The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-11-18
Selected story.
A Desperate Move.

Slowly the sun sank behind the dark
grim old mountain that stood out 80
hoary and sullen. like q frowning giant
that had been placed on never ceas.
ing guard over the sandy valley lying
SO quietly at It's feet; and yet = little
cabin nestled as costly to its SCARED
breast rs a tiny nest TO tho rough bark
Of u mighty tree.
A strange, rough place for giIlish
presence this dark little cabin perched
among tho clouds like AN eagles aelie;
Yet from the little, rough door lightly
Steps girl, fair and sweet us rosebud
half nncurled, with the dew eiinging TO
its pink aud whita bosom.
A little maiden, with lissom, sway
ing form, and waves of yellow hair
rirdlng back from face ~ filiy aud
Shlte ns the petals OF n lily, with great
|urplish eyes, with golden light in
hem as the sun shining through a
|usky hearts ease--this is Pearl viii
or.
A v insome smile dimpled around her
pa as she ran lightly down the rugged
lope from the cabin 10 the "lawn Of
ock"-the level top of little noun
ain spur that juttcd out into the val
BY AZ though to lave its base in the
banning, rock, fretted waters of the
Humboldt river. that was barely the
width Of a narrow trail
Tlhe sun was slowly dying in the
vest that was flushing with opal tintA,
while the sky seemed like great
golden palace, with the dash Of wild
birds against the windows.
Pearl adjusted glass that she had
brought with her and gazed long and
earnestly toward the cast. At last a
shade of disappointment and something
akin to anxiety clouded her face.
"Why does he not comei" she asked
herself, thoughtfnlly. "He promised
to be in sight at sunset and he never
broke his word to me yet. God grant
that nothing Of i'll has over.aken him."
Again she bent her straining gaze
toward The east. One thought alone
ruled mind and heart, yet nothing
within reach escaped her senses. She
heard the dash OF waters; she saw the
shadows sweep up the slopes, aud far
overhead she watched the circling
eagles.
"Ah-ahE'
II wasa long drawn breath Of ago.
nized surprise, for far away on
on the yellow sands Of the valley she
could norw sec horseman urging his
steed to the utmost, and close-oh, so
thundcred n horde Of
Indian riders.
The glass dropped from Pearls
nerveless hands. There was no usc for
ii now-it seemel M il that fixed gaze
might have pierced the very clouds Of
heaven. and laid the agony Of her soul
at His feet
THAT hideous chief who has sworn
that he will tie Hugh 10 the torture
stake with his own hands, in pursuit"
gasped Pearl. and wild cry hurst
from her white lips ooh, Father in
heaven, save himf'
Nearer and nearer they draw. On
and on tore the strong yonng horse;
int though it seemed as il he might
have left the night-birds behind in
their flight, be could not shake of
those pursuers, following like hounds
On a scent.
Gaining, gainingl Is there nothing
that can bs done to save him or must
he perish before my eyesf gasped the
maiden in her last extremity Of human
fear.
A black mist swan before her eyes,
and everything whirled about her; her
limbs became powerless and she sank
upon her knees, with clasped hands
stretched toward the east, whose soft
tints served to bring out in bold re-
lief the dark human and animal figures
that were drawing nearer every instant.
But out Of her exceeding weakness
a sudden strength was bornc-a strength
that raised her from the rock, and bore
her, as with winged creatures speed
up the rocky slope to the cabin.
How or whence she was 10 obtain
help, she did not ask herself; and if she
had she would have received no answer
Far away on the mountain side, hel
father was delving for glittering, shin
ing ore but there was not moment tC
waste in an attempt to reach and In
form him of her lovers peril. He'll
must come through her ffail hands, j
it came at all.
Through the cabin and out into th'
little workshop, wherein was collecte,
a strange mixture of odds and ends
the 6is ,cted maiden flew. A loade.
rife stood in ole corner OF the room
and as Pearl put out her hand to seiz
it, long, red ray of dying sunse
glinted through large crevice in tn
wall Of the workshops and striking th
surface of little object far above
harms way on rudely fashioned littl
shelf, glanced and fickered merrily.
It caught Pearls eye, and an inspi
ration seized her with all the quicknes
of thought. Taking the little ohjec
carefully from the shelf, and carrying
IL as tenderly as mother might bea
her sleeping babe, Pearl turned AM
fed from the cabin workshop; whisper
ing to herself
cit is desperate move. Il ma.
save him. aud it may . not-But, a
least, he shall not suffer the horror Q
the torture stake"
Down on the sandy plain. Hug
Osgood rode as for his life. lie kne,
| that the Indians were gaining npol
him, and also that it was i'm ,ossihl
to reach the little s1awn Of rock" b
means of the narrow trail that led u
the mountain side, for the In ii4n
/ ,,,o,,1d ha tboro a1n,o.t 40 conn ae hin,