Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1877-12-01

like to see me bedizened with something
as lustrous as the moon and the dia-
monds Smiling as the harmless fellow
went his way, | bethought me that it
was late, and began TO wonder why
Jacob did not come back.
| concluded, after a while, that |
would stroll down the road and meet
hint was SO solitary at the house,
and the night was so alluring. After
you passed certain turn OF the road,
You came almost in sight of the sea-
shore A little earlier In the evening
YOU were apt to meet knots of young
folks here and there strolling up from
the hotels. But at this hour 1t was SOL
itary and quiet The water touched
the shore gently with soothing sound;
the beach stretched away white and
glittering, circling the blue water with
a grand sweep that curved out to the
misty distance, where a silver veil only
seemed to intercept earth and heaven.
People said this was bleak and solita-
~ place in winter-time. Now it was
rarely lovely. | gave a long, free
breath as looked. No wonder Jacob
fingered abroad on such a night as this.
SO smiling sweet was the scene that
forgot the weight upon my heart, and
wandered on aimlessly, childishly,
thinking OF nothing but its beauty A
little way up, the dusk shadow of the
rocks cut sharply into the silver of the
shore. | could imagine that on stormy
days this place might wear forbidding
aspect. In old times it was said that
smueglers had lurked about those rocks,
hidden in their overhanging
lodges, and creeping to their
cave in that very shadow. A
useful shadow it must have been to
them, / said to myself. How could any
one discern them as they lay there on the
sand watching for their boat? Peering
into the shadow with this thought on
my mind, felt my heart for moment
almost cease beating, for there on the
sands, in that very shadow, man lay
asleep, apparently. The next moment
IT occurred TO me that Jacob, wearied
out with his days work. had fallen !
asleep down here. He had done so
once before, poor fellow, though that |
was before night-fall.
approached very cautiously, think
ing perhaps he might be playing prac-
times in the old days.
But it was not Jacob. The sleeper,
he was, was not so tall he was
slight, and elegantly dressed, apparent
ly- But l went no nearer. Something
thrilled through me like an electric
shock-a weird and preternatural tele-
gram. This was the man whom Jacob
had pointed out to me, lying here prone
and insensible. And where was Jacob:
Then l gathered courage and APP
preached him. touched him with nv
trembling hands, but he did not move.
1t was Death, then, keeping watch
by the moonlit shore-Death that had
lured me on to come down and meet
him here. terrible and face to face. l
turned and fled down the sands, wildly,
with flying feet, to escape the vision of
terror that chased me rs | went
At my own threshold, stunned and
fainting, | sank upon the stepping stone
Afigure standing in the doorway stopped
and lifted me up
"Why, Matte. why, how is this, my
lass? | thought you safe in bed''
l withdrew from the embracing
arms; l stood aloof, shivering and
sasping.
- | have been downtown to the sea-
shore"
land something has scared the wee
said Jacob, in his most win
some and soothing tone. We'll, rest
. bit. rest Il bit, poor little birdie.'' ;
The sweetness and softness of his
'oice as he said these words seemed TO I
ne like that of one who feels the hour
IF eternal separation draw near. He .
anne toward me- .
l held up my hands beseechingly :