The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-05-29
"I must sit down again for spell; 1
can't keen up with YOU"


can't keep up with you"
"But you must, you know"
"I couldn't walk another rod Just
now il death himself were at my heels"
Nonsense Trudge along; it's
growing colder every moment. It's
death to give up"
Strathley staggered along for few
PAGES, with Lorrimer's aid, but soon
came to halt.
'I tell you, Lorrimer, it's no go;
you'll have to leave me, and push
ahead"
"Ill carry you first"
"That deuced fall took all the pluck
out of me. 1 might find courage to
crawl if L were sure it wasn't tomfool
errand-if we were on the right track
but il would be sin to Keep you here
in this weather. I'll wait awhile and
catch my breath. Do you go on. I'll
overtake you sooner or later"
''Win you2 If I leave you, you'll
never take another step; you'll Just doze
off into the other world. The only safe
thing for us to do is to keep jogging till
we drop; anything else is suicide, and'
with an etfort-"there's Margaret"
eyes" drowsily, "theres Margaret,
to be sure. 1 must make-an effort
I'll follow. 1 couldn't walk just yet to
save myself from perdition, I'm so
stunned and shaken; couldn't.
Lorrimer leaned against the nearest
tree and waited in desperation. 1t was
bitter cold, he owned, and his powers of
persuasion were exhausted but to leave
the man to his own devices was certain
| I, L.
brothers keeper2 Why should he
hazard life and love for this stranger
who had stepped between himself and
happiness Did he owe Mr.. Strathley
aught? He started forward few PAGES
perhaps the camp was near at hand
and he could bring help. But what was
he doing? Deceiving himself? Should
he leave Strathley behind? Would he
be able to find him in the dark? Would
any halloo of his waken him from that
deathly sleep into which he was fast
falling But there was Margaret
would she not be all his own again
And then hc 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-al
ready slipping into eternal slumber-
and half dragged and half carried him
forward. Sometimes he rested and tooR
breath; sometimes his sluggish burder
slipped from his hold awhile sometimes
he shouted for help and the howlinG
wolves seemed to mock him.
For Gods sake, lay me down ant
let me die |" groaned Strathley, be
tween fainting and sleeping. MAR
garet-can explain-everything-whC
could bear a. grudge-against a ghost
She loved me through good and evil re
port"
Lorrimer picked up his burden ant
trudged on. Was that star glintinl
through the trees, or the moon rising
big and red; or was it-great heavens
could it be the campfire shining like
gates of Paradise? Some one coming
out into the night closed the rude camp
door behind him, and shut them out into
darkness again. Lorrimer plunged for
ward with cry for help, and fell faint
ing with his burden within yard of the
camp.
eff it had not been for you, Lori
mer," said Mr.. Strathley, next day
when he found himself too lame and frost
bitten to lift himself from the bed o
spicy boughs, such as the camp afforded
eff it hadn't been for you, should
have stepped out last night. And it was
at the risk of your own life, tool Greater
love than this had no mani And you
thought was Margaret's lover all the
while? That's what call heroic. Tn
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 1 believe ht
was lost at sea, wasn't he, before yoU
were grown? L see there's a stone il
the burying- ground to his memory, Ell
Well, the prodigal son has returned.
am Ben .Bevis-Margaret's brother
It was hardly worth while being Jealous
of me, was it? have been winning my
grandfather's heart; that's all of my
deep-laid plans. If had appeared be
fore him without disguise of any sort, ht
would never have believed in my rsfor.
nation; never have profted by stivel
of my money-well-gotten gains, too
AS a 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
and I'm bronzed and weather beaten be
yond recognition. When 1 return tC
Ford we will have it out with Grand
father Bevis, and know the worst or tn,
best. And you, Lorrimer, there's Mar
garet. Perhaps 1 shall dance at you
wedding in spite of rough night in th'
back-wOods."
!