Year: 1877

out to walk hOme-but perhaps he would
come tomorrow and then they hated
to desert their post; besides, the weather
was stinging cold, and, reduced by hum
ger, they might faint by the way, FROST
bitten, or, unarmed, encounter Indian
devils and wolves Whatever he might
be able to endure himself, Ben felt there
Uncle Simon's strength was utterly in
adequate to the struggle. They were be-
set with thousand peradventures they
was not only lion in the way, but all
manner of perils, real and imaginary
So they waited, perforce, watching the
days vanish in a tender color, and the
stars make their silent journey across
deeps of heaven, and the morning dawn
as the rose blooms. They busted them
selves still about the camp and hovel,
giving thousand last touches, such as
they would never have thought of CIV
ing at another time, gathering fire-wood
and setting the rabbit trap in vain. And
one day the axe fell from Ben's resolute
hand, and he just dragged himself in
side the camp and stretched himself be-
fore the fire. Uncle Simon had already
given out.


Walking home could hardly have
been worse" Ben said, simply. Per-
haps he was thinking of somebody who
might have met him kindly at the jour-
ney's end, in view of the danger he had
passed.


Perhaps Bruce'll come yet," return
ed Uncle Simon.


Through chink in the camp door
Ben watched the sunset fade like fire
among the woods, and one by one the
stars shine out, each in its appointed SOL
itude, and the northern lights palpitate
rosily among the sky. The bowling of
wolves echoed dismally, while now and
then branch cracked in the forest, and
the wind trembled among the pines. In
side the fire made a comfortable glow,
under the influence of which he was
soon nodding off to sleep, when through
the fog of his semi-consciousnes he
seemed to hear a sort of ringing in his
ears, at first a mere thread of sound,
then louder and nearer, as If every tree
in the forest was church steeple with
all its bells swinging. Then he heard
no more till smothered groan from
Uncle Simon caused him to raise him
self upon his elbow. The fire was still
swapping and blazing brightly, and the
form and profile of a woman was shad-
owed forth upon the wall of the camp
very familiar face and figure it was,
too, that appeared to be bending over
something that was cooking on the fire.
Was it the excited action of his brain
that photographed Louisa Bruce on the
wall? If so, he prayed that it might
last forever. Then he turned his head
languidly towards the fire, and met a
pair of eyes that had shone for him all
his life with the fascination of will-o'-
the wisp. Were they still to haunt him
across the confines of this world?n


"If you are awake, Ben, you had bet
ter taste this cruel that have made for
you," said Louisa, quietly. g You must
be nearly famished."


"How came you here? was all the
answer Ben vouchsafed.


" You are mighty polite if you are
most starved. Who else could come,
and father not able to lift his head
brought Tim; he is putting up the
horses. It's no such pleasant journey,
either,I can tell you, between the wolves
and the frost, not to mention cold well
come. Come, amt you going to take
something? Here's broth and coffee
and gruel-take your choice"


"No-you shall choose for me-" said
Ben. Listen. Unless you take back
the words you spoke when we met last,
unless you give me back love for love, L
swear will not taste morsel of any
thing you have to offer. I'll stay here
and starve rather than take crumb of y
comfort from your hand"


"What did / sayY" asked Louisa
meekly.


"You said that you could live without
me-"


"Oh, yes, suppose could, but L
should not want to-"


"But you refused to marry me-"


Certainly; because you didn't want
to marry q girl with no more heart than
an adder, Ben"


81 want to marry you, heart OF no
heart"


Every well have some broth first,
won't you 2"


And then Tim came In, and Uncle
Simon awoke, and there was an end Of
starvation in camp.