San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-09-04

changes; II is sand now, soft sea sand. An,
there is the opening just ahead, the CLEAN Of
water beyondl The bushes leap back on either
hand; rider and horse as one, shoot out from
the gap as from bow Through the white
fetlook deep sand, over the stony ridge, the
fierce rush carries them. down the sloping
tide sands, into the very wave Whoa,
Robert, whoal Gently, gently Brace your
brave feet in the dripping sands; swerve to
the right, to the east
Away to the east there, a mile away, along
the lonely shore, you see Gull reef, stretch
ing out from the land. At the farther end,
partially hidden behind that highest rock,
cleaning white in the moons white light,
what do you seer A sail A saill What is
iti What does it meant Kit knows Il
means life and hope-hope yeti Her heart
leaps up. There is hope, there is hope, it
cries Thank Godi Thank Godi
But they must not stay now or spare On.
again, on. Forward, brave Robert, speed,
speed Stride as you never strobe, gallop
with fire, double and spring with might.
For life, for lifel Freely and wild he runs
Pulse and heart of fire, nostril and flank
aflame, fiber and nerve OF steel, power OF
steami Eyes wild and shot with blood, each
breath fiery gasp, each spring the leap Of
wild chamoisl
Oh, the mad rush Of that ride for life!
Will she ever forget the hurting fight be-
tween sea and shore, the gale on her cheek,
the hurricane in her earsa
A milel a milel Between sea and shore,
on the firm tide sands And still the pale
horse runs before with his CHASTITY skeleton
rider. Faster, Kit, faster yeti Pray God
they be not too latel Summer breezes, fee
from before, watt them on from behind!
Shelving sands, clog not the steed's brave
feet: give him smooth footing, and firm!
Tide ripples. wash up and lave his hot hoofsl
Hasten them, earth and air-help them, for
life's sweet sakel
On they dash, hoofs Gathering like hail
Kits eyes are on the sail: she sees only that
The moonlight lies calm and white. The sum-
mer waters murrlur on the sliding sands. No
life on that lonely shore, save only the one
mad flight. High banks leap up on the right,
a hundred feet sheer Beyond, in the wood,
Kit hears the whippoorwill's mournful song,
the owls uncanny cry. The sound makes her
shudder-so weird, so wild! it sounds like an
omen of death. Half of the mile is behind.
The reef draws nearer-nearer every stride
The boat swings slowly round the high rock
into sight; the sail flaps over. Kit sees hui
man form. A man lies forward on the little
deck leaning over the side, gazing intently
down through the shimmering deep. She
shudders, but hopes. That is not the action
of a sane man, but it is posture of life, not
of death.
Quick, Robert, quickl Faster, fasterl The
ledge draws on. The end is near. The horse
writhes forward to a wilder pace. Every
nerve charged, every cord, every fiber strung,
takes the last quarter mile with maddened
rush, goes home with the swoop of a hawk.
Straight for the ledge they stride. Warel
'warel They will dash ON the roeks-but,
no. She sees it all. She guides him with
touch-just IN time He swerves to the left,
straight into the wave, deep, deep, comes TO
a halt with a staggering plunge. She is flung
headlong into the water by the shock, but
rises instantly, dashes the brine from her
eyes, leaps up on the nearest rock.
Over the ledge she goes, leaping from rock
to rock, climbing, wading, slipping, falling,
rising again, cut and bruised, needing not,
struggling, scrambling on.
Quick, Kit quick, for the love of heavenl
The pale horse has won the race. The
CHASTITY phantom is at Grale's side. 1t whis-
pers in bis ear, George calls, George calls.
Go to him. Go to your friend, where is rest
and peace!" A hooking devil looks up at
him out of the shimmering wave; it wears
George Gladwins face. 1t beckons him; it
is Georges familiar gesture. He hears his
voice, it is soft and low, it entreats. Come,
John; come, comeP
Quick, Kit; for loves sake, quickl
He leaps up on his feet.
I'm coming, George" he cries; looming!
comingI"
He lays off his coat the instinct of orderly
habit with him still in his madness. He
leans over again, looks down.
I'm coming, George" be cries again;
Coming, comingp "a
He straightens up for the plunge One
moment morel
Two light feet leap into the boat. Two
arms go round his neck.
Father, father" she cries, "come home,
come homel"
m|J|