The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-07-29

for one or two for him myself the other day.
she hesitatsd-"i Il Was all the money had. but
II wasn't enough Tor him 70 90 on With his
studies"
Dunn looked at her sparkling eyes and glow
Ing cheeks. and bsoams thoughtful Cursor
must have been id fool" he said finally.
Teresa remained silent She was beginning
TO BE- impatient and uneasy. fearing some mis-
chance that might delay her dreaded yet
longed-for meeting with Low. Yet she could
not leave this sick and exhausted man. his
father. now bound To her By moro than moro hu-
panity.
Couldn't you manage" she said gently. to
lean on me few steps further. until could
bring you TO cooler spot and nearer as
sistancs7"
He nodded. She lifted him almost like child
to his feet A spasm OF pain passed over his
face. How far 10 IN" he asked.
mot more than ten minutes" she replied.
II can make . spurt for that Time" he said
ooolly. and began to walk slowly but steadily
on Only his face. which was white and set.
and the convulsive grip Of his hand on her arm.
betrayed the effort. At tho end OF ten minutes
she stopped. They stood before the splin-
tered. lightning SCARED shaft In the opening
Of the woods where Low had built her flrst
camp fire. She carefully picked up the her
barium. but her quick eye had already detected
in the distance. before she had allowed Dunn
to enter the opening with her. that her note
was gone. Low had been there before them:
he had been warned. ~ his absence from the
cabin showed; he would not return there.
They were free from interruption-but whore
had he gone?
The sick man drew long breath Of relief as
she seated him 10 the clover-grown hollow
,I,a,.a hal had ,tsyht ne has
stay. IT'S cooler than those cursed woods"
he said. Il suppose IT'S because It's little like
agrave. What are YOU going to do now?" he
added, as she brought cup OF water and
placed 1t at his side.
am going to leave you here for little
while" she said cheeriully. but with pale face
and nervous banda. Pm going to 10 ave you
while seek Low"
The sick man raised his head. I'm good for
sspurt, Tsresa. like that I've Just 60; through.
but don't think I'm up to a family purity.
Couldn't you issue cards later on3"
You don't understand" she said. Pm 60
ing to got Low to send some one OF your
friends to you here. I don't think he'll be-
grudge leaving her q moment for that" she
added to herself bitterly.
What's that you're saying?" he Queried
with the nervous Quickness OF an invalid.
"Nothing-but that I'm going now" She
turned her face aside to hide her mostened
eyes. Wish me good luck. won't your" she
asked. half sadly. half pettishly,
Come here!"
She came and bent over him. He suddenly
raised his hsnde. and. drawing her face down
to his own. kissSd her forehead.
Give thatto him" he whispered. from me-"
She turned and Ned. happily for her senti-
ment. not hearing the feeble laugh that fol-
lowed az Dunn. In sheer imbeclity. again re-
ferred TO the extrSvagant ludicrousness Of the
situation. 1t is about the biggest thing In
the way Of . sell all round. he repeated. lying
on his back. coniidentiRIly to the speck OF
smoke.obscured sky above him. 4le pictured
himself repeating 1t. not to Nellle-her severe
propristy might at last overlook the fact. but
not tolerate the joke-but to her father! 1t
would be just one OF those characteristic Cali
fornlan Jokes Father Wynne would admirs."
To his exhaustion fever presently succeeded.
and hs began to grow restless. The heat too
seemed to invade his retreat. and from time to
time theftfttle patch OF blue sky was totally OBJ
secured by clouds OF smoke. He amused him
self with watching a lizard who was investi-
eating folded piece OF paper whose elasticity
gave the little creature lively approximations OF
its vitality. Atlusr he could stsnl the stiffness
OF his retreat and his supine position NO longer.
aud rolled himself out OF the bed OF iesves
that Teresa had so carefully prepared for him.
He rose 10 his feet stiff and sore. and. support.
ing himself by the nearest tree. moved few
steps from the dead ashes OF the camp fire.
The movement frightened the lizard. who
abandoned the paper and fed. With satirical
recollection OF Brace and his ridiculous" dis
covery through the medium OF this animal. he
stopped and picked up the paper. Like as
not" he said to himself with grim irony. these
yer lizards are III the discovery business.
P'r'aps this may lead to another mystery" and
he began to unfold the paper with smile. But
the smile censed as his eye suddenly caught
his own name.
A dozen lines were written in pencil on what
seemed to be q blank leaf originally torn from
some book. He trembled so that he was
Obliged to sit down to read these words:
when you get this keep away from tho
woods. Dunn and another man are in deadly
pursuit Of you and your companion. over
heard their plan to surprise you in our cabin
Don't 90 there. and will delay them and put
them of tho scent. Don't mind mo. God bess
YOU. and II you never see me again think some
times Of TERESA
His trembling ceased. he did not start but
rose res, IN an distracted way. and made a few de-
Even then he was, 40 confused that he was
Obliged to refor to the paper again. but with 80
little effect that no could only rnpent tho last
words. Think sometimes OF Teresa" He
was conscious TINT this was not all he had u
full conviction Of being deceived, and knew
that no held the proof in his hand. but he could
not formulate II beyond that sentence. 'Tere-
sa"-yes. he would think Of her. She would
explain 1t. And here she was returning.
In that brief interval her face and manner
had again changed. She WIS pale and quite
renthless. Shs cast u swift glance at Dunn
and the paper ha mechanically held out. walked
up t9 hIm and tore i. from his hand and, 80,
going To do about III"
He attempted to speak. but his voice failed
MIN. Even then he was conscious that II no
had spoken he would have only, repeated:
think sometimes Of Teresa" He looked
lonEingly but helplessly ~ the spot where she
had thrown the paper. as II 1t contained his I'M
uttered words.
" Yes" sho went on tn herself. ns II no was
mute. ind fTerent spectator. yes. they're gone.
That ends 1t all. The games played ont.
Well!' suddenly turning upon him. now YOU
know II all. Your Nellie ,ras here Nth him. and
Is NTH him nor. Do you henr? Make the
most OF IT.: you've lost them-hnt here am"
Yes. he snid eagerly. yes. Teresa"
She stopped. stared at him. then taking him
by the hand led him like child back to his
couch. We'll, she said. In hall savage eyplA-
nation. told you the truth when said the
girl WASH I at the cabin last night. and that
didn't know her. What arc ,you Elowcrin'
at2 No! haven't lied to YOU. swear to God,