River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-07-25

Strathley staggered along for q few
PAGES, with Lorrimer's aid, but came
TO halt.
II tell you, Lorrimer, It's no go; you'll
have to leave me, and push ahead
'I'll carry you first :
THAT deuced fall took all the pluck ont
of me. I might find courage to crawl if
| were sure it wasn't tomfool errand- it
we were on the right track-but it would
be sin TO keep you here in this weather.
I'll wait awhile and catch my breath.
Do you go on. I'll cyertake you sooner
or later
"Will you2 If leave you, you'll never
take another step; you'll just doze off in
10 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 effort there's Margaret"
YES" drowsily, "theres Margaret, to
be sure. I must make Ian effort Ill
follow | couldn't walk just vet to save
myself from perdltion, I'm so stunned
and shaken; no--I-couldnt.
L,nrimer leaned 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
death-and what then? Was he his
brothers keeper2 Why should he haz-
ard life and love for this stranger who
had stepped between himself and hap
piness2 Did he owe Mr.. Strathleya ught2
10 90 r<s,6 r1 faxu
the camp was near at hand and he could
bring help. But what was he doings
Decciying himself2 Should he leave
Strathley belinda Would he be able to
find him in the dark2 Would any halloo
of bis waken him from that deathly
sleep into which he was fast falling2
But there was Margaret-would she not
be all his own again2 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. Scmetimes
he rested and took breath; sometimes
his sluggish burden slipped from his
hold awhile; sometimes he shouted for
Hcip hHu 1uC uoWiIHS WoitCo oCChCd W
mock him.
For Gods sake, lay me down and let
me die!n groaned Strathlv. between
fainting and sleeping. 'Margaret- can
explain eyerything--who could bear a
grudge-against ghost2 She loved me
through 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 enc coming out into
the night closed the rude camp door be-
hind him, and shut them cut into
darkness again. Lorrimer plunged for
ward vito cry for help. and fell faint
ing with his burden within yard Of the
ca no.
"If it had not been Tor you, Lorrimer,"
said Mr.. Strathley, next Gay, when he
found himself too lame and frost-bitteni
to lift himself from the bed OF spicy
boughs, such as the camp afforded-'if 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 /
was Margaret's lover all thewhile? That's
what call heroic. I'm going TO put
you cut of your misery. Look at me,
John Lorrimer. Did you ever see Ben
Bevls-Wild Ben, they used to call him
though believe he was lost at sea,
wasn't he, before you were growna / see
there's stone in the burying- ground to
his memory, eha Well, the prodigal son
has returned. / am Ben Beyis -Margar
cts brother. 1t was hardly worth while
being jealous of me, was it, have been
winLing my grandfather 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 stivor
of my moncy--well-gotte gains, too
As a stranger [ had some chance of earn
ing my way into his good graces. You
see, let here twenty years ago, strip
ing, with fiaxen hair and beardless face,
and I'm bronzed and wheather beaten be-
gond recognition. When | return to
Ford we will have it out with Grand
fa.h, Bevis, and know the worst or the
best. And you, Lorrmier. there's Mar,
garet. Perhaps | shall dance at your
wedding N spite of a rough night in the
back woods