The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-07-01

spscs. even a. DE SMOKE a her are he'd faded
into pure sthsr. Bhs STRETCHED oat her elsnch-
cd hats - n to defy the pillareA austerities of
the vauitS sfound her.
Come and take me II ycu darsr'
The challenge was UNDECIDED. II she had
thrown hafself violentiy asnlnst the nearest
tree trunk. she could not have been stricken
more breAthless than she was BY the compact.
embattled solitude thHt encompasssd her. The
hopelessness Of impressing those cold and pas
sive vaults with her ssifsh passion filled her
with vague fear. In her rage Of the previous
night she had not seen the wood IN ito profound
immobility Left alone with the majesty OF
those enormous columns. she trembed and
turned faint The silence Of the hollow tree she
had just quilted seemed to her lees awful than
the crushing presence Of these mute and mon.
strous witnesses OF her weakness. Like .
wounded quail With lowered orest and trailing
wing she crept back to her hiding place.
Even then the influence Of the wood Was still
upon her. She picked up the novel she had
contemptuously thrown aslde. only 10 let 1t fall
again In utter WEAKNESS. For . moment her
feminine curiosity was excited by the discov-
cry Of an old book. In whose blank leaves were
pressed . variety OF flowers and wood
land grasses. Al she could not conceive
that these had been kept for any but
. sentimental purpose. she was disappointed
to find that underneath zach WAS Q sentence In
an unknown tongue. that oven TO her untu-
tored eye did not appear to be the language OF
passion. Finally. she rearranGed the couch OF
skins and blankets. and impartlng to 1t In
three clever shakes an entirely different char
acter. lay down to pursue her rsyeries. But
nature asserted herself. and ere she knew It
she was asleep.
30 Intense and PROLONGED had been hor pre-
vious excitement that tho tension once re-
lieved she passed into slumber Of exhaustion
40 deep that she seemed scarce to breathe.
High noon succeeded morning. tho central
shaft received = single ray Of upper sun
light. the afternoon came and wont. the
shadows gathered below. the sunset fires
began to eat their way through the groinsd
roof. and she still slept. She silent even when
the bark hangings OF the chamber wore put
aside and the young man reentered.
He laid down bundle no was carrying. and
softly approached the sleeper. For moment
he was startled from his indifference. she lay
30 still and motionless. But this WAS not all
that struck him: the face before him was no
longer the passionate. haggard visa9e that
confronted him that morning: the feversh air.
the burning color. the strained muscles Of
mouth and brow. and the staring eyes were
| gone: wiped away. perhaps. by the tears that
| still left their traces on cheek and dark eye
| lash. 1t Was the face Of handsome woman
| OF thirty. with even suggestion OF softness
| In the contour Of the cheek and arching OF her
upper liz. no longer rigidly drawn down In
anger but relaxed by sleep on her white teeth.
With the 1.-THE soft tread that was habitual to
| him. the young man moved about examining
the condition Of the little chamber and its stock
OF provisions and necessares. and withdrew
presently to reappear as noiselessly with tin
| h,o M, ~ otar llama he nj a. fha
| little pile Of fuel with an armful Of bark and
| pine cones cast an approving glance about
| him. which included the sleeper. and silently
departed.
1t WAS night when she awoke. She was sur
rounded by profound darkness. except where
tho shaft-like opening made nebulous mist
in the corner Of her wooden cavern. Providen-
TALLY she struggled back to consciousness
slowly. SO that the solitude and silence came
upon her gradually with growing realization
OF the events Of the past twonty-foul
hours. but without q shock. She was
alone hero. but, safe still. and every hour
added to her chances of ultimate escape. She
remembered to have seen candle among the
articles on the shelf. and she began to gropt
her way toward the mHtches. Suddenly slit
stopped. What was that pantingP
Was 1t her own breathing. Quicksned with 4
sudden nameless terror. or was there some
thing outsider Her heart seemed to stop beat
ing while she listened. Yes! 1t was a painting
outside-a painting now increased. multiplied
redoubled mixed with the sounds OF rustlin;.
tearing. branching. and occasionally quick
impatient snarl. She crept on her hands AM
knoes to the opening and looked out At flrs
the ground seemed to be undulating between
her and the opposite tree. But second glanc
showed her tho black and gray bristling toss
k.nl,s st tam. linz hanu ff vra 70 In rfv
ing the carcass OF the bear that lny at it
roots. or contesting for the prize with glutton
GUS choked breath sideiong snSris. arche'
spines and recurved tails. One OF the bodies
had leaped upon n buttressing root OF her tro
whiting a foot OF tho opening. The excite
ment. awe. and terror she had undergone cul
minated in one wild. maddening scrnam tina
seemed to pierce even the cold depths Of tn
forest as she dropped on her face. with he
hands clasped over her eyes In an agony G
fear.
Her scream was answered. after pause by
sudden volley OF frebands and sparks into til
midst Of the painting. crowdinE pack; TO-
smothersd bowls and snaps. and = sudden dis
persion OF the concourse. In another momen
the young man. with blazing brand in eithe
hand. leaped upon the body of the bear.
Teresa raised her head. uttered a hysterlc:
cry, slid down the tree New wildly to his sid'
caught convulsively at his sleeve. and fell o
} her knees beside him.
Save mo save mo = she gasped. In a voic
broken by terror. Save mo from those hide
GUS creatures. No. no p she implored. as h
endeavored to lift her to hor feet. "No-ls
r me stay here close beside you. SO" cutchin
the fringe OF hts leather hunting shirt. an
I dragging herself on her knees nearer him. q
! don't leave me. for Gods sake !"
r ha 1inI