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

6tfathley staggered along tor Q few
PAGES, with Lorrimer's aid, but o 70 came
to . halt. (
~ tell you, Lorrimer, It's no 60; you'll
I'm carry YOU Inst. - - - 81 i
y-Ihat deuced fill took III the pluck out
otme. i might ind courage . crawl if'
I we're sure ii. waanY atomfoolbrrand-f
We were onthe right tlack-4 but Rwould
bs aasintoskeep youherss Ia this weather.
III wait awhile and catch my breath.
Do you 60 on. I'll overtake you sooner.
or later" E$
"Will you? If I leave you, you'll never
take: another step; youll.just doze off in
to the other world. The only safe thing
I ssep y; to SSd's % sl ssf y $2 ,sEsids' s andH We
with an effort "there's Margaret"
YES" drowsily, "there's Margaret, to
be ure I must make an etfort--IM
follow. l couldn't walk just yet to save
myself from perdltiou, TN sso$ stunned
and shaken; nerclnldn't.p 4 1.
SLoIrimer leaned against the nearest
tree and waited III despefation.> II was
bitter cold, he owned, aud his powers OF
p%elsuation vert exhausted; but to leave
the man to his own devices was certain
death-and what then? Was he his
Ebrother's' S,keeper7 Why should he haz.
ard life and love for this stranger who
had stepped between himself and hap
pincss2 Did he owe Mr.. Strathleya ught2
He started forward q few paces-perhaps:
the camp was near at hand and he could
bring help. But what was he doing2
Decciying himself Should he leave
Strathley behind2 Would he be able to
| lind him in The dark2 Would anv 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 again9 And then be hung
his head there in the thick. darkness.
Only. an instant, it may. be- he paused in
the s%huddering 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.
l. For Gods sake, lay m down and let
me die" groaned Strathly, between
fainting and sleeping. "Margaret-can
explain everything--wh0 could. bear a
grudge-against a ghost2 She loved me
through good and evil report"
Lorrimer picked up his burden and
trudged on. Wa 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 n coming out into
the night closed the rude camp door be-
hind him, and shut them out into
darkness again, ~Lorrimer plunged for
ward vito a cry for help. and fell faint.
ing with his burden within q yard of the
camp. .
"lf it had not been Tor you, Lorrimer,"
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 adorded--"if it
had't been for you, l should have stepped
out last night. And it was at the risk Of
your own life, too! Greater love than
this had no mani And you thought I
was Margaret's loverrall thewhile? That's
what I call heroic: I'm going to put
you out of your misery. Look at me,
JOuu AOIIlu4cI. Olu YOU cVcI SEQ Dbl
Bevis-Wild Ben, they used to call him
though I believe he was lost. at sea,
wasn't he, before you were grown? I see
there's a stone in the burying- ground to
his memory, eh? Well, the prodigal son
has returned. I am Ben Bevis-Margar-
cts brother. 1t was hardly worth while
being jealous Of me, was it? I have been
winning my grandfather s heart; that's all
my deer laid plans. If I 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-welEgotten gains, too
As astranger Ihad solne chance of earn
ing my way; into his good grraces. You
see, I left here twenty years ago.; a strip
ling, with aaxen hair and beardless face,
and I'm bronzed and wheather beaten be-
You'd recognition. When I return TO
Ford we will have it out with Grand
father Bevis, and know the worst or the
best. And you, Lorrmier. there's Mar
garet. Perhaps ]. shall dance at your
wedding; IN spite Of u rough night in the
back-woods."