Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-10-16

"Ranf Rant -
He walked downwards in the direction
of the sound, and cried sis it mortal OF
spirit who calls my name"
:. In honest faith, " was the answer, sat
this moment it is mortal; but if you art
not quick, shall lose my hold on earth,
literally and spiritually
Every foot of the mountain was familiar
to the hunchback, and he knew that the
voice proceeded from one of the most dan
gerous passes. He needed no light tC
| guide him, and in a few moments he was
on his knees by the side of a precipice over
which the body of man was hanging in
the most perilous position. The man had
caught hold of the thin twisted roots of a
slender tree, which by good fortune had
been laid bare by the rains, but his hold
was growing weaker, and his desperate
| grasp and endeavors to raise himself had
loosened the earth about the young roots
| to such an extent that, if he had been left
to himself, his fate would have been speedy
and certain. Rant peered into the mans
face their flesh almost touched.
''Harold the sculptor p
'Ranf the hunchback !"
Rant spoke with frown Harold in al.
most blithe tone.
'sBeg your life !" cried Ranf.
81 do, most humbly," said Harold, with
a faint laugh.
But before Rant made this demand, his
arm was around the sinking man.
Gently, gently" said Harold; 81 am
hurt. All it is well. Take care do not
tear my vest there are memorials here in
the shape of ers-fowers-from the
grave o, God, thank thee p
And being safe upon solid earth, Harold
| swooned away.
Rant did not pause to decide upon his
| course of action. He raised the insensible
body, and bore it with some tenderness to
his hut, where he laid it upon his bed.
"Not Dead" he muttered. as he placed
| his hand upon Harold's heart. ''What are
these? Flowers, as he said, and not quite
withered. From whose grave?'
Harold opened his eyes, and for little
while the men gazed at each other in ST.
lence. Then Harold said family:
eff l had been told that / should ever
have owed my life to you, my friend and
foe, 1 should have laughed in the speaker
face. l hate and despise you to such a
degree that the obligation you have laid
me under is somewhat of bitter joke.
Give me my flowers, Rant. A short time
since l was beginning to admire you; bet
ter than that, / was beginning, as l be-
lieved, to do you justice. But l have dis
covered that deformed man is not neces-
sarily noble and exemplary being, and
where 1 once despised, now hate you. !"
81 would not have it otherwise" said
Rant.
"To rob man." continued Harold, sat
critical crisis in his life, of the respect
and sympathy of good woman-to do
this by what must be slander-is the work
of coward-and you are one :! 1t was to
tell you this that l determined to beard
you in your den-such as you deserve no
better Judgment. In the dark, missing the
path, slipped, and found myself hanging
between earth and well, that point is
yet to be clear to my comprehension.
Have you any food in your hut ?"
81 have"
"Give me some, and / will pay for it IN
my hearts blood, or yours. l am at the
present moment so weak and famished that
if you were to press your fingers on my
throat, l should not have strength to resist
an abrupt introduction into another world
l have not tasted food since yesterday
morning. Without being much of an arith'
metician, / should say have thirty-siS
hours hunger upon me; and as you may
guess, hunchback, l have hitherto lived
upon the fat of the land, and have never
known want-which makes my case worse
than that of poor wretch who is used to
starvation. Then am hurt my left arm
is terribly gashed. Nay, let it alone !; II
will not be improved by your nursing.
Give me food, coward and slanderer."
Rant placed food upon the table and two
bottles of wine, and Harold rose without
assistance, and pouring into wooden
measure full half of the bottle, drank it in
one long, deep, satisfying draught Setting
down the measure, he partook of the food,
justifying his plea of hunger by the eager
ness with which he ate.
81 am strong again" he said. g re
tract word have twice applied to you
Rant, you are no coward, but yo1 must
have within your breast the heart of 8
fiend. AS was toiling up this mountain
there passed by me a man and a woman
They almost discovered me, but / sue
ceeded in keeping myself from their sight
Have they been here ?"
Yes"
at will not interest me to learn upor
what errand, but it must have been mo
mentous one, that woman should be i'm
PEELED to take such a journey"
"Truly, the mountain is growing in re
pute," said Rant /; this is memorable
day in its history. You have promised tc
pay for the food you have eaten in YOU
hearts blood or mine. The payment will
be sufficient shall exact it.
"Nothing will please me better. But
you are unarmed have my sword, az
you see"
Rant produced two rapiers, and placed
them on the table. The moon is rising,
he said sit will be light soon upon the
mountain, and we shall find piece of leve