Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-09-13
Twilight was falling, and the ris

Twilight was falling, and the ris.
ing waters were all about her feet.
She went on carefully, picking her
way, leaping lightly from rock to
rock, the wind tossing her unbound
hair.
A sound of tramping hoofs, and
directly mans voice, in imperative
command, reached her from below.
Standing on the slippery rocks, the
swift-fiowing waters beneath her,
one hand resting on a rough boul.
der, the other grasping her lamb,
she peered down the surging stream.
There was a horseman at the low
er ford, making vain efforts to cross.
The horse reared and backed, evi-
IDENTIFY frightened at the swollen
stream.
Bnt his rider urged him on, with
whip and spur, and at last be went
in, with wild leap.
Plunging furiously, he gained the
opposite shore, but with such fran
tic bound, that his rider was thrown
from the saddle.
The horse galloped off in the di.
rection of Maplethorp, but his mas.
ter lay mOti0nless.
Kelpie, looking on breathlessly,
uttered a low cry, and clasping her
lamb, darted over the rocks, and
down the shore of the creek.
Before she reached him, or looked
into his death.like face, some subtitle
voice within told her it was Tom.
There he lay, his right arm
doubled under him, the sharp edge
of rock piercing his temple.
Kelpie raised bis head to her
bosom, and held it there for an in
slant, as fond mother might hold
her babe; then, with an unspoken
prayer OH her ashen lips she caught
up her lamb, and darted off through
the falling darkness, with the speed
of swallow.
Help came in very short time,
and the injured man was placed on
a litter, and borne across the valley
to his mothers cottage.
ale is not dead 7" said Kelpie,
confronting DR.. Talcott, when the
brief examination was over.
The young man looked at the
lovely dusk face, pallid with sus,
pense and agony; and in that minute
he understood why it was that KEEL
pie had turned a deaf ear to all his
ardent wooing.
"No, he is not Dead" he answer
ed, his eyes softening with pity. Il
will save his life for your sake"
1t was after midnight when Tom
recovered consciousness.
Where is Kelpie z" were his first
words.
"You mustn't talk" said his moth
er. But he silenced her with a ges-
ture.
"Call Kelpiev'
And the girl came.
He took her hand in his left one !;
his right lay bandaged and disabled
by his side.
II was coming to bring you good
news" he said, a slight CULVER stir
ring his firm lips; "that's what
brought me. Kelpie, ! have found
your friends. You are no longer a
waif. The man who put you at my
mothers door, is dead. / saw him
die, and heard his confession. You
stood between him and a great for
tune, and he wanted you out Of the
way. He is dead, and the fortune
is yours, and your mother will be in
Maplethorp tomorrow to claim you."
The dark, southern face grew fair
ly dazzling, in its exceedingjoy.
sob thank God! thank God !"
she said.
A shadow of intense pain filed
Toms eyes.
allow glad you are +" he said
Yes, | am glad, very glad, Tom.'
"Then I'll try and be glad for
your sake," he answered, hoarseiy,
and turned his face away.
Silence fell.
The clock licked on the mantel,
and the cat purred before the hearth.
Kelpie stood irrcsolute, great tears
standing in her eyes.
At last she stole to the bedside,
and her slender, brown hand, which
had never touched Toms only with
the shy, coy touch of a bird, fell softly
upon his bandaged head.
He opened his eyes with a great
start.
"Kelpie ~
Eyes, Tom.'
Again there was silence.
sTom," the girl began, at last, her
starry eyes downcast, her red lips
quiyering, Tom, you remember the
morning we parted, out yonder by
the sheepfold!"
W n