The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-07-19

tered, little light. In tho obseurity the
great masses of rock had strangely-for-
nldding aspect, as, crowned here anu
there by few pines, they stood motion
less above the chatting stream.
How cool and dark-the atnospbere
is almost like that of cavep several of
the ladies e:e ,laimed when--hayinp dis
mounted and fastened their horses at
some distance-they entered the gorge
'There are several caves here said
Mr. Jennings. "The largest is near the
High Fall some distance up the gorge.
NOW let me beg you all to he css=,sfGi. ior
the 'roo&s are exceedingly slippery, and
II you snoold iall into the stream you
would certainly be drowned"
This warning was not greatly regarded
but It is to be supposed that Providsncs
watched over the reckless Young neonle
who risked their neeks so hee,llsssIy-rat
least there is no other way to account for
their safety. Mr.. Jennings trembIed es
he witnessed the feats of one or two par
ticularly foolish young ladies, and re.
corded vow in his own mind never to
brlng another party to the Devils Gorge.
IL Is hardly necessary to state that
Agatha was not among these hoidens--
she was not only past the age when ami
NAL spirits assert themselves go exube.
rantly, but she had Thurston for her
guide, his hand 10 assist her, his voice TO
direct her steps, and it is safe to say that
beiore any woman under his charge could
deliberately have periled her life. "a
many around were doing, she would have
had to push him into the flood.
Though cautious, he was an expe-
rienced climber, Miss Loring found, and
they soon penetrated much farther than
the others into the wild retreats Of the
gorge. Near tho High Fall-where the
stream fell in perpendicular cascade of
about tiity feet-they found the cave of
winch MIR. Jennings had spoken-a large.
Irregular recess, formed and overhung by
jagged DHa,. ,,,oosl rocks and lroughly speakfng)
to it was marrow Tor the stream. in ;ts
eddying flow from the foot of the fall.
covered most of the mouth but once in.
side, the space was ample. 9ais
Standing here, with the fall thunder.
ing In their ears, it was not strange they
dlu not hear the shouts with which tho
CLIFF bound gorge resounded when the
rest OF the party decided to return. Some
ono had CHANGED to look up, and on the
strip OF sky overhead perceived q threat
e!nlng cloud, upon which the cry 90
horscl" was raised at once.
1t will be no joke if we are caugLH IN
storm ten miles from home, with night
30 near" said Mr. Jennings. eve must
return ut once. What has become nr
Thuratnn end Miss Loring?"
They went up to the flll-wc'll shout
for them," said somebody.
They were accordingly shouted for,
with no result, as has been already said.
Then volunteer clamberei up to a point
which commanded view of the fall, and
reported no sign of them and, since
several of the ladies grew very nervous lin
view OF the threatening storm, it was de-
cided to wait no longer.
They'll, soon follow" said one of the
shouters, cheerfully. "Perhaps, indeed.
they have already left the gorge"
1t was of course evident that this was
not the case when the party reached The
place where the horses were tied: bus
human natire, which is selfish nj all
times. 3 apt 20 exhibit this selfshness in
peculiar degree when a cloud threatens
to empty itself on the defenseless heads
OF pleasurc-party The general con-
cluslon was, that Thurston and Miss
Loring must look after themselves. but
that they would follow in few minutes.
Instead of few minutes, however, it
was fully half nm hour later before thew
came down the gorge and found it de-
'erted
"Why, the rest must have gone r' said
Hiss Loring. GLOW strange OF them to
cave us in this was"
Esca@lI..siy stFangeH saii Thurston.
i can hardly think that they have really
lone so but we shall soon see."
..How very dark it is r. said the young
ady minute later. Did you think It
7as SO near night7"
81 can't account for the degrees of OBJ
curlty at all-nnless it is cloudy" her
answered.
When they emerged from the narrow
ayine, the cause of this obscuri'y was at
nee evident. From end to end the skv
as curtained by cloud of lurid black
ess, the aspect of which was menacine
the extreme. 1t seemed spread like
all over the earth, which lay as If nader
spell of stiffness. Not leaf stirred in
10 forest that stretched around. and The
nly sonnd that broke the oppressive
lence was the dull roar of wate in the
orge.
Agatha fairly shuddered when she
'oed this lowering front of Nature.
"A terrible storm is about to burst"
le said. where can the others be?n-
nd arhat shall we do 2"
"The Others have played very un-
andsome trick in going away and leav-
e u.s." said Thurston.' ~ can scarcely
Il what we. had better do, unless,--'
The speech was never finished, for at
lis instant out of the bosom of the cloud
srted forth not o, flash but blaze of
5ftning, which lighted up the whole
enc en- with o vivid glare beyond all de- y
Ter her eyes, uttering . cc=J which was
:. al the volleying crash of thunder
at accompanied rather than followed
Q awful illumination.
The next moment she felt Thurston's
md on her arm.
"Come !" esaid. ''This will not do.
must go back into the gorge and take
fuge under rocks. This Is terrible risk
remaining here"
She made no dcmur, and they re.en-
red the gorge just as sighing sound of
slant wind came to their ears.-a har-
niger of the hurricane SOON to slyoe:
rough Inc forest
In the deep-shaded ravine there had
this time fallen darkness which -
ado it dangerous to attempt its passage. !
as Thurston recognized at !
90, there was no alternative. Some
alter they must have, ard there was 4 Il
other shelter than this to be fnnna -
lrcsting IL tn. sapabiiity of seeing In
i'm light which he had acnuireS "a
ut, he puidetl hia oo,,,,,.Sss 4 :,, SssA - = 1.