Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-06

AID ~ the pit itself was on q certain J
eminence, they commanded view over
the greater proportion Of the clearing,
up to thick woods that closed 1t in.
The daylight was very clear and grey,
showed them q ribapd OF white footpath
wandering amorg the gorse. It passed
some hundred yards from the pit, and
ran the whole length Of the clearing, east
and west. BY the line Of its course, Dick
judged 1t should lead more or less d.
rectly to the Most house.
Upon this path, stepping forth from the
margin of the wood, white figure now
appeared. II paused q little and seemed
to look about; and then, at slow
pace, and beat almost double, 1t
began to draw near .croEs tie heath.
At every step the bell clsnke4. Face, II
had none s white hood, not even pierced
with eve holeH, yelled the head; and az
! the creature moved, il seemed to feel It's
way with the tapping Of stick. Fear
fell upon the lads, as cold as death.
ga leper!" said Dick, hoarsely.
"His touch Is DEATH" said Matcham.
s'Let US run"
"Not so," returned Dick. "See ye not7
He is stone blind. He guideth him with
a stan. Let US lie still; the wind bloWeth
toward the path, snd he will 60 by and
hurt US not. Alas, poor soul, snd we
should rather pity him." 4
81 will pity him when he Is by" replisd
kMsteham. - .n$
The blind lepsf was noxh bouthaIfIsy
towsrae them, snd iusttheI theaspnsfo
and sti6ne full on his yelled fsee. He
had been q tall man before he WAS bowed
by hissdiseustiug sickness, ane even now
he walked with vigorous step. The
disnsl beating of his bell, the pattering
OF the stick, the eyeless screen before
his countensnce, snd the knowledge that
he YRS not only doomed to death snd
suffering, but shut out for ever from the
touch Of his fellow-men, filed the lads
bosom with dismay, and at Gv9ry step
tnat brought him nearer, their courage
and strength seemed to desert them.
As he csme about level with the pit, be
paused, and turned his face full upon the
lads.
"Mary be my shield! He sees us!'
said Matcham family.
"Hush!" whispered Dick. "He doth
but hesrken. He is blind, fool!"
The leper looked or listened, which
ever he was doing, for some seconds.
Then he began to move on again, hut
presently paused once more, and again
turned and seemed to gsze upon the lads.
Even Dick became dead-white and closed
his eyes, as If by the mere sight be
might become infected. But soon the
bell sounded, and this time, without airy
farther hesitation, the leper crossed the
remainder of the little heath, and disap-
peared into the covert Of the woods.
! "Hs saw u.s." said Matcham. 81
could swear tip
"Tutl" returned Dick recovering some
sparks Of courage. ale but heard us.
He WAS in fear, poor soul. An ye were
blind and walked in perpetual night, ye
would start yourself, ii ever twlg rus.
tied or bird cried peep"
"Dick, good Dick, he saw u.s." re-
pested Matchsm. "When a man heark-
eneth, he doth not IS this man; he doth
otherwise, Dick. This was seeing; l,
was not hearing. He means foully. Hank,
else, II his bell be not stopped"
Such was the case. The bell rang nc
I longer.
"Nsy," said Dick, 81 like not that
Nsy," he cried again, az like that little
Whist may this betoker2 Let US 60, by
the mass!"
"He hath gone east" added Mstcham
"Good Dick, let US go westward straight,
l sssll not breathe till l have my back
turned upon that leper."
sack, " are too cowardly," replied
.Dick. ave shall go for Hollywood, or as
fair, st least, as 1 can guide you, and
that will be due north"
They were afoot at once, passed the
stream upon some stepping-stones, and
began to mount on the other side, which
was sleeper, towards the msrgin of the
WOOD. The around became very uneven,
full of knobs and hollows; trees grew
scattered or In clunps; 1t became diff
cult to choose q path, and the lads some
what wandered. They were weary, be-
sides, with yesterdays exertions ana the
lack Ct food, and they moved but heavi-
~ and dragged their feet among the
sand.
Presently, coming to the top Of knoll
they were aware of the leper, some hun
7 dred feet In front of them, crossing the
line Of their march BY hollow. His bel
WAS silent, his STAFF no longer tapped tnt
ground, and he went before him with thu
swift and assured footsteps OF man WHIT
sees. Mkt moment he had disappeared
Into little thicket.
The lads, at the FIRST glimpse, hst
crouched behind tuft Of gorse; Their
they lay, horror-struck.
"Certain he pursueth u.s." said Dick
"certalpl lie neld the clspper Of his bel
In one hand, saw yer that it should no
sound Now may the SAINTS aid and guild
} US, tor l have no strength to combs
. pesti ence"
"What maketh he?" cried Matchsm
"What doth he want? Who ever hear
!, the like, that leper, out OF mere malice
i should pursue unfortunates2 Hoth b
not his bell to that very end, that peopl
j may avoid hin? Dick, there Ii belo'
.his something deeper"
"Nsy, care NOT" mo.ned Dick; 18th
= strength is gone out Of me; my legs al
like water. TIL saints be mine assis
!, ANGEL"
u "wouid ye lie there idles" erie
Mstchami. "Let US back into the opel
We have the better chance; he cannt
steal upon us unawares."
"Not l." said Dick. "My time is com
and peradventure be may pass US by"
:; "Bend me, then, your bow3" cried ii
Il other. "WhstI will We be MANI"
e Dick crossed himse would ye his,
lie me shoot upon .eper7" he cried. eth
% hand would fail me. Nay, now" b
Is edded-"ray, now, let be! With souI
k men will fight, but not with ghosts ar
" lepers. Winch this is, l wot not Oh
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