The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-06

But in spite OF ali, he struggled ON.
Up I'LL now the faint hope had chung TO
him that the. shepherd of the Ruchlll
might be safely housed somewhere; 1t
was Just possible he might have gone TO
the Craig Slap. But us he crossed the
rIarchdyke that hope was shattered, for
suddenly out of the darkness the form
OF n sheep doomed UP before him.
Jock Scott halted in despair "Dodl"
he muttered, This Sleeps no belded."
There could be no doubt now that some
accident had befallen his friend, for
nothing less would have prevented him
from folding his sheep on such q night.
| Somewhere oh the hillside he or his
body must be lying. But where? There
was no possibility OF a. systematic
search; all landmarks were hidden un-
der the drift, and in the black darkness
and bowling storm even the shepherd
stood bewildered. The sense Of locality
had almost left him; moreover, he was
stiff with cold. and his whole body
ached, and worse, his hands and feet
were becoming numb. In his WEAKNESS
and utter wretchedness he was tempted
to give up the search In despair. But
as the thought of his friend lying on
the hillside in the snow rose TO his
mind, with a gasp and sob he once
more set his face to the storm, gripping
his staff firmly to guide and steady his
steps. Ft
The story OF the friendship of the two
shepherds Is one OF the commonest in
the countryside. The tale of that dread
full night is the property of all; but the
4 details you will nowhere hear. Indeed,
the shepherd of the Crammil never
could remember them himself His
recollection Of the search was merely
one of growing numaness and helpless
ness and ever present despair. He had
lost all hope of rcscuing his friend: but
1t was his duty to continue the search
SO long us he could stumE;s on. And
that was enough for him.
It must have been after about two
hours Of weary, hopeless wandering
that at last he tripped over something
soft Mt the foot OF 4 high rock. In q
moment he was on his knees and had
scraped the snow from the body.
By this time feeling had almost en-
tirely left him, and he was becoming
unconscious. The rest of his task he
performed mechanically. He lifted the
body in his arms-whether dead or alive
he knew not; but he vaguely remember
cd hearing the man groan us he raised
him. How he got back he never knew.
Where he was he did not try to recol-
lect. He simply stumbled blindly for
ward under his load, picking his way by
bered wading burns and stumbling
through drifts: but the whole of his
wandering was confused. The only
abiding impression OF the night was. one
OF dull, lasting. all-absorbins pain. and
q sense of the most Ineffable joy when
ut last the light OF Watts cottage shomt
through the darkness, and he tottcred
into the delightful warmth of tbs
kitchen with the form OF his friend
hanging limp in his arms.
Laying Wat Dcmpster on the bed, M
4 seized 4 flask of brandy offered him and
! gulned down mouthfuls OF the fiery
liquor. Then he threw off his dripping
:. plaid and covered over the fire. digging
! his lfeless fingers inNo the very flames
Gradually these rcstoratlvcs began Il
take effect, and the reaction that eve!
follows extreme cold set In. Slowly .tht
, numbness left his hands and feet; ant
as the warmth spread the hot bloc,
; coursed upwards, till gradually de
lightful glow had oversprcad his body
: With the warmth came remembrance o.
his friend. Again he seized the flask
forced some brandy down Watts throat
stripped on his wet clothing, and wrap
ped him in blankets. Then. with few
, words to the Reconstruction wife, h,
sped out into the night.
The nearest farmhouse was two
niles OFF, but the shepherd covered tht
. distance In very short time. There
was nobody about. He rushed into thu
stable. saddled q horse, and in another
!" minute was on his way again. Thu
road was unfcnced and all traces of 4
obliterated by snow; but In less thar
an hour he had covered the nine mile.
t that lay between him and the iearcs
i doctor; and in other three hours tn,
q bioken limb was set, the doctor hat
left the cottage. and the shepherd O.
{ the Ruchli was restored to conscious
g ness.
4 A fortnight had passed. Except in III,
/. riffs and crannies OF the hlltops nj
i traces of snow had disappeared, an,
: once more the green pastures and re,
y ploughands lay open to the eve. TIL,
r sullenness of winter had gone. an,
!. overhead bright sun shone, warrnl,
u on the clear freshness OF n spring day
II Along the banks OF the snow swolipl
o stream which scanned the glen with
:, streak OF foam, stalwart figure moveC
. slowly towards the cottage where Ia,
!. the shepherd of the Ruchili In his lcol
i and gait there was something strange
n His figure had lost It's usual buoyr n
: confidence; his long, swinging s.rId
y had become an indetcrmnatc staI
Q which was ever slower as he advanced
his eyes had an anxious and trouble,
!, look. and every few PAGES he woult
= halt and gaze In profound thought int
q the turbid waters.
/. Jock Scott was on his way to visi
: the shepherd OF the Ruchill for the frg
/ time since the dread night OF III
: snow-stOrm, and he had mIsgiviag
: about his reception. Never before hn,
Is these two strange men met In such cir
(. cumstanCes. Neither had ever bcfor