Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-02-16

that the harder be struggles 70 escape from
poverty, be only turns the faster the wheel
that grinds out fortunes for his masters, and
draws him in at last to be crushed
He hesitated for her 10 ask him some qnes-
tions, and perhaps Il was already as plain to
ber as TO him. At any rate, she only looked
of to the west where the glow Of sunset was
fast fading, and then back into his face re-
gretfully.
II suppose we ought to go down. she said
why, yes, had forgotten whether it wac
night or dayn
He took her hand gently as IL be touched q
holy thing, and his face softened like a
childs He would not have let her fall for
the world She had taught him, how he did
not stop to think, that there was a rare and
exquisite strain Of joy in life. She had
spiritualized womanhood to him; he sud-
denly saw in 1t an essence so pure and fine it
might redeem the world. An hour ago, he
had been 50 wretched, and now a vague,
sweet hope he cared not to define was born
in him As he stood upon the road bed Gnd
reached up his hands to help Bertha down,
tleir eyes met for q moment, and then sho
rusted herself to him In such gentle sur
,ender that q mist fioated before his sight.
She almost fell, and he must needs gather her
perfect form in his arms to save her.
Philip had been idly swapping his whip
and looking up the road. He thought no
saw in the distance q number of men with
guns hurrying in his direction and before
them-yes, it must be dog; an odd hour of
the day for hunting. He might as well have
his horses turned about; he could see Curran
and Bertha clambering down from the rocks.
So it happened that at the moment Bertha
came SO near falling-in fact, did fall, into
Curran's arms-Philip was sitting with his
back toward them, faced toward home
But by this time the hunters with guns
we're nearer; the blacksmith had rushed out
of his shop to look at the dog who bounded
along with his mouth to the ground drop
ping foam as he ran.
The dog was mad. Bertha saw the great
white creature, and grew pale as death, and
pressed back against the rocky wall in dc
spair. CurTan saw him too, and had rot
even to make up his mind to die to save this
woman. 1t was a matter of course. He
stepped out directly in front of her without
one word, and bending forward, waited. The
mad dog might pass by. But no, in an in
slant more the beast was upon him, and like
lightning Curran had reached out his hands
Of iron and caught his shaggy throat as in q
wise.
The creature rose upon its hind legs ant
snapped ravenously at his captor, great drops
Of foam, specked with blood, dropping from
mis- jaws. With ono rapid glance Curran saw
the men with guns, running at full speed
and almost at hand If he could hold him
but one moment moro he might yet be saved
if those glistening teeth, distilling poison arG
Madness would spare his flesh one moment
more. His arms and wrists werc corded like
giants; his head thrown back to escape the
venomous fangS, while he listened with fast
sickening heart to the sound of approaching
feet. He heard, too, the quick breathing oi
the woman behind him; thank God, he coult
save her from such fate, and she might
think kindly of him sometimes, even if Et
must die like dog, since it was for her.
But now his arms trembled with the terri
BILE strain upon them and tho dog struggled
moro fiercely, SO that the man felt his lot
fetid breath on his cheek, and in an instant
more the deadly jaws seemed closing over his
arm. Suddenly there came loud report and
a cloud of smoke, and the mangled creature
fell upon the ground il his death agony
The madness had gone out Of his big, brown
eyes which looked up pitifuliy at the man he
would have slain.
''Thcy were just in time with their guns,
exclaimed Philip, rushing UP and wringins
bis hand.
But the man made no response, z:or ever
looked around for one sign of gratitude from
the woman he had risked his life for HI
had no answers or smiles for the admir-
ing crowd that had seemed to gather sc
quickly when the danger was over, but hi
face grew quite pale as he walked up thu
road. At tho blacksmith's shop a though
seemed TO strike him. He hesitated q mo
ment and then went in
When the crowd came up and followed
him in, they found him before the glowing
forge. His sleeve was rolled up, revealing
an arm almost like the smiths, but how
closely he was studying it. just below the
elbow were the marks of a dogs fangs, out OF
which slowly oozed two great drops of blood
No one dared to speak; all looked on him as a
man devoted, and half expected to see al
ready the signs of madness on his calm, pale
face. The men with the guns had come in
with the rest, and stood under the rows OF
horse shoes that lined the tlackened walls