Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-22

reach this blissful region so the old man pro-
poses after all the other plans have been dis
cussed and rejected Hope is again kindled in
the breasts of these wretched beings, who have no
idea that the same fate awaits them everywhere
the fate of perishing from colo ana starVauon-
for the Eden of which they are dreaming mas
grown inhospitabe and uninhabitable, too Ihe
entire globe is wrapped in snow and Ice as IN an
armor of steel; the deep shadows OF the nlght
prevail, which change now ana hen ln1o paie'
gray twilight. ,
A better landau, it can be found only beyond
this world and not upon its snowfields which
were fixing in death and could neither produce
new life nor sustain that which dragged out a
weary existence.
Rut as the drowning man clutches straw, these
unfortunate creatures grasped the nope Oh nnalns
this land, with which tradition had made tnem
familiar Before they could carry out this daring
plan however born of sheer desperation, the WIN
ter storms broke in upon them earlier than usual
forbidding them to remain outside the nut Ior
even brief space of time, and making their pro
posed emigration thing of imposslDlllty
Horror and despair filled their hearts and I'm
ally gave way to sulen resignation: ihelr PAL,
lid children moaned with hunger and the cry OF
their loved ones inspired them with renewed en-
ergy. All is not yet lost unexpected succor may
come from above. They will fight the pattie .or
existence to the last; yes, they will hold out tor
the sake of their innocent children. 1t did not
occur to them that the life for which they were
saving them one of utter prlvatlon, else tnelr
heroism and courage would have failed
But they feel the hunger and its pangs more
and more and with heavy heart they resolve
at last to kill of the four faithful dogs, al
though he can but lily be spared In feW days
the second follows, then the third and hnaiiy tne
last The aged father partakes scarcely OF any
nourishment refusing to deprive his loved ones
of the few morses which might still the pangs OF
his hunger. Hour by hour he grows weaker ana
at last he can arise with difficulty only from his
pallet in a corner of the hut. His eyes nave SUNK
way back in his head and in them shines super
natural light He realizes that he will soon be
transported to yonder fields Wnere there VIII pe
md suffering He tries TO support
the hope of the despairng young couple whom
terrible anxiety is almost driving mad' and 10
interrupt their dismal, gloomy broodlng, ne mar
rates to them with faint voice stories or ages long
since mast when ice and snow did not cover the
earth everywhere, when people lived all over tnls
globe and second sun shone through the stiiiness
of the night. Esther mods her head tnougntluiiy
while he speaks. Aye her father is describing the
paradise where the gentle, balmy breezes DleW ana
some day they will reach it, How wondrously
fair the journey would be were 1t not 1or the
dreadful bridge which leads to It's destlna'ioh-
death!
At last the pallid lips of the aged father are
set in death, and his eyes have closed IN that
long sumber from which there is no AWAKENING
Hone slowly dies away from day to day tnat
the storms will cease at last and EstherS husband
Ahasver may go out and seek help In one OF tne
neigh boring huts long ways in the distance. II
would have brought them no succor put increased
their misery and desolation for the few scattered
human habitations had not sheltered living De
ing for many weeks.
The storm has piled the snow high before
Answers narrow entrance, and it would take
hundred brawny arms to remove this frozen wall
instead of those four emaciated ones. Still ne mas
been able to guard the entrance to this tomb from
completely closing up and to prepare tae moss itn
his reindeer that he has gathered with 1nhnlte
labor Esther has kept alive the hame OF nydro-
gengas which she generates from snoW-"ater ny
means of an ingeniously constructed apparatus;
This gives both light and warmth to the Wretcneo
people Since her father has closed his eyes IN
death her own strength wanes day by day. her