The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1898-05-14

WHICH QeuOLeS prOJracCed and heaVys
fall; and it was all that Martin could
do to keep to the track. Had he not
been the most experienced and wealth
er-wise Of pedestrians he must have
inevitably been lost at once. The
snow glued his eyelids together, pene-
trated his clothing and froze upon his
face. Even his dog Rover, a collie of
great sagacity and experience re-
quired some encouragement to induce
him to face the storm, and every now
and again he whined, and drew closer
to his masters heels, as though pro-
testing against the cruelty of Nature.
Long before they reached the place
where the last flock of sheep. were
huddled helplessly together, awaiting
in stupid resignation their doom, both
man and dog were about spent. =
But at sight of the silly, frightened
sheep Rover gave a Joyous bark and
/ bounded forward at once, true to his
instinct and training. With the
stupidity of their kind, the creatures
had chosen the very worst spot they
could have selected wherein to abide
during the severity of the storm.
The wind whirled and eddied up
narrow gorge, and laid great wreaths
of snow all about their woolly sides.
Martin knew that if they could
be once driven round to the 9TH
er side of the hill, where the
wind would keep the ground compar-
| atively free from snow, and where
there was also some shelter to be OBJ
tanned from a hemel and a roughly
constructed fold-yard, fenced round
with stone walls, there would be little
left. to dread;. and they could be look
ed after and fed, until the severity of
the storm was past. .1
| But it required considerable determi-
nation to make the creatures move at
all, and still more to do so in the
teeth of the cutting wind. The cold
had benumbed them and rendered them
| almost torpid. -: - 49, -. .....
/ Martin the shepherd gave great
I sigh Of. relief as the last bleating
! traveller passed through the gap, and
+ he placed a hurdle across it to prevent
| their egress; but he acknowledged to
himself that d few minutes longer and
they would inevitably have mastered
! him. " : g sr"''- t..-z<:2%3 8 <
f. On an ordinary occasion the old
! shepherd could have found his. way
] home blindfolded, so we'll acquainted
was hea.With every foot Of the road,
], !. But his strength had entirely desertedd
1 him; and every step he now took was
1 with great and, increasing effort. :, The
| cold appeared to grip his heart as with
a hand of iron and to arrest his labor
ing breathing
At last he stumbled and fell at the
foot Of the bowlder He could go nc
further. Nature had completely given
out,
Then all at once he remembered that
it this drowsy slumber which was com
ing on. did creep over his senses he
was certainly done for. All, yes! But
| he had that in his breast pocket that
would give him new life. '
! Yes, it was there all right. He had
not forgotten it. His heavy eyes light
! ed up with a momentary CLEAN OF
pleasure as he drew out a fat bottle
containing, perhaps, half a gill of raw
! whisky. ..<...<.:
! Nobody could blame him for taking
! it now. He would do it to save his life
! {-only for that. Without some fresh
/ access OF strength and energy he would
! not be able to move hand or limb.
j The lethargic condition was gaining
i upon him, and resistance was scarce
/ possible, unless the fiery spirit should
! stimulate his vitality Come, there
was some good in the stuff yet, if it
! saved a mans life! .>.~~, p
| Accordingly he drew out the cork
! of the bottle with his teeth, and the
strong odor rose gratefully to his nos
trils He had a right to it this time.
! Suddenly a voice appeared to come
i out of the darkness and the storm
voice that made him pause in the very
act of drinking: %&~ u
What good is his life? It doesn' i
benefit one living creature-net even
himself!' -2ss r.-.s.-. 5. e
! He ztrembled, with more than cold,
and his hand fell from his mouth.
! Who said that? God or the devil? ri
! Whoever said it, it'was true fatally,
1 miserab1y true! "A great horror of
/ himself and a loathing Of the life he
was about to try to preserve, an in
finite pity and tenderness for the girl
whose young existence had been
/ blighted through his shameful ,fault-
all this came to him at that moment.
Like an Overwhelming wave swept
the accumulated misery and disgrace
and remorse Of years over the soul Of
/ the poor drunkard. Then a sudden ac-
cess Of fury seized upon him, and
with The last feeble remnant Of his
strength he threw the bottle away. Ii
rolled down the side of the fell and
buried itself fathoms deep in snow
drift at the foot. .ss.: ::..sss
n The sheep were safe, and Martin.
the shepherd, slept Leslie's Popular
Monthly
! Value of Brown Dia monds.
s# a New York jeWeler was exhibiting
l.insWall in, streeta day or two ago brown
y