Year: 1867

toWarus tne path taken ny the invalid In .
the morning. The night was PIERCING
cold. and the dark clouds which now
loomed across the horizon threatened
thunder storm. They had proceeded
nearly mile, and no trace Of the lost
one could be found. and at last the big
drops came pattering down upon the
leaves. and in few moments the storm
broke in all its fury, accompanied by loud
roaring thunder, and bright ami quick
successive flashes Of lightning.


There was evidently no use in trying
TO go further, and the two commenced to
retrace their steps, the silence being bro.
alone BY the violent sobbiDgs Of the young
wife. The doctor ventured the opinion
that he must nave been invited to stay In
the village all night. The conjecture vas
eagerly clutched at. and she became more
calm. At last TIE hotel was reached.
No tidings Of the missing msn had been
heard; and when the doctor mentioned
his i'll success to the landlord, the latter,
concurring in the opinion that he had
lost his way. Immediately sent out five or
six men in search. but all returned Sftar
long and fruitless toll. s#


Let US now return 10 the invalid. When
he started out in tde bright morning L.si
was full Of hope, and, rejecting the prof.
fered ride, though that he was strong
enough to bear the fatigue of such short
distancc. He reached the village in good
time and transacted his business with
little delay, and after rest commenced
to retrace bis way homeward. He had
no! gone far, however, before he began to
feel weary. aud sitting down upon sunny
bank, be soon fell asleep. When he awoko
the sun was we'll nigh set, and he made
haste to reach the hotel. He had to pass
through dense wood where the path ran
along the top of a high hill, and in tho
valley below leaped a little limpid stream.
he reached the top of the hill, and had
sat down on the stump Of an old tree. Il
was now near dusk, and the air was rath.
damp; but he thought he should get home
all the better after little rest Sudden.
ly a gust Of wind blew away his light
summer hat and deposited it far in the
valley below. Weak as he was, he man.
aged to scramble down the almost precip.
itous bank, but his search was long and
fruitless, and by the time he gave up the
task II was quite dark. In vain he at
tempted to regain the path. He could
discern nothing but the glimmering stream
and he was continually running against
the trunk of some forest monarch. II
was in vain that he shouted for assistance.
No one was within a mile of him. He
was lost.


Tired of searching for the lost path.
and overcome with fatigue, the roor in
valid sank down exhausted. The moon
had now become overcast, and the big
rain drops began to fall Creeping to the
trunk of an old decaying elm, he sat down
upon its roots, and wrapping his head in
newspaper which he found in his pock.
ct, and resting against the trunk, in a
few moments he dropped asleep, and was
soon entirely oblivious of the raging
storm that was going on overhead.


How long he slept he knew not. Whom
he awoke he was drenched to The skin.
With the greatest difficulty he managed
to rise, aud once more attemtcd to regain
the path to the hotel. This time his ef.
forts were rewarded with success and
before an hour had elapsed he was clasped
in the arms of his wife. who had never
ceased to watch for his coming.


But it was the final blow to his fast
sinking constitution. 1t was seen that
his end was not far distant, and the doc.
tor shook his head mournfully as hs
turned away, from the invalid's couch.


"Tell me the worst, Doctor" cried tho
young wife. II can bear X all. know
he cannot live long"


"Take him home. The home of his
childhood may, perhaps, revive him for
while; and it is better that he should
die surround dfy his friends than breitts .
his last among strangers hcrc..''


The wife could no longer bear the
weight of her sorrows, and she sank down,
quite overcome by her emotion Shi
dare not tell him the sad news Recover.
her coInposure she advanced to wLero bS
was lying and asked him if he would NOT
like to 60 home.


"Hcme home !" he cried,-"yes, taxa
me to my home. | know cannot live
many more days, and would like once
more to see my native hills.


lie did 60 home. The following day
he was in bed, never to rise again
Around him stood his parents aud bis
faithful young wife.


"'I'is short honeymoon for you, dear. :
est" he cried. clasping his sobbing wifo
TO his bosom, "but we shall have BRIGHT