Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-03-08

from the rock, and at once began quickly TO
sink.
Jump shrieked Fairfax, in terror. And
back over the thunderous roar rang the
piercing cry:
"Save me! Save me ! o, Arthur, save mem
His soul on fire, his strength nerved
to utter desperation, he leaped far out from
the crags over the sea, and struck-not
the water, but solid earth!
In an instant he had awakened from sleep
and found himself standing erect, with
nerves and muscles strained to their ut
most tension, his arms extended rigid from
his side, his head bent eagerly forward,
like one alert from fear. Every nerve
tingled with horror. And his ear could
have caught the falntest possible whisper.
What was it, What did it meana The
| cold sweat stood out in great beads over
| his forehead, and it seemed to him he could
| yet hear that piercing cry for help ringing
| far along the shore and in the woods.
If ever a man was thoroughly awake. he
now was.
| He ran to the water and glancing up and
down heard or saw nothing, save the sui
| len waves knocking angrily against the
| rocks, and the shining pillows, glistening in
| the moonlight. From the forest came no
| sound, but the far-away, sea-hke murmur OF
| the pines.
Nothingl nothingi nothing, at all! Only
| a silly drcaml And, yet, that call! that cry
| for helpi 1t was real! IL was no delusion
of sleep, for it rang, still, in his ears with
| too true a tone to be aught else but genu-
| inc!
In terror-yet he could not have said why
he stood, listening with Dated breath.
Histl harkl What was that, borne by on
| the passing breezea II there was ever wall
| of woman for help that was one. Clear and
high it sounded
g Sape me! Aythuri o to die htfsi''
Wild and mad with blindest rage and fear,
| Fairfax bounded over the rocks and fed into
| the wood, like one insane, as if all hell were
| pursuing him. On, on ne dashed, needing
neither bush, brier nor crag. Torn and
| bleeding, straight forward, towards the
| call, he pushed.
Again he heard 1t, and nearer still; and
again he paused.
80 God! have pity! Farewell, my Ar
| thurl"
| With Economical shrek of impotent
rage, Fairfax tore onward through shrub
| and low-lying branches, calling out fercely:
| 'tHell and it's torments to him who harms
herr'
| Soon he sprang from the forest out into
broad clearing where ran narrow, quiet
cove of the sea. This time the cry sounded
| as if among the rocks,
Breathless, painting like wounded deer,
| his garments torn to shreds, bleeding in
| every limb he dashed down the slope and
| fell headlong on the jagged stones, tearing
| the flesh from his face and body. When he
| arose, tottering and staggering, half-blind-
| ed and dazed, his left arm hung limp and
motionless by his side, but his eye, wild and
haggard, shot around the glances of a man
| determined and desperate even to death.
Naughtl naughtl could he seel Naught,
| except black, ill-omened bird of strange
| form and plumage. Standing motionless on
a crag that overlooked the deeper part of
the cove, it suddenly shrielzed out in those
same weird, unearthly, frightened tones
| that he had heard before; and, spreading its
wings, sailed YEARLY away toward the
pines.
| With an execration, Fairfax hurled
| stone after it. Thrown with unerring aim
! and tremendous force, the missile hit the
creature so that it tumbled heavily to the
ground, where it lay fluttering in the
! throes of death.
| Fairfax glared at it with no other emo
| ton than that of hate and glutted revenge.
A raclzing pain in his forearm now at
| tracted his attention. CHANGING at himself,
| he, for the first time, became aware Of
his frightful condition.
Blood was streaming from various bruises
all over his body. His clothing hung about
him in tatters. His forearm was broken
and his shoes cut to pieces.
There was no fresh water at hand.
''Salt water is better than no water at oil.
I'll wash my wounds in that--sting
though they may" quoth he, grimly shut
ting his lips.
The dying bird fluttered again.
With glance of rage at it and an oath,
Fairfax stumbled to the head of the cove
and, tearing off fragment of his clothing,
was about to wash and bind up his wounds,
when he CHANGED to look out into the
deeper water beyond.
Utterlng cry of horror he at first re-
coiled, but, quickly recovering himself,
sprang into the sea and swan out with
strokes vigorous IS broken arm and
MANNED body would allow.
Was it Natalie who lay there quietly
and peacefully on the heaving water, her
long, dark curling tresses streaming out far
behind her in the cool, translucent wave, her
the moonbeams and her white-robed,
shapely form rising and falling on the long
sea-swell?
Not daring to look at the face, not daring
to verify his horrible suspicion, Fairfax,
with the deep and labored breathing of one
undergoing some terrible excitement, eX-
tended his wounded arm against her
figure and, striking out powerfully with his
other limbs, forced her to the shore.
Touching terra tfrnaa, he lifted her bodily
and, staggering woefulfy beneath the
burden, almost fell forward upon the rocks,
slippery with sea-weed.
Then, for the first time, he found courage
to glance at her face.
She was past reviving, quite dead, and
she acds not the Princess
Fairfax breathed a ferveaa ''Thank God 10
- GA -