sion. Fortunately found a hollow tree
where I could coil myself. 1 got in
there and wrapped my fur coat around
me, and managed to keep fairly warm
until morning. By that time the wind
had gone down and the cold was some
thing intense. I'll hadn't been so hardy
and athletic suppose never would
have lived through it. I got out, took
my bearings from the sun and started
out on a run to find the river. had to
run to keep from freezing. OF course
I still carried my rifle, and I also had
a hunting knife, but didn't have any
matches to start fire with, About ten
o'clock that morning shot rabbit,
but Of course couldn't cook it, so had
to content myself with drinking a little
Of the blood"