A STRANGE STORY.
C Concluded.)
We passed one peaceful month together
disturbed only by distant rumors of the
diphtheria, a scourge which seemed to be
striding along from'village to village,
first on the river, then nearer us on the
great lake; but we never thought of its
touching us, until one miserable night,
when father came home, languid and fe
verish from one of his numerous expedi
tions, and we read in his face that the
ghastly finger of the scourge had set its
mark upon him. After the second day of
anxiety about father all strength seemed
to desert my delicate little mother. From
the first she had despaired about him,and
now I saw that if father's life was taken
I should have to part with them both.
Her life would die with his, for sorrow
forges bonds stronger even that joy, and
they have suffered so much together, his
love always supporting her, that he had
become life of her life. She could not
exist alone.
I struggled hand to hand and sick at
heart against what I felt to bean inexora
ble fate,and on the afternoon of the eight
day I found myself alone and almost de
spairing, save for the thought of the hap
piness of the two I had loved best in the
world.
The sunset came as I sat by the lake
side, flooding my desolate world with a
heavenly glory, like a sign from thorn to
me of their new found joy.
The stars had come out, before I ven
tured to return to the worse than desert
ed house. I could not hope for help from
any neighbor until I sought it myself the
next day, and I had to look forward to a
night, how horrible I did not forsee, or I
could not have endured it. What follows
I could scarcely credit myself, if I did
not bear on my hand a tangible proof of
it in a well defined scar; and, even now,
I could not bear to write of that night's
experience had not my children's laugh
ter and my loving husband's care long
since banished all unnatural gloom from
my life.
While I had been sitting alone on the
lake shore, toward the evening, 1 had
heard a distant shot; it scarcely roused
me. A sportsman, I thought, had wan
dered from his encampment on the oppo
site shore, had seen some game in our
wild woods, killed it, and his canoe had
long since carried him away. In the
gathering darkness I grouped my way
back through the familiar little path, and
reached my own dobr. I alone should
pass the threshold in the future; their
feet were still; the busy feet that had
toiled for me, followed me, and had been
ever near me! I was to go on my rug
ged path alone! Heartsick and overcome
I stopped at trie door, and leaning my
head vgainst it, I sobbed in uncontrolable
despair. Tired out at length, I had
grown quiet and was jnst about to lift
the latch, when a faint moan, as of an
animal in pain, and close to me, startled
me: then a dcathjlike silence reigned.
I knew 1 had net been mistaken. I
felt that I must forget myself and help
the poor creature in distress. "It is
very good for strength to know that
some one needs you to be strong." No
longer hesitating, I hurried into the lit
tle cabin, struck a light, and went in the
direction whence the moan had reached
my ears. I thought of the shot I had
heard. It was quite possible a poor
wounded deer was lying in the bushes.
Yes! I could now see its skin—unmistak
ably a fawn—spotted dun color. It lay
quite still—perhaps that moan had been
its dying gasp!—and so I came quite
close to it leaned over and, paralyzed
with horror, saw my mother's face, only
young and very beautiful, as she must
have looked when a girl. Deathly pale,
dead, possibly, she lay— matted hair all
about her face, and clothed in doeskin.
Just then she stirred; it was not death.
All wonder ceased within me, every feel
ing fled before the thought that this be
ing, whatever, wuoever she was might
he saved to live.
I dragged her the few steps iuto the
house, laid her on my hemlock boughs,
untouched by me since the sickness vis
ited us. Then I found a wound in the
poor creature's side and bound it up,
bathed her head, and in the quiet, now
again I felt startled at seeing my moth"
er's image, young and fair, before me,
and, when at last her great eyes opened,
it must be that sister lost to me till now,
and sent back in this sad hour to take
my mothers place. I leaned forward, in
an excess of tenderness, to welcome her,
when a look of fright, an animal-like,
wild terror took possession of her face,
and a low sort of snarl broke from her
human lips.
The start she gave eaused a fresh flow
of blood ; dimness passed over her eyes.
Again I staunched the wound and pre
pared nourishment in case she wakened.
Too busied in these ways for further spec
ulation, only with a strange weight at my
heart and weariness of body, suddenly I
felt the gleam of eyes watching me. Such
strange eyes! No human expression
about them; a stealthy look in them now.
Gently as I could 1 approached her side.
She trembled and tried to hide her head
when I offered her my carefully prepared
food. I moved away and studiously
avoided an appearance of watching her.
Yet I was intensely conscious of her
every movement. I could see her eyeing
with a wretched, famished look, a raw
venison steak that had been forgotten and
lay on the table close beside her. Stealth
ily, like a beast of prey, her feeble hand
stole toward it, and in a moment she had
torn it in pieces and devoured it.
Horror filled my heart. Could this
creature be human? I sat still in the cor
ner where, myself unseen, 1 could watch
and restrain her if necessary, and soon—
weakness having overcome her, after this
last effort she lay tossing in an uneasy
sleep.
Oh! I was so weary and so very lonely!
The dreadful night was almost at an end.
I went to her side, threw myself on the
bed beside her, and put my arms about
her neck. Again her wonderful eyes
opened full in my face. I fixed them with
my own. I caressed her, called her by
the endearing names of old. I besought
her to be gentle and to love me. I told
her she was my own, the only creature
left to me to love and care for! One
short second it seemed as if a soul looked
out of her glorious, deer-like eyes; then,
with a groan, as if she gave the struggle
over, and with that low, fearful growl
again, she fastened her white teeth in my
hand.
Shrieking with pain, I fainted. When
I came to myself dawn was struggling in
at the window; leaf shadows flickered on
the floor. A fearful pain in my hand
roused me at length, and a consuming
thirst drove me into the woods toward
the spring to allay it.
I struggled through the underbrush,
and there, close to the water, discerned a
confused mass. There lay my poor sis
ter, dead, her head pillowed ou a wild
cat of the woods, shot by the same hand,
probably, that had wounded her fatally.—
Appleton's Journal.
EXECUTOR'S NOTlCE.—Letters tes
tamentary having been granted to the under
signed, under last will and testament of
George Gard. late of the Township of Wysox, de
ceased, all persons indebted to the estate of said
decedent are hereby notified to make immediate
payment, aud all having claims against said estate
must present the same duly authenticated to the
undersigned for settlement.
WM. H. SMITH, Executor.
Towanda, Feb U. 1881—8w
DISSOLUTION. —The co-partnership
heretofore existing between Charles Johnson,
N. M. Eichelberger nnd Peter Mclntyre, under the
tirm name of the " Johnson Manufacturing Compa
ny," is this day disolved by mutual consent, Mr.
Peter Mclntyre retiring from the firm. The liabili
ties of said firm will be paid by Charles Johnson
and N. M. Eichelberger, and all notes and accounts
due said firm will be paid to them.
Towanda, Pa., March 12, 1881.
EXECUTRIX'S NOTICE. Letters
testamentary having been granted to the un
dersigned, executrix of the estate of Ethan B.
Moore, late of Ulster, deceased, all persons indebted
to the estate of said decedent are hereby notified to
make immediate payment, and all having claims
against said estate must present the same duly au
thenticated to the undersigned for settlement.
LOUISA MOORE, Executrix.
Ulster, Feb. 24, 1881.
RS. D. V. STEDGE,
AJL.A Manufacturer of and dealer ia
Human Hair Goods,
Special attention given to
COMBINGS—Roots all turned one way.
Switches from $1 upwards. Also agent for Hun
er'e INVISIBLE FACE POWDER, Madam Clark's
Corsets, and Shoulder Brace Elastics.
Particular attention paid to dressing ladies hair at
i their homes or at my place of business, over Evans
| & Hildreth's store. MRB. 1). V. STEDGE
IN EURALGIA CURED BY
DR. BURR'S NEURALGIA AND SICK
IIEADACHE TILLS.
A universal cure for Neuralgia, Sick Head
ache, Nervous Headache, Dyspepsia,
Constipation, Paralysis, Palpita
tion of the Heart, and Head
ache arising from over
stimulation either
from
OPIUM OR ALCOHOLIC SIMULANTS.
These Pills are very pleasant to take (they dis
solve in the mouth) and effectually cure all dieaaes
arising from a deranged nervous system.
If your druggist is not supplied, ask him to pro
cure it for you, from the wholesale dealers. Sent
to any address on receipt of 50 cents.
For Sale by
CLARK B. PORTER,
QPECIAL NOTICE!
THE NEW YORK, LAKE ERIE & WESTERN R. R.
Ever mindful of the interests of its patrons, has
established a CITY
Ticket Office at Towanda,
REDUCED RATES to all principal points WEST.
For passage tickets, colonists' tickets, or tickets foi
a party of passengers, apply at the office of the New
York, Lake Erie & Western li. R., Ward House,
Towanda, Pa. Baggage checked to all points.
JOHN E. WARD, Ageut.
p*RANK P. GRADY
MERCHANT TA !L OR.
Corner Main and Pine Streets,
Keeps a large assortment of
Cloths and Suitines?
And makes a SINGLE GARMENT or a WHOLE
SUIT to order ON SHORT NOTICE.
His present stock has been purchased at
VERY LOW PRICES,
and he proposes to give his customers
the benefit of his good bargains.
ME A CALL.
FRANK P. GRADY,
Practical Cutter and Tailor.
Towanda, Jan. 13, 1881.
MERCHANT TAILORING ESTA-B
LISHMENT.
JParrott $ Gvessel
will open with a large assortment of cloths
and suitings, and be prepared to do
MERCHANT TAILORING BUSINESS
IN ALL ITS BRANCHES,
about March Ist, in the store lately occupied
by W. 11. Pool, one door north of Chamber
lin'e. lieserve your orders for them and
save money.
pOR
Hair flat and Shave
Go to the
WARD HOUSE SHAVING PARLOR
STEDGE
Is there.
$1 Outfit furnished free, with lull iD-
I IJ structions for conducting the most
profitable business that anyone can
engage in. The business is so easy to learn, and
our instructions are so simple and plain, that any
one can make great profits from the very start. No
one can fail who is willing to work. Women are as
successful as men. Boys and girls can earn large
sums. Many havo made at the business over one
hundred dollars in a single week. Nothing like it
ever known before. All who engage are surprised
at the ease and rapidity -with which they are able
to make money. You can engage in this business
during your spare time at great profit. You do not
have to invest capital in it. We take all the risk.
Those who need ready money, should write to us
at once. All furnished free. Address True k Co.,
Augusta, Maine.
PASSENGERS
GOING WEST
Should remember that the regular Ticket Office at
the upper depot, To wanda, in the place to purchase
TICKETS TO ALL POINTS
WEST, NORTHWEST and.SOUTHWKBT, at the
lowest Possible Hates
|by any route. For information as to routes, titue
changes, connections, &e., to any place in the United
| States or Canada, call on or address
11. E. BABCOCK,
Ticket Agent, Towanda, Pa.
DAVIS
VERTICAL PEED
Simplest, Strongest and
does work that cannot be
clone on any under feed
machine.
O. A. BLACK, Agent,
Send for Samples. To wanda, Pa.
QOAL I COAL :
CHEAP FOK !
At IJEJOR IM MI D, formerly Pieree's
Sullivan Coal,
LARGE STOVE, ? 00
SMALL STOVE , 3 25
CHESTNUT ; • 3 25
EGG, 3 00
GRATE, 3 00
SMALL CHESTNUT, 2 15
With same additional charges for cartage.
W. M. MALL6RY
October, 24, 1879.
HW. MILLER
e keeps several
PUBLIC HACKS
and is ready to attend all calls in his line promptly.
He runs to ALL TRAINS. Charges for night and
early morning trains 25 cents per passenger. Regu
lar customers supplied with tickets at reduced rates.
Charges for attending funerals from $2.50 to $3.00.
Horses and carriages to let.
Orders left at his office below council rooms wil
receive careful attention. H. W. MILLER
Nov. 27, 1880.
QTEDGE'S TONIC FOR THE]
S HAIR.
A sure cure for Dandruff and all •ther
diseases of the Scalp. Stops the hair
from falling put; invigorates the hair
nerves; cleanses the hair perfectly and
gives it a beautiful and healthy gloss that
cannot be obtained without itt; use.
&2p*Price 50 cents per Bottle.
Manufactured and sold by
D. V. STEDGE,
To WANDA, Pa.
QJOAL,
Nathan Tidd,
DEALHR IM
PITTSTON, WILKES - BARRE, AND
Loyal Sock Coal,
Invites the patronage of his old friends and the put.
lie generally. I shall keep a full assortment
oi all sizes,
AMD SHALL BBLL AT
LOWEST PRICES FOR CASH.
Yard and office,'foot of Pinefstreet, just seuth •
Cour nouae ?
Au * M - N. TIDD.