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

gent necessity there was for doing his
best, he could not have responded more
gallantly, and for some minutes he was
clearly leaving bis pursuers behind. One
mile more OF that flying gait would
have exhausted all his powers and
Hugh Osgood knew IL.
Gradually the breath of the splendid
creature became moro rapid and labor
cd, and Hugh could feel that his mighty
leaps had lost their electricity, and
were being made with increasing effort,
while the muscles In the animals
quiseripg limbs stood out like whip
cords.
With long, tIIeless gallop the pur-
suers came on and were rapidly recov
oring the ground they had lost, na WAS
eyid.nt to Hugh, Tor the yells became
each moment Inore dirttnes, while his
horse every instant grew weaker and
weaker.
But every thought Of his own dan
ger was swept from his mind as he saw
Pearl rush from out Of the cabin door
and run down the slope to the table
rock.
"Pearl, my life. God help youI"
groaned Osgood ia despair, AZ he watch
cd her.
Nearer and nearer the edge Of the
bluff, her golden hair floating behind
her like ahadowy wings, hsr eyes
burning with strange, desperate glow
and thon she paused u moment in
30 startling POSE that she might have
been a flying nymph, suddenly trans
fixed by sight or sound unknown 70
others, or a cloud maiden heSitating
in an earthwsrd fight.
Osgood was near the cIiG now, and
he could See Pearl very plainly. She
held her hands out, clasping in them u
small object whose nature he could not
determine.
And now he heard her dear voice,
like faint echo from ths Cave OF
Winds:
''Fasteri faaterl"
An idea fastened itself upon hiE as
be heard these words and noticed how
carefully Pearl held the little burden
in her hand.
tie struck bis horse violently with
the spurs and the poer cleatarr, rally
ing all his energies, plunged iDr~ard.
Up the base OF the cid be staggered,
and little beyond, aud then--stopped
shiyered aid fell.
AT the same instant the clatter OF
the pursuerA' hocfs indicated that they
were just entering the rocky trail that
lay between the Humboldt River and
the base OF the cliff on whose summit
stood Pearl.
The knowledge of what was to eome
caused Hugh Oagood 10 crouch close 10
his dead horse, with a noise ia hls eats
like tho rushing Of a whirlwiud, aud
every nerve strung like thosS VI one
who il expecting the fell destroyer.
Aud then--a crash M though the
rock-ribbed mountain, towering above
him, had been riyen from It's base and
had fallen on his PROSTATE form, bury
ing him in the ruins.
"Great Scottr' exclaimed a sturdy
man of thirty nine or thereabouts, clad
in a red shirt, belt and pair of high
boots that nearly concealed his buckskln
pants. '"rhat noise sounds as if there
was something ter pay. l guess, Ben
Wilder, you'd better hurry up and find
out what il means"
He did "hurry up" for instead Of
following the trail he slid down the
smooth surface Of the rock, mp which
neither man or beast could have clam
bcred, TO point on the mountain side
frem which he could zee his home.
"Its right there" he said cheerily---
"right where ] left; and-Heaveusl
What's thisl'
His quick eye had seen a little
white mass lying on the level surface
Of the cliff; and that sight, together
with the explosion he had heard, caus
cd Ben Wildsr's mind to leap instant
ly ut horrifying conclusion.
How he ever reached the cliff he
never could tell-it seemed as though
only bird or mountain sheep could
have passed over that course; and yet
he accomplished il with a speed that
was marvellous, and in an iustalt he
was holding bis unc1ncious chiid IA
his arms.
"Pearl, Pearl! My child-oh, my
childl''
| AT this agonizel cry there was y
slight sign of returning consciousness
and soon Pearl opened har eyes ano
stared vacantly up into her father
face.
| "Psarl, don't you know mel' saie
her father, gently sm ,othing the hal
away from her brow.
| The wild and distant look becam
softened and subdued, and Pvarl au
swered:
"Why, yes, father dear. But wha
has happeneei Oh, fatherl
| The last words were uttered in
shrek. Momory has returned an'
brought with it an agony almost to,
great to be endured. Pearl threw "
hsr hands.
"Fathsr, father' she breaLhei in
hoarse, unnatural whisper" elf yo,
love your poor child SO to the foot 0
the cliff and see-apd see # you cal
find Hughp
.But Pearl"
"Don't wait for words. father, ba
go-go nowI'' exclaimed Pearl, frantic
ally, and pushing him with her frai
hands away from her, whln l''r fac
became as pale as death and her Ups Q
a cold purplish blue.
Deeply puzzled, Wilder left hi
ldanohter anl daoanded the trail. Whe