Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-04-28

nllt uhH fftfclH eAtItift-l& NtiEiies HNt
The prosper Of The winter ia III. sitt'y
fialds lIH Dht appeat 10 tbr unnn-
tulneer IN The first f,Inre. ~ si-'s
lamea "a hnrl season. Altbea h
the fall had Salne iaie. the snHs~ ssefs
exceptionally -casls Tie duck tight
was completed two weeks before rs
lisual time. aud the rodents had dug
their burrows unusually deep. J. lie
Sides, too many months Of snow weigh
heavily upon the spirit. The wolf
packs sing endlessIy on the ridges,
and many unpleasant things may hap
pen. On previous years, some Of the
cabins on the ridges below had human
occupants: this winter the whole re-
gion, for nearly seventy miles across
the mountains TO the foothills. would
be wholly deserted by human beings.
Even the ranger station. twelve miles
ncross a steep ridge. would soon be
empty. OF course few ranchers had
homes few miles beyond the river.
but the Wild cataracts did not freeze
IN the coldest Of seasons. and there
were no bridges. Besides. most Of the
more prosperous farmers wintered In
the valleys. Only n few more days
would the road be passable for hts
car: and no time must be lost ia max
Ing HIS decision.
Once the SHOWS came 10 reality,
there was nothing to do but stay. Sew
enty miles across the uncharted ridges
on snowshoes Is an undertaking for
which even a mountnlneer has no
fondness. II might be the wisest thing
after all, 10 load snowhird and Dan
into his car and drive down 10 the
valleys. The fall roundup would soon
be completed. BIN would return for a
few days from the valleys with new
equipment to replace the broken light
Ing system on the car, and they could
avoid the bitter cold and snow that
Lennox had known 70 long. lie
chopped at great log and wondered
what would suit him better--the com
fort and safety Of the valleys or the
rugged glory Of the ridges.
Bu; nt thni instant. the question Of
Wheeler or not he would winter on tho
Divide was decided for him. And IN
instant was all that was needed. For
the period OF one breath he forgot 70
I've wntchfuI--and certain dread
Spiri, thai nbidcs much 10 the forest
saw rs chance Perhaps he had lived
too long IL The mountains and grown
careless q them; an attitude that Is
usually punished with death. lie Ind
! iJfi feiled tree. and the trunk Nns
siill attached 10 the stump BY strip
Of bark 20 which a little Of the aoosl
adhered lie struck n furious blow Of
Il with his az,
Nc hahn't considered that the tres.
lay On steep slope. An the blade
fell the great trunk simply seemed 70
leap. LenhoK lcapeG too. IN ffpnzied
effort 10 save hls life; bur already tl,e
ieafy bows Ike tho tendrils Of some
great amphlhinn. had whipped around
ne l,gp Ne fell. struggling: and
iin'H rtirious darlsaess. eireaked
sih aame dropped down upon him
Az hou' later he found himself tying
on the stlIl hillside, Knowing only q
greni wonderinenL Al arat hin only
impulse wns 10 80 hack 70 sleep lie
didn'i understand tho grayness that
had come upon the mountain world.
tbs own strange feeling Of numhnets,
OF endless aoarIng through infinite
spaces. hut be was a mountain man.
and that meant be WINS schooied. be-
yond AL. things, 10 keep his seif-coD.
lrd lie made hlinself remcsntcr Yes
--he had been cutting wood on the
hillside. and The shadows lad been
long. tie had been wondering wbefb-
or or not they should SO down 20 the
Valleys
fle remembered nows the last hlow
and the rolling log He tried TO turn
his head 20 look Up TO the hin.
lie found himself wholly unable 70
do Il. Something wracked him 10 HIS
neck when he tried 20 move But be
did glance down. And yea. be could
turn IN this direction. And he eaw
the great tree trunk lying twenty feet
below him. wedged IN between the
young Pines.
tie was surrounded BE- broken grnE'
menis Of limbs. and Il was evident
that the tree had not struck BIN 0
foil blow. Tho limbs had protected
him 10 somo extent No man IL Of
such mold as 70 be crushed under the
solid weight Of the trunk and live 10
remember Il lie wondered If thia
were the frontier 81 denlh--the gray
ness that fingered over him. IIe
seemed 10 be soaring.
He brought himself back TO enrih
and tried again 20 remember. ~
course. the twilight had fallen. II had
been late afternoon when he had cui
the tree. His hnBd ainlo along his
body; and then. for the firsi time. q
hideous sickness came upon him. IT'S
band was wnrn and wet when be
brought II %. The other hand be
couldn't stretch at all.
Tho forest was silent around him,
except bird calling somewhere neat
the house--a full voice. rich ard clear,
aud u seemed to him that II had q
quality Of distress. Then he recognized
a. II was the voice Of his own dnugh-
Ter snowhlri, calling for him. lie
tried 10 answer her.
II wns only whisper, at nrst. Yet
size was coming nearer; md her own
voice sounded louder. Here, Snow
bird" he called again. She heard him
then: he could tell by the startled
tone Of her reply. The next instant
she was at bis side. her tenrs drop
| ping on his face.
With tremendous effort Of win h
recalled his speeding faculties. y
| flon,f fhink Pm hndlv hurt he fnId