Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-01-07
0somebody has fallen from the rocks.


ran lightly along path perilous to
feet less sure than hers, which ran along
the edge Of the cliff and led directly to
the white barrenness below.
The fact that it was November night,
and she had come out to try spell of
which her aunt did not approve. was
forgotten as she sped down the path,
light and sure footed as chamois on its
native hills.
At last she reached the base of the
cliffs, and then some Of the dauntless
courage forsook her, and she shivered in
the night air.
For great black steed lay prostrate
before her, struggling and kicking out
the sand, but evidently unable to rise.
Near MIN, but beyond reach Of the
frantic hoofs, as though, having drawn
himself so far from danger, life and fear
and all things else had fallen from him,
lay man. with white face upturned to
the smiling calm Of the sky.
Janet subdued the shrinking that came
over her. hurried to the side of the fallen
figure, knelt, and scanned the features
closely.
ssIt is the laird's son, Douglas Cam
eronI" she cried, with start, s'and
heaven befriend him-ne is dead"
At her voice pair of heavy eyes
opened slowly and fixed themselves upon
her face. They were dim with pain and
faintness, but she could not know that
in the moonlight.
may, lassp' he answered, laboredly.
81 an crushed bit, aud my leg is
broken, but it takes much to kill Cam
eron."
With the last word he tainted dead
away.
Janet was no dainty maiden, beautiful
and useless; she had been taught early
to forget self often, and do Tor all who
were i'll or in need as much as in her lay !;
so, never thinking of shrieking or faint
ing herself, she drew off her plaid,
folded it, and placed it under his head !.
AS she did so she saw her ball of yarn
clutched tightly in one of his rigid
hands, and her pretty face flushed.
But she could do nothing for him
there, so she few up the steep path like
a swallow, and on through the night, to
the cottage Of old blind Dan, who had
tstwo Draw lads"
1t was not long ere she was leading
the sturdy fellows to where she had left
tae laird's son.
They found him conscious and able to
tell them how, in riding home, he had
lost himself in dream, and not needed
that his horse was on the very edge of
the cliff until stumble of the animals
had sent steed and rider over the rocks,
down to the sands below.
"My Bonnie Raven will na harm me
mair.'- he said, in conclusion. "He is in
pdrn.. Can one of you shoot?"
'sNay!' They told hrm.
"Lift me little, then. cannot lifi
myself"
"They did SO, and he drew a revolver
from his bosom. Janet, with shudder,
turned away, as, with the weapon lifted
and his face white as death, he rook ain
at the restless head of the injured steed.
A report went echoing from cliff to cliff
and the bonnie black animal lay dead.
Douglas Cameron had tainted again,
also.
They lifted him as though he was {
child and bore him up the path. Janet
ran before to prepare her aunt.
Il kenned ma guide would COON O. sic
folly" Nancy said, simply.
And then he began to prepare place
for the injured nun, her laird's son.
They laid him on the couch and ther
Nancy sent the lads in different direc.
tions. One hurried across the crags fol
DR.. Deane, the other took long strides
toward the residence of the laird
"An' tell him the lad be badly bruised,
but ha' life in him yet" Nancy called
after her messenger.
i The young man had very much lif'
still in him, as was proven by the week
of delirium, during which he was as one
raving mad; but when consciousness re-
turned and he lay weak, bandaged, with
wounds on him which would leave Their
scars upon him all his life, he did MOI
seem unhappy in the cottage, but would
lie long hours, following Janet's move
ments with his eyes, or, hearing he
read, would close them and listen.
At last, when the sleet was falling
outside, and rugged Scotland looked
more than usually unlovely, the old lairc
drove down to see his son, as he Aad
done daily since the accident.
'.Ye're wecl enow to gang hame, ny
lad, he said, on leaving. spl send fo
ye tomorrow"
After his father had gone the young
man lay long watching Janet's sweet
face as it bent over her sewing. At las
he spoke:
sYe heard it, lass,n he said, softly
Il am weel enow to gang hame.
Eyes, /" she answered.
"Will ye miss me, lassie27
No reply, but Janet's checks are burn
ing. Oh, how sadly she will miss thl
laird's son when he goes back to hi
people.
"Lassie -Janetl'' He put out hi
hands and took her own-not yer,
white, not very fair, but tender hand
and halnfni ct will leave ra xr;,