The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-11-15
THE HERMIT'S DAUGHTER
ARGOSI.

High upon the cliffs Is perc!ied a
slim. girliSh figure, her hands lightly
crossed about her knees and her dark
face. with It's great, restless gray eyes.
looking far out over the water The
face is one that, once seen, cannot
soon be forgotten, and - thinks an
other, who. from q sheltered nook,
has been watching for some moments
the quiet figure.
The shades of evening are falling
fast; even now the sun, list vanish
ing in the west, is finging ont into
the sky It's farewell banners of Grim
son and gold. Yet still the girl sit.
motionless. with that strange vearn-
iug look upon her young face which
first attracted the watchers atten-
stion
At last he abandons his post of Oh
Scryation. and strolls away down the
mo>>-crvered shelves of rocks picking
his way slowly and carefully, in the
&ncer ain light, along the dangerous
path.
Suddenly he trips. and catche. him
self: hut with the next false stem biz
foot slips into crevicc. and a sharp
twin2e at his ankle tells him tha; he
must nave spraincd it What shall
DO in this out-of-the-way place with
a>praIhed ankle ," he ruefliiy thinks,
vainiy irving To draw hi, foot from
where il l. held in tie rocks Jagged
embrace He finds that it is fast
AMI then bethinkS him OF the maiden
j., IN her ecrie perch.
1 Raising his voice, loud call rings
through the silence. and light foot
steps approach.
Il fear that my foot is seriously
hurt," he SAYS. SIS there any place
near where | can step over night? |
think by morning it will be all right,
If ] keep quiet at first
The injured member has been deity
drawn out by strong. plant fingers
even as he speaks, though not without
causing him to utter an exclamation
Of pain.
My home is not very far Off the
girl replies. land, though nv father
Is not fond of harboring strangers. |
am sure he will shelter You tonight
for PHYS sake"
4 Guy rises and ESSAYS to walk, but
= i is evidently no easy matter.
Lean on me, sir, says the girl,
with vibrating, musical voice and
correct language, which strikes him
* strange III an inhabitant of thai
rude, uncu!tured region.
Guy chances AT the slight arm OK
tended To him, and then down AT hi>
own athletic form, with half smile
Il am stronger than ! look, sir ::
try-'
Thus urged, he rests his hand upon
her shoulder, and finds she smoke
;ru'y; and, with frequent pauses, and
Gaming heavily upon his guide, he
manages to reach her rude stone
dwelling.
An old man. Drowned. with ex-
po>ure to the sun, and with hong white
hair hanging over his shoulders,
stands in the lighted doorway. peering
down the path. He hears the APP
preaching steps.
You are late. Child. What kept
you?' Then he sees the stranger
Whom have ycu here" he SAYS,
sharply. with sudden noticeable
change in his voice from fond solici
tude to .iispleasure.
"A gentleman, father, who has
fallen upon the rocks and hurt him
.elf."
Guy Erceldoune lifts his hat courte-
ously To the weird, rough-Iooking man
:1efore him.
sir. but for your daughter.
should even now be in painful dur
) ance vie VIII you not complete
she good work she has begun 10y allow
ing me q nights shelter :"
Whether it is the courtly bow ana
polite address call ur "reminiscences of
tne past. or that the charm Of the
frank voice and handsome face i'm
presses even HIM, old Simon (a> he is
called in the region around. with a
.ow mutter, which can hardly bc called
assent, vet is not denial. turns and
leads the way in. Guy follows. long
mo to rest his foot. which now pains
aim acutely. The boot i gently
drawn of. and small, soft fingers battle
and bandage his ankle. Then the
girl, whose name he learns is Elyie,
moves around the room and prepares
. frugal meal which i partakcn Of in
almost utter silence Guy looks. now
and then, curiouSIy toward hi host,
who eats with gloomily downcast ewes,
md from him 10 the heaufifll. DARK