Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-12-20
NEW VOL. 36.---NO. Z.

and the tree fell with mighty crash.
Mr.. Dawson made spring backward,
but something struck his shoulders
with a binding force, and he fell
heavily to the ground. When he
opened his eyes he found himself "
ing face downward in the snow, with
a great weight holding him firmly
down. He was already stiff with
cold, and he felt sore and lame. He
was so far from any human habitation
that there was only slender chance
of anyone hearing his voice, and when
he tried to call for help he found TO
his alarm that be was growing very
hoarse. A cold wind was blowing,
and leaden clouds obscured the sky,
by which he knew that a snow storm
was at hand.
His situation looked very serious,
for even his wife did not know of his
whereabouts, and she would not be
anxious about him until considerably
past noon.
He had turned his head with diff
Guilty, and saw that the weight that
held him down was stout branch of
the fallen tree, which he could soon
have cut away if he had been on his
feet, but he could neither move hands
nor feet and the ak lay at least ten
feet away H. grew colder every
moment, and occasional snow flakes
huttered around him
The storm is comm" he groaned'
"an l shall be buried in the snow.
Just then he heard a trsmulons
whistling, very faint and far of, but
Enthusiastically approaching. He raised
his voice by a great effort and called
for help, but there was no answer. He
tried again, but with no better sue
cess. Even the whistling had ceased,
and his heart sank. When he had
quite given up hope, he heard foot
steps crunching the STOW beside him
very cautiously, and a rosy face
peered through the bare branches.
"Youse hurted, amt you ?" asked
a musical little voice.
81 can't get up, answered Mr. Daw-
son, feebly. "Ain't there nobody
with you?"
mo; ; | bringed Marks dinner"
Cant you go an tell Mark to come
an help me p
Marks gone way off in the woods
with another man. I'll help you"
81 can't hold out much longer III
freeze to death. Hand me my coat,
an then run home after somebody"
Ned brought the coat as directed,
but when he tried to spread it over
Mr.. Dawson's shivering body, the
branches and twigs lifted it, and the
winds tossed it back as fast as the
boy tucked it in.
Its no use, groaned the unfor-
tunate man. Hurry as fast as you
can an bring somebody to chop of
the branch, or III freeze to death.
It's goin' to be an awful cold storm.
al can chop it off, said Ned cheer
fully. 81 chop kindling sometimes
The ak was heavy, but Ned went
bravely to work. He made little
headway at first, but soon did well,
and the chips few fast. He was
obliged to rest once, but under en-
couraging words he went to work with
new energy, and at the end Of ten
minutes had chopped nearly through
the branch. 1t snapped under Mr..
Dawson's pressure, and with mighty
effort he dragged himself forth, with
aching back, and so numb that be
could hardly stand. Ned helped him
struggle into his coat. After few
minutes they started slowly of.
Lets go to Mrs. Shaw's, said Mr.
Dawson.
Mrs. Shaw was ironing at the kitch-
en- table. She had become somewhat
uneasy about Ned, and when she saw
the queer couple coming up the road
she went forward to open the door.
"Why, Mr.. Dawson" che exclaimed.
"What in the world has happened 2"
"I'll tell you as coon as I get warm"
And be did, giving Ned all the
praise due to him.
You've had a very narrow escape,
said Mrs. Shaw, solemnly, ian you
may thank your wife for it."
"How's that? ?"
well, I don't s'POse I've a right
to tell Maria's secret, but seein' what's
happened, I'm gOin' to. It's OWN to
her that Ned's here, an she pays his
board an furnishes bis clothes, cause
you wouldn't let her have him to home.
If it hadn't been for him the Lord on