The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-02-14

al tell you, Lorrimer, it's no go;
you'll have to leave me and push
ahead
III 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 . TOM
FOOLS errand Ii we were ON the right
track but it would be sin to keep
you here in this weather. I'll wait
awhile and watch my breath. Do you
go on. I'll overtake you sooner or
later"
"Win your II 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 10 keep jog
ging till we drop; anything else is sui
eide, and''-with an effort. there's
Margaret
Yes" drowsily, "there's Mar
garet, to be sure. must make-an
effort for her sake! But you push
along follow 1 couldn't walk
just yet to save myself from perdition.
I'm SO stunned and shaken; no-I-
couldn't. -
Lorrimer leaned against the nearest
tree and waited in desperation. TWAS
bitter cold, he owned, and his powers of
persuasion we're exhausted; but to
leave the man to his own devices was
certain death-and what then? Was
he his brothers keeperp Why should
he hazard life and love for this stranger,
who had stepped between himself and
happinessp Did be 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 doingp Deceiving himselfp Should
he leave Strathlcy 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
fallingp But there was Margaret
would she not be all his own againp
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
already slipping into eternal slumber
and half dragged, 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 der groaned Strathley, be-
tween fainting and sleeping. 'sMarga-
ret can explain everything who
could bear grudge-against a ghost?
She loved me through good and evil re-
port ---n
Lorrimer picked up his burden and
trudged on. Was that star glinting
through the trees, or the moon rising
big and redp or was it-great heavens!
could it be the campfire shining like
the gates of Paradisep Some one COM
ing out into the night, closed the rude
camp-door behind him and shut them
out into darkness again. Lorrimer
plunged forward with a cry for help,
and fell fainting with his burden within
a yard of the camp.
IF 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
of spicy boughs, such as the camp af-
forded. eff it hadn'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 was Mar
garet's lover all the while? 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 l believe he was lost at sea,