The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1888-03-02


her hand toward the ford below
In moment the gallopng horseman en-
tered clump Of trees, then reappeared and
rode straight into the foaming creek Near
| the water the track OF recent passers turned
down the stream TO II new and safer point,
but in the failing light he did not observe
this. With the first plunge his horse was
swept around and lost his feet, then caught
upon portion Of what once had been the
shoal, struggled, sank, then caught again,
but lost IL, and, whrled around by the boil
ing flood, turned over with his rider under
him. In u heartbeat of time they were
dashed into a sort OF swrlng bowl below,
the man struggling with the horse, but
thrown against the overhanging bank rand
/ bounding Off with the shock; then they were
both sucked round like lightning and flung
down and outward, the man striking
against pile of logs half buried in sand
and scooped up silt, where he caught and
| hung, while the horse went whirling down
the torrent, but got his feet at last and
| scrambled up the bank and shook its
| dripping hide. IL seemed but little in
! jurcd, but its master, half conscious and
with some threads of red trucking down his
| temple and across his white neck, still chung
TO the logs, seemingly more from instinct
| than clear reason, while the water wrenched
and tugged at him as IL bound 10 pluck him
loose. The horse moved about and began
10 nibble at the sward half-heartedly, but
the master still held fas; to the logs and
labored for breath. Suddenly the young
woman who had watched from the orchard
wall spfang down the bank with face
colorless from the swiftness of her coming.
With the first sweep of her eyes along the
edge q curious note of horror came through
her lips, and she bounded across the logs
and caught the dashed and buffeted figure.
In her fright she seemed swift and strong
almost beyond women, or rather the under
lying power of this slow, Woodworking,
mountain-matured girl flowed through all
her being, and she lifted the man up and
across the logs much as if he had been II
child.
"Are you hurt badi" she painted, as she
hung over him.
For answer, he turned his face, all pal
lid and pnchcd with pain, toward her, and
tried to get up. He seemed to hear and see
her, but could not speak save with the ago
ny in his eyes. AT that, the look Of fright
and horror decpcncd in the girls face, and
half lifting him she painted: 40, if father
was only here ~ and the injured man strug
gled to his feet, and they went wavering up
the bank and stopped.
his hand pressed against his heart. IL
struck the rocks--it is dark to me, let me
he-down !" and he sank forward upon the
grass and was still.
40, he'll die he'll die :" cried the girl
Father! fatherl" and her voice went ring
ing in Il long, trembling echo across the val
ley and up the canyon. Father! father"
Then she held her breath and hearkencd,
"No, he's not come vet" she painted, and
bending down she laid her hand timidly
upon the mans face. Hes fainted!' she
said, and Strengthening up stood still in the
gathering twilight. Filmy spirits seemed
descending out Of the air and grouping
under the trees, the silvered tops of the cot
tonwoods began to grow leaden, and the
great lake of light that filed the valley
went slowly from pale rose to cloudy amber,
while the vast flakes Of gold that lay upon
the mountain heights fiickered, and seemed
turning into ashes. Suddenly the man
started up with sound of agony, and the
girl, with n startled, halfsoothing eXclama-
ton, put out her hands and caught him.
" Are you better nowt' she asked. He
looked ut her in dazed way. IL am Trcan
Hartman" she said, could you ride to the
house if helped you to mountF'
He looked round him curiously and his
eyes grew clear. Eyes, | think So" he la
bored out Then she brought the horse
quickly and led 1t down depression almost
under the bank,
Now" she said, "if you can step into
the saddle from the edge l will hold your
horse steady"
Slowly and with his teeth set to keep back
the groan that came up from his heart, the
young man lowered himself into the saddle.
:" Lean forward with your hands on his
-. Al.
rcins just back of the bits she led the horse
carefully up the bank and along the road to-
ward the house. She said nothing, and the
bruised rider, reeling u little from side to
side. made no sound Thus they went up
ward through the shadows thus she brought
slowly home il, her king'
When she came to the road which ran
down to the village she paused and listened
but nothing could be heard save the sound
of approaching cow-bclls beating II dreamy
march across the valley, and the low roar
of the mountain stream rushing through its
rugged channels TO the vale.
40, If father would only comer she
murmured; then led the horse onward,
opened the gate, led him across the little
plot of grass, on between tho cottOnwoods,
and up through the flower beds TO the door
Then she entered the house and came out
with a chair and placed il by the horse
Now, you can get down." she said, with
strong concern in her mellow voice.
"You-are very kind" and something
like smic filtered across his pale face and
vanished in look of pain. Then slowly,
and all but crying out with the pangs of his
injury, he got down with her help upon the
chair, but when his feet rested upon the
ground he fultercd out: "It---is -darkn--and
wavercd rs il he would fail She caught him
instantly, and his head dropped hclplcssly
upon her breast, with his quick breath com
ing and going across hcrne She trembicd