The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1900-08-17

the beaten track, for he thought that he
knew the direction, and that 1t could not
be far away. He found that he was not
mistaken, for soon bis feet struck against
the we'll packed snow, and only few
rods from where he had left his horses.
Noting his bearings carefully, he started
back for his team. But what was his
surprise, when, instead of reaching his
horses, as he had expected, he found that
he was climbing the hard body Of the
drift! Still more surprised was he when,
on intently listening, he failed to hear
the faintest sound proceeding from bis
Aoundering horses! Nothing could he
hear but the roaring of the mighty winde,
and mingled with them those unearth "
means ndzshrieks. For some minutes
he CROPPED around wildly, in fruitless
search. Then he was seized with q
violent fit Of coughing, and sank helpless
upon the snow.
The air was growing colder every min
ute. Even the thin, worn blanket was
beyond bis reach. With the desperation
of dying man, he sprang to his feet and
started blindly on against the wind. On,
on he plodded, now climbing up or rolling
down some great drift, now plunging
headlong into some snow-filled slough {;
now stumbling over some round, hard
rock or barren knoll, and now hurled
back upon the frozen snow by the force
OF the raging storm. How long he 80
plodded on he could not tell, for he took
no account Of time; In what direction he
thus dragged himself along was equally
a mystery, for his brain had become 90
fearfully benumbed that all directions
were the same to him. His strength was
rapidly failing and great scales of ice
covered his eyes. An irresistible desire
to sink in bis tracks and fall asleep seized
him. Then he fell PROSTATE, in utter ex-
haustion.
1t was not long, however, before he
was aroused from his stupor by shrill
howl, or yelping, that pierced the air
during lull In the storm. He slowly
raised himself upon bis hands and knees,
and listened. That sound could not be
the shrieking or the moaning Of the
wind!
1.-THE coyotes I" he gasped, rising upon
his feet and staggering from side to side.
In An instant there flashed through his
mind all the blood-freezing stories that
he had ever heard, about how those mon
grel wolves Of the pra irie encircle closer
and closer around the fallen bodies of
those who perish in such fearful storms,
and then devour them. The very
thought was more horrible to him than
all the horrors of the storm! Then there
was another lull, and then came another
yelping, and then another quickly follow
ing it. He determined to postpone the
final moment as long as possible.
Though every movement was attended
with excruciating pain, plod on he must,
or freeze where he WAS, and become
food for the ravenous wolves.
1t may seem strange that Peter Moore
then cried out in the agony of his heart, |
and bitterly cursed the man who was
using his perishing body and sinking |
soul only as means by which to lift |
himself up in the mad reach for wealth,
Ind that he bitterly cursed that man
sgain, as he thought of the fate that 80
'urely awaited Mary and the little ones
It may seem strange that, while PROSTATE
lpon his knees, and within the very Jaws
II the grim monster, he did not cry for
mercy on his sinking soul, and on those
lear ones who were then so ruthleesly
deprived of their protector! But let not
hat man or woman who knows not what
t is to be made the stepping-stone Of some
.reedy human monster condemn this poor
White slave Of the West because he had
ost all faith in God as we'll as man.
The storm weakened again, as IL to
father new strength. Again came that
'iercing cry. And how very near? But
his time how very much like human
~! And again it came ringing through
he air. 1t was human cry beyond
Mistake He answered frantically! But
he winds came rushing on again, and
he sound of his own weak voice died
quickly within the eddy that whirled
round him. With almost superhuman
fort he plunged forward in the direction
whence proceeded that now welcome cry,
Dreaming with all the power that his
weak lungs could give forthl
A few minutes afterward and the stiff
ened form Of Peter Poore was being
orne through the door by the strong
rms of two sturdy men. But 1t was into
be little house at the ranch that It was