The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-10-10

10 Max. who was nOsing around among the
stubble Then she drew'out the silk hand
kerchieffrom her pocket it was her mOthersi
she had only taken it from her that morn
ing.
The dog smelled OF it.
Find her" cried Elsie, and there was a
pathetic entreaty in the command. Max
snufieI again, then gave quick bark as II
asking a question.
''She is lost--here on the marshes. Oh,
Max / shall def we do not find her.!
The dogs instincts had been sharpened by
training. and he would show now of what he
was made He started of Elsie heard him
rustlng in the brown grass She felt the
pony ouivering under ner: he toe was get
ting excited Far away on his native Texan
plains he had hunted many day, and the
bayIng of dogs and the crack of rifles were in
spirations to him.
.'GoI" said Elsie, not thinking of her own
safety. remembering nothing but that her
mother. who was so far from being strong
was this desert, buffeted by this merciless
storm, vainly trying to get on, one in
nightmare struggles TO find the right way
Thmble leaped across the narrow ditch
that separated the marsh from the road, and
the next moment Elsie felt as if she were iiy
ing through unlighted space. the salt air cut
ting her face and thrashing her wet unfast-
ened hair about her.
She dared not think OF her mother she
must Danish from her mind every memory of
that tenderness which made her mother so
dear to her. Was it yesterday that she had
sung with such care-free heart
1.-THE binding mist came down and hid the
landT'
The words went like knife "0h, motherl
mother" she moaned aloud.
Farther off Max barked, and Thmble made
ldnger leaps. splashing in pools Of salt water,
the sharp. stiff grass cutting his legs his chest
wet with his own foam and with the chilly
water. But he did not slaeken nor pant,
hardy long-breathed fellow that he was.
Was that the report of a gun, dulled
deadened by the dampness? The sound gave
a new terror to Elsie; she did not think that
it might be signal. She knew that, earlier
in the season, men prowled about for coots
and geese, but why should they shoot at such
time this? Such a shot might hit her
mother; the girl never thought that it might
hit herself as well.
Far off she now heard Max barking fran
ticallv.
''Thimbe, go on" she shouted. and the
brave little animal needed not TO be told a
second time. He dashed on like wild thing,
straight over sedge and pool, and Eisie's
breath came heavily, for the wind that rush
cd by her face she still heard confusedly the
sound of the dogs furious bark
An eXultant throb was now in Elsies
pulses. Already, in her mind, she had
slipped from her seat and was holding her
| mother fast and close; a sob rose in ner
throat Not yet must she give way to such
imaginings; yet longer she needed her
strength. Wild and high came the roar of
| the sea.
Was Thimble moving? Would he never
| get to where Max barked in such victorious
note?
Elsie rose in her stirrup her fingers cling
ing around the pommel
Mother. mother?' she called "are YOU
there?"
is it you. Esie?" responded a faint voice
| from out the mist, and there came the sound
| of some heartfelt thanks
Trembling, and now at last painting, the
| pony made the little remaining distance be-
| tween the daughter and mother
Just as Elsie slipped from the saddle
| another shot sounded, and this time close to
them-not the shot of gun A prick, as of
| a needle going through her flesh, Elsie felt in
| her side, but forgot it instantly. She did not
notice that the pony swerved oddly to one
| side as she withdrew her foot from the strrup
| She was cropping in the fog for the owner of
| the soft voice that now called her again.
Dear Elsie! L: is you who have found
me!
Now her mothers arms held her, and
| Elsie could bear the choking in her breath,
| knowing that the work she had set out to do
| was done.
In a moment she said, II will put you on
Thimble, and will go by his head; the dog
| knows the way home even if the pony does
not If you are only not i'll after this ii
you do not have pneumonia again. Here is
| Thimble, nOblest fellow in the world He
shall have sugar and apples all his life.
You don't know what darling he has been.
| --Ohu'
The last word was uttered with such horri.
| fed shrillness that Mrs. Chaplin started and
graSped her daughters hand more closely
But before she could speak Elsie had flung
| away from her. and was down in the mud by
| the side of white shape that lay on the
| ground. She gathered the lovely head into
her arms; she felt again the soft dark nose
she had so Gifted kissed. The ponys breath
| Came distressfully; he was lying on his side.
At that moment the fog was pierced by the
rays of lantern, aud steps were heard
| among the hedge.
"HullO here! 1 say, 1 guess I've got
you" cried a mans voice. Don't shoot
any more or I'll use my own pistol"
Elsie heard, but she did not care to look
up from the head she held. and which she
| could now see by the light of the lantern.
Mrs. Chaplin. without moving her eyes
from her daughter, asked, For whom are
| you lookng?'
That fellow accused of murder over there
! i'll Morley. OF course you've heard about
him. We've tracked him all the afternoon,
/ and got him to this horrid place 1t was he
| that fired. l declared Has he killed that
| little horse! Lucky he didn't hit anything
| elsei"
The barking of Max had by this time given
| notice to others on the marsh who were
looking with Mr.. Chaplin for his wife. In
another moment two more men with lam
terms had come. but Elsie neither saw nor
| heard them. She was sitting in a pool OF
| water, the pony's head held fast, but gently,
| tenderly in her arms. while her gaze was
watching the light so out of tue brilliant
| eyes that looked up at her.
In the heaving, muddy side was an ugly
| bullet hole which drirped blood.
| 1t seemed TO her that plainly the pony
asked her to help him. Did he reproach her
for the pain he was suffering? Did he tell
her that he had done all, given all to her, and
why did she not help him?
Elsie felt her heart bound tightly with
steel bands. She could not breathe. She
| saw the spirited eyes glaze but their blind
ing gaze was still on her face A shudder
went the shapely white form Then
| Elsie knew there was no sight any more in
| the eyes.
With a broken cry the girl bent her head
down on the ponys neck. She did not know
her mother sarm, was over her shoulders Pres
| emily stronger arms were put around her:
her father had come and he took her up
Not until they had reached Bill Karter's
| which was thought to be the nearest house
| "A 81 Sd II.