The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-06-03

drlfted on tide of aimless fancieS. =
Over her arched wide sky of tender,
cloudless blue. Out to the bounding
ring Of the horizon swept the world of
green. From sky-edge to sky-edge full
tide of summer sunshine seemed to rise
and fall in great fire-heated pillows as
the south wind surged across the space.
There were no shadows, but the soft
glare did not blind nor scorch. And
before she knew it she was fast asleep.
She awoke with & sudden start, broad
awake after a most unaecustomed fash
ion. ALI her senses came back to her
instantly. The whole wide heaven was
aglow with sunset, an unbroken, I'M
fecked arch of color fading down
through every tender tint to the cool
gray of the short twilight. She took it
all in at single glance, and against the
glory a mans figure standing black and
motionless.z E. go go
She was on her feet at once. Not a
neighbor nor a neighbours boy; some
body coatless, bareheaded, with white
drawn face, and a helpless arm swung
in blood-stained bandage.
She stood speechless, motionless, an
awful, helpless terror clutching her heart.
The moral support Of Toms armory was
quite out of reach in the house. That
the man was already wounded-that hi
looked as if the merest push of her I'M
armed hand would be too much for him,
did not matter. Such an appearance in
the heart of that calm loneliness was not
to be accounted for in any ordinary
fashion. He might be the climax of any
dreadful sequence of events. If Miss
Allison had reasoned, she would have
found herself afraid of what had hap
pened, rather than of what might come.
What do you want?" She came for
ward step to say it, and tried not to
let her heart choke her voice.
The figure put up one weak, appealing
hand, uttered an inarticulate sound, and
dropped forward face down on the
grass.
Miss Allison looked about her a
minute. All the little flashy pools in the
prairie caught the reflection from above,
and shone red in the gathering gloom
about them. A slender new moon and
a single great white star hung calm in
the fading glow. She saw it all, and
saw herself alone with that PROSTATE
figure lying black before her.
She went towards him over the grass.
He neither spoke nor stirred. She gath
cred back her dress and touched him
with her foot. 1t was an involuntary,
half-unconscious gesture; but the woman
in her reacted spontaneously? In an
instant she was on her knees beside him
touching the coal hand end forehead.
HE has fainted!" she said aloud,
quite cody. There was that redeeming
quality in Miss Allison. Her wits were
at hand in an emergency.
In two minutes camphor and ammo
mia had done their appointed work. The
stranger lay gasping feebly, but with
restored consciousness. sss5sa@sTr. go
"What is the matter with your" she
asked crisply.
He looked up at her, standing straight
and tall in her white dress.
ave eaten nothing for forty-eight
hours, he said quietly.
Speech and voice were clear and soft.
Miss Allison found herself conscious of a
glimmer of friendly interest.
Can you get into the house?" with
matter fact GOODNESS; u will find you
something to eat"
He raised himself weakly as she
turned away. Miss Alli,on looking up
presently from her struggles With tie
cooking-stove fire, found him standing
in the doorway regarding her out of hol
low sunken eyes. She had lighted q
lamp, and Toms revolver lay within
reach.
A faint smile crossed the mans pale
lips. Miss Allison saw it, and a little
flash of temper sent color and light into
her cheeks and eyes.
II need accounting for?" answering
the flash. -..- -s=----.
"You do, certainly" sharply. There's
bread and glass of wine beside you.
Drink it and lie down till this coffee
boils."
He obeyed her. When Miss Allison
went to him presently with her coffee,
she found him asleep. And from the
wounded arm a dark stream dripped
slowly.
Miss Allison set down her tray, and
turned faint and sick. Then she reused
him gently.
Look at your arm. What is the mat
ter with it?" 49,:
Il have been shot," drowsily. 1T is
bleeding again? Can you-get me -"
falling off into Inconsistencies, half
sleep, half stupor.
"Oh, dear!" desperately. "He's 60
ing to bleed to death! You must wake
up!" Selling his shoulder, and speaking
with a ring in her clear voice.
He opened his eyes again.
II will help you bandage your arm"
The apron she had tied over her while
dress was in strips, and she was bending
over him, her hands not quite steady,
her face pale. There was blood on her
hands and gown before the work was
done. ~
II am very sorry" looking up depre-
catingly. He had long-lashed, womanish
eyes, and his face, if not handsome, was
certainly not ruffianly nor coarse. -
She poured his coffee and cut his food.
A man with one hand is not expected to
be expert with knife and fork; but he
ate and drank with a refinement that
made his evident eagerness more marked
and touching. :
Not word was spoken. Miss Allison,
behind table, with her revolver lying
in her lap, watched him closely. All at
once conclusion flashed ON her mind
and took her breath away.
"You are one of the horse thieves!n
she said, slowly. She was leaning towards
him, her lips apart, her eyes very wide
open.
He laid down his knife and fork, and
looked at her silently.
And then the inconsequent woman's
logic asserted itself. The man was d
fugitive from justice, certainly; but there
he was in her power-hungry-wounded
Misunderstanding. And, somehow, the
Allison blood had trick of taking the
losing side.
She rose impulsively.
~They are after you," she said, in a
half whisper. 1.-THE whole community is
searching"
II know it," despondently. Il have
been in the brush for two days. Some
body gave me this, /" touching his arm.
y 49, n