The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-07-25

Snathley staggered along for . few
PAGES, with Lorimer's aid, but soon came
to I halt. - I'LL. ILL., -. - =
y tell you, Lorrimer, It'sno go; you'll
have to leave me, and push ahead"
"1'll carry you first" .
THAT deuced fall took all the pluck out
of me. I might find courage to crawl if
I were sure it wasn't . tomf0ol crrand-if
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 90 on. I'll overtake you sooner
or later"
Twill youg IF I leave you, you'll never
take another step; you'll just doze off 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 an effort "there's Margaret"
YES" drowsily, "there's Margaret, to
be sure. I must make An effort-I'll
follow. I couldn't walk just yet to save
myself from perdltion, TN so stunned
and shaken; no-I-couldn't."
Lorrimer 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 then2 Was he his
brothers keeper Why should he haz-
ard life and love for this stranger who
had stepped between himself and hap
pincss2 Did he owe Mr.. Strathleya ughts
He started forward few PAGES perhaps
the camp was near at hand and he could
bring help. But what was he doing2
Decciving himself? Should he leave
Strathley behind9 Would he be able to
find him in the dark2 Would anv 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 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. Sometimes
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 Strathlv, between
fainting and sleeping. "Margarct-cau
explain everything-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 glittcring
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 nj ght 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 a yard of the
ca Mp.
"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 afforded-''if il
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 manr And you thought l
was Margaret's lover all thcwhile? That's
what l 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 I believe he was lost at sea,
wasn't he, before you were grown? l see
there's stone in the burying- ground to
his memory, eh2 Well, the prodigal son
has returned. l am Ben Bevis-Margar-
cts brother. It was hardly worth while
being jealous Of me, was it? l have been
winning my grandfather s heart; that's all
my deep laid plans. If I had appeared be-
fore him without disguise of any sort, he
would never have believed in my refor-
nation; never have protited by a silver
of my moncy-well-gotten gains, too
As stranger I had some chance of earn
ing my way into his good graces. You
see, left here twenty years ago, a strip
H"c, with aaN4n hair and beardless face,
7"1 I'm bronLe'' and whcather beaten be-
.Jond rccoynj .ou. When l return to
, F,-d I'LL have it out with Grand
fat ); evils, and know the worst or the
b.. and you, Lorrmier. there's Mar.
garet. Perhaps 1 shall dance at your
wedding IN spite of rough night in the
bac .1-woods."