The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-25

would have taken him in, and mus
shortened his journey. But no Vehicle
OF any description did he see, nor any
person until he was just on the edge
OF the town.
Then he met man who stopped and
asked him in which direction Banville
lay. Richard pointed out the road.
The stranger was SO wrapped up in
a heavy overcoat and cap drawn down
over his face and ears that Richard
could see nothing but a pair of kindly
gray eyes.
Pretty rough walking, sonny?' he
said, in a crisp, cheerful voice.
Very bad" assented Richard.
q missed the midday train, and it's
too long to wait for the next one, as
this is Christmas eve, so I'm going to
walk it. But ! fear this snow VIII
turn out worse than L thought.
It's only four miles, said Richard,
encouragingly, and sighed as he
thought Of the long return walk await
ing him.
SWeIl. good day. sonny" and the
stranger STROBE on.
There were three jewelers. in Penn
berton. The first two to whom Rich
ard, applied refused to buy the chain,
but the third took i'll, though Offering
/ Cor il a price much less than Richard
had hoped to receive. However, it was
enough for the medicine and a little
sum over.
Richard shrank from the long, hard
walk before him. There were some per
sons living in Pembertcn with whom
he was acquainted. he thought OF ap-
plying to them for shelter for the night,
j1but reflected that Jessie would be
I, alarmed il he failed to return, and that
ms mother ought to have the medicine
/ as soon as possible This latter thought
4 gave him fresh courage and strength,
and he had soon LETT the town behind
him, and was once more upon the nlgn-
( way.
/ Presently the wind went down, the
! downfall OF snow decreased, and the
stars came cut. The lCVeliness OF the
/ scene and the intense, mysterious 81
4 lence OF the snOW-laden woods on either
side Of the road oppressed the boy.
he felt tempted TO go back to town
and seek shelter, but again The
/ thought Of his mother spurred him on.
His progress was slow, now wading
4 through great drifts, ana now sll9oing
/ into a deep gully, but he pushed On
! perseveringly.
He was nearly two mics 1rom Penn
berton when he stumbled UPON some
! large, dark object, fanny outlined IN
the snow. 1t was man half rec!tn-
! ing against q, tree. He groaned family
as Richard bent over him, but made no
other sign Of life.
Il wonder if he is dying" said the
boy aloud and in a tremble Of fright.
He thought Of all the people whom he
/ had heard Of as being found dead in
some one Of those terrible snowstolTns.
Then he shook the man as vigorously
as he was able, and rubbed snow in
his face, but with no result but another
moan Suddenly he thought OF his
mothers medicine, and, opening the
bottle, forced a small quantity into the
mans mouth, and again shook him.
Finally, whether as a result of the
shaking or Of the medicine, the
stranger gave signs of returning con-
seriousness. His eyes opened: he sat
UP and looked around in bewildered
way.
"What-where-I- oh yes Ire
member-it's my ankle" he said in a
hating voice.
Richard recognized him as the man
/ whom he had directed to Banville sew
I eral hours before.
What happened to you?" asked
1 Richard. I've been shaking and rub
bling you a good while TO wake you up
The stranger now seemed perfectly
aroused.