Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-07-25

PAGES, with LOrrimers aid, but soon came !
to halt.
~ tell you, Lorrimer, It's no go; you'll |
have to leave me, and push ahead"
"1ll carry you first" =
THAT deuced fall took all the pluck out
of me- I might find courage to crawl if
l were sure it wasn't tomfool crrand--if
We were on the right track--but it would
be 4 sin to- keep you here in this weather.
III wait awhile and catch my breath.
Do you go on. III overtakc you sooner
or later"
twill your If leave you, you'll never
take another step; you'll Just doze of in
to the other world. The only safe thing
for us to do is to keep jogging till we
drop, anything else is suicide, and
with All ettort-- where's Margaret'
YES drowsily, "there's Margaret, to
be sure. l must make an effort It'll
follow couldn't walk just yet to save
myself from perdltiun, TN SO stunned
and shaken; Lo-I-couldn't."
Lorrimer loaned against the nearest
tree and waited in desperation. 1t was
bitter cold, he owned, and his powers OF
pelsuation WERE exhausted; but to leave
the man to his own devices was certain
dcath-and what then: Was he his
brothers keeperl Why should he haz-
ard life and love for this stranger who
had stepped between himself and hap
pincss? Did he owe Mr.. Strathleya ught2
lie started forward few paces-perhaps
the camp was near at hand and he could
! bring help. But what WAS he doing?
Dccciving himsclf2 Should he leave
Strathley behind9 Would he be able to
find him in The dark? Would any halloo
of his wakcn him from that deathly
sleep into which he was fast failing?
But there was Margaret-woulds she not
be all his own again! And then he hung
his head there in the thick darkness.
Only an instant, it may be, he paused in
the shuddering night, and he turned
back to Strathley-almost slipping into
eternal slumber-and half dragged and
half carried him forward. S,metimes
he rested and took BREATH sometimes
his sluggish burden slipped from his
hold awhile; sometimes he shouted for
help and the bowling wolves seemed to
mock him.
For Gods sake, lay me down and let
me die:' groaned Strathly, between
fainting and sleeping. "Margaret--can
explain verything--who could bear a
grudge-against ghost' She loved me
thr ~ h good and evil report"
Lorrimer picked up his burden and
trudged on. Was that a star glittering
through the trees, or the moon rising big
and red; or was it-great heavens! could
it be the camp fire shining like gates of
Paradise? Some one coming out into
the night closed the rude camp door be-
hind him, and shut them cut into
darkness again. Lorrimer plunged for
ward vita a cry for help. and fell faint.
ing with his burden within yard Of the
ca nD.
elf it had not been Tor you, Lorrlmer,' y
said Mr.. Strathley, next day, when he
found himself too lame and frost-bitten
to lift himself from the bed Of spicy
boughs, such as the camp afforded-''it it
had't been for you, should have stepped
out last night. And it was at the risk of
your own life, too. Greater love than
this had no man. And you thought I
was Margaret's lover all thcwhile! That's
what call heroic. I'm going to put
you out Of your misery. Look at me,
John Lorrimer DID you ever see Ben
Bevis-Wild Ben, they used to call him
though believe he was lost at sea,
wasn't he, before you were grown: see
there's stone in the burying ground to
his memory, eh? Well, the prodieal son
has returned. am Ben Bevis -Margar-
cts brother. It was hardly worth while
being jealous of me, was it? have been
winning my grandtathe1.s heart; that's all
my deep laid plans. If had appeared be-
fore him without disguise Of any sort, he
would never have believed in my refor-
nation; never nave protited by a silver
of my moncy-well-gotten gains, too
As stranger had some chance of earn
ing my way into his good graces. You
see, left here twenty years ago, a strip
ling, with faxen hair and beardless face,
aud I'm bronzed and wheather beaten be.
You'd recognition. When l return tc
Ford we will have it out with Grand
, father Bevis, and know the worst or the
best. And you, Lorrmier. there's Mar
J garet. Perhaps / shall dance at your
wedding IN spite Of a rough night in the
back woods"