Year: 1877

gradually withdrew to corner of til


room. There, as l began 10 fe'


drowsy, adjusted my saddle pillow


composed myself for the night. an


soon fell into a sound sleep, whic


must have lasted for hours, and wa


not likely, weary and robust as the


was, to be broken before morning.


l was, however. suddenly awakeDe'


oppressed with sensation of extrem


cold, which made me iremble in ever


limb. Nevertheless, upon the heartl


directly in front of me blazed a gres


wood fire, whose light, but not heal


for the piercing cold rather increas


ed than diminished as l became full,


aroused-pervaded every nook of th


little chamber. AT one side, so tha


her profile was turhed towards me-


beautiful young woman, looking in


to the. glowing embers, and mechan


ically rocking the while a woodeI


cradle, in which lay sleeping infant


An humble bed stood in one corner
of the room, and near 1t a little table
covered with a white cloth, and hav


ing small cracked mirror hung above
it.


These, with a homemade chair anc
low stool or two, completed the fur


niture of the apartment, none of which


it will be remembered, had stood
there when went to sleep.


Beside the hearth lay few billett
of wood and, while 1 looked, the
young woman threw one Of them up.
on the fire, resuming instantly her at
titude of listless dependency.
watched the train of sparks flying ur
the wide chimney; I watched the
smoke with tongues of red fame strug.
Cling through which followed it;
watched the still face of my beautiful
companion, glanced about the room
noting the shape and popularity OF
each article of furniture, then sinking
noiselessly back into the hollow of the
saddle, lay staring at the unfinished
roof above me, and wondering when
1 should wake up, or when this dream
would change fol another.


Impatient at last at the persistency
Of the vision, as l chose to consider it
l raised my hand painfully to my head,
for all my joints seemed stiffened and
all my veins psralyzed by the fearful
cold, and pinched my ear until it
seemed as if the nails would meet in
the flesh. Still, however, the fire
blazed and cracked without heat still
the woman sat and unused, rocking the
wooden cradle, whose motion impart-
ed faint jar to the very hard board
upon which lay still the dream, the
vision, the horrible reality went on.


Suddenly l perceived that a new
figure was in the room, the figure of a
man but how he had entered I could
by no means imagine, as the only door
of the apartment, near my elbow, had
closed ever since my waking.
Yet there was stalwart hunter, dress
ed in buckskin shirt and leggings, car
rying a long rife in his hand and
powder horn and hunting-knife at his
belt. the face was handsome, although
savage and dissolute in it's expression.


Now he strobe towards the fire, and
seemed to address some remark to the
young woman, who, without looking
up or ceasing the monOtonous motion
Of the arm which rocked the cradle,
returned some answer which seemed
% irritate her companion, who stamp
I'd impatiently on the floor as he re-
Piled.


The conversation went on for some
longer, the woman's features
a taunting irony, while
hose OF the man, as we'll as his vehe-
ment gestures, showed a savage nature
.roused almost to frenzy by the sneers
If his young companion.


At last, after speech from the
woman of intense bitterness, the hun
er, taking one step forward, struck
ler a blow with his open palm upon
he cheek-a blow SO sharp and sud-
leu that her slender figure swayed
ideways. and would have fallen had
rot she moved her hand from the cra-
lie to the chimney, and SO steadied
herself. But she replied, SO far as l
could see, neither by word, look or
gesture; only after q minute she fold
ID her hands in her lap, and leaning
pack in her chair, fixed her eyes stead
ly upon the fire, and remained mo-



The man regarded her for moment
With look of half shame, half def
Ince, upon his bold features; but her
seemed at once to reassure
md anger him, for, presently, he turn
ID away with an impatient gesture,
md leaning his rifle in a corner, and
ossing his shot pouch, powder-horn,
md hunting-knife upon the little table
below the glass, he stretched his limbs
lpon the bed, and almost Immediate
y fell asleep. q.


Still the woman sat, perfectly mo-
ionless aud expressionless, until the
ire, unfed. began to change it's flicker
ng glare for dull ember glow. Then
saw her slowly turn her head aud
tx her eyes upon the figure of the
sleeping man. And thus steadfastly
him for few moments, she
quietly arose and looked about tho
-oom with a slow, irquiring gaze. She
now crossed over with a swift and
step, to tho little table beneath
The mirror, seized in an instant the
sharp hunting knife and went to the