Wichita eagle., 1888-07-15
FROM OUT THE PINES.

The doctors have just said that there l.
no hope for me; that | may die tomorrow;
perhaps, indeed, tonight. But they did
not tell me that. Had they done so
could have told them better; but they did
not. They went out softly to the other
room. shutting tbs door. lest / should
hear them whisper it to Minnie-my
niece Minnie-who takes care of me, and
who cried, yes. absolutely cried, when
they had gone away.
They shut the door, say, but ali,
laughed at that! Little do these doctors
know how keen grows the eye, how sharp
the ear, how eager the dull mind and clear
the brain, as one draws near the shore
and feels the breeze from off the Lake Of
Death tanning the sunken cheeks. Some
times, while lying here, have heard the
neighbors in the room beyond talking
about nv chances in the battle with the
shadow grim" and wondering and plan
ming what had best be done after all was
over with me; and l have been tempted
to call out that | heard them, and tell
them to be gone, but then, why should l?
They are good neighbors, as neighbors go,
and they have been very kind to Minnie;
so let them alone, nor did l speak to
them at all, only it used to worry me q
Ettle-but that is over now.
But so heard the doctors, as they told
Minnie this morning; and afterward, when
she came into my room, pretended not
to see the pretty eyes all red and weighed
with tears, or hear the trernor in the
sweet, young voice. | merely asked for
pen and paper, and to be alone while.
She brought me these, drew up the little
table within reach, and went out. l
was left alone-yet not alone, for the
spirit of the dead woman is here beside
me now, giving me feyerish strength
to write the words that may at last bring
peace to her soul and mine.
am an old man now, yet, how clear it
seems before my eyes-clearer than this
memory Of yesterday-that bright. sun
shiny morning bonC years ago. when l
Joined hands and fortune with three other
men TALL now are dead but me, and l am
dying). But then, oh then, we were SO
young and brave and strong and full Of
boyish dreams Of wealth and love. and
manhood's happiness!
We were out locating mining claims
among the Rocky mountains, and for two
wild weeks we worked ON side by side,
scanning anxiously the sands that ran
beneath our feet for signs of the CLEAN
ing yellow dust. But. SO far, all in vain.
One day it came my turn to hunt the
game for camp, and in the clear, bright
morning I started off, whistling light
ballad snatches as I went; for, ali, how
could | see, with my duller eyes, the
''wee, small cloud then gathering in the
west?
The game was hard to track. and led
me farther and farther up hills and down
ward camp the night was falling around
/ had lost my way. But what of that?
I was young and fearless, and q night
spent in that far canyon, with tho white
stars for my candies and the wind sough-
ing through the dark rock pines above
me, would be filed with pleasant dreams,
not idle fears. So stood still, and look
ing about me for the safest spot On which
to set stakes, / saw just a little be-
fore me, in the glen below, a small
clearing, and beyond clump Of trees.
l made up my mind to 60 to this
clearing, and had just started, when
suddenly a shriu, piercing scream rang
out on the quiet cir. seeming to come from
the shadow of the trees beyond, and echo
ing down the long ravine. like the cry Of
lost soul. Again it came, as / stood
there, for at first / hesitated at going to-
ward it, fearing panther trap Then
once again it rose, ahivering through the
darkness, "Oh. help, help, for the pity of
Godr'
Then 1 knew what it meant. No pan
Their cries like that. Swinging myself
down from ledge to ledge. / was soon on
the little clearing. then on into the gloom
Of the pine tree cluster, led by the cries
that had now sunk into pitiful sobs and
means.
Just beyond the edge Of the woods,
through the trees, ! saw ray Of light,
and tracking it. soon came up to a miscr-
able old shanty-a miners hut. Within
this shanty were the sobs. as of a young
GIRL and every sob was accompanied by
curse and the dull swish of some heavy
lash as it few through the air and
fell upon the quiverish feshl One
moment paused, the next / had burst
open the miserable door. and stood gazing
on picture that has haunted NE through
al nay life Here, in the low. unfinished
room, Lit by an old lantern that hung sus-
pended from beam across the center Of
the roof, stood al old gray haired, gray
bearded nan. Man, did / say7 nay,
rather devil, fend in flesh and bloodi
There be stood with long cattle whip
dplifted for another blow, and at his feet
lay young girl scarcely more than o
Child. with her long. black hair all tan
gled about her face and matted with blood
upon her breast. Blood was upon her
face, her dress, her feet and on the floor.
All, what sight it was!
One glance, and had caught the old
fend by the throat, and flung hin sense
less on the floor beyond. Then l took
the poor little lassie in my arms, brushed
back the matted curls from her white
face, and gave her WHISKY from my
hunting TASK. She soon revived and stood
up before me. Drawing the tattered
frock across her bruised and bleeding
breast, she looked at me- with a sort OF
dazed, childish wonder, but with no sign
OF fear. Al, can $50 hG nov, Just a. abe
stood there, tan and 1.-The and graceful as
the young fir trees giving BY the door,
with her long black kair, black - . dream !
OF darkness, and her eyes, eres with Tho
changing mystery Of the night, the pas
sion Of the storm winds Ia thar tBepfhs.:
WHO is hs!" ssked her, pointing 70
the man who lay there stirring fatntS.
"Ees Oh. he says he Is my father. but
he lies; he always hes" came the answer
in hot. passionate sobs, white her dark
eyes glowed with the memory Of hsts and
pain.
And your asked.
Me- Oh, am Carma. and have IL
ways lived here, only to be beaten and
beaten by that nraa-he wWliD me some
ti-,e x-r3oeef'' via ssid in @ ir..~-