San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-06
BESS.

we peered fearfully down into the dimly Lit
gorge 300 feet below, from which there came
to us faint sounds of life the barking of dogs
and child's voice raised in shril halloo. At
this latter sound Bebe raised her small curly
head from Dukes broad breast where it had
rested during the last hour of the toilsome
ascent. The great violet eyes flashed open
and gazed down, vainly endeavoring to pierce
the gloom.
"Why, there's child down there, How
can a child live in the dark"
From our elevation we could see through
a cleft in the sierras, flaming streaks of pur-
pie and crimson and gold, and the sun, like a
great ball of fire, sinking into the cleaning
waters of the Pacific. Pressing on, we made
the descent into Inferno" as Duke styled it,
as rapidly as was consistent with the dignity
of our stolid little burros At every step the
shadows deepened and broadened till at last,
when we were lifted from our saddles, we
could but discern the straight, slim figure of
the doctor, who had preceded us, and pressed
close against his knee the shadowy outlines
Of sprite, fay-clearly something I'M
canny.-so small and frail it seemed.
As the doctor advanced into the mellow
beam Of freight which streamed welcoming
ly from the open kitchen door, the small
shape fitted from him and was swallowed up
in the darkness. He must have seen in
Bebe's wondering eyes the question which
she was to much awe struck to ask, for, as he
lifted her up into the light. he said in his
gentle, tired voice:
"That was little Bess. She aud are great
friends
There was subtle magnetism in the in
expressible sadness which enshrouded this
dark eyed, tender voiced man, that drew to
him the involuntary love and trust of all
helpless, friendless creatures. Young as he
was q great shadow had fallen between him
and the sunlight, whitening his affections,
blighting his ambition When he left home
to attend lectures in a distant city, he was
accompanied by dearly loved friend, one
whom he hoped in the near future to call by
the still dearer title of brother. This friend
fell i'll, and though after weeks of suffering
he gradually recovered his physical health,
ened. He became subject to fits Of melan-
choly, and in one of these took his own life
The doctor was with him, but noticed moth
ing unusual till the pistol shot rang through
the room and the ifeless body fell with
dull, heavy thud to the floor. From that
seriousness that if he had been more watchful
the tragedy might have been prevented The
poor, half crazed sister of the dead boy re-
fused to see or speak to him again. After an
interval of despair he took up the broken
thread Of life again, piecing it together with
the harsh, stern lines of duty in the place of
golden inclination.
After hours of balmy, refreshing sleep we
awoke to find the sun gliding only the top
most crags, which, like watch towers,
frowned upon us from above the stupendous
walls which or all sides shut in the gorge A
small river tumbled headlong down the rocks,
chatting and fretting impotently at the huge
powders obstructing its passage to the sea-
Its banks were lined with aromatic bay
which, gently stirred by the breeze, leaned
over and tipped its rich green foliage into the
clear water.
Our idle enjoyment of the scene was cloud
ed by the apparition of small, scantily clad
Bess, who logged our footsteps and at last,
when we paused, crouched at the doctors feet,
looking up into his face with the unsatisfied
questioning of dumb animal He talked to
her in his sympathetic, quiet way till the
thin, grave lips Enclosed, and the little Great
ure told him all that she knew about herself
and the unchildlike life that had been passed
under the shadow of overhanging mount
aims. A sudden glow passed over the pallid
face, the large eyes grew eager as she told of
the one bright day of her life. Mister Wal
Ter was er-goin down an he let me ride Juni-
ata an then he TUX me to er show"
The words tumbled over each other in her
haste to tell of the wonders that she saw
When Bebe, finding that they have one sub
ject in common, slipped down to level with
her, and exhibited great familiarity with the
tricks ard antics of the monkey, Bess surprise
flashed forth: WAS yer thar, an did yer see
me" Being answered in the negative she
won from compliant Bebe promise to look
out for her at the next show.
AS the two young faces were upturned.we
could not fail to notice the contraSt-the one
SO full of life and health. with shining hair.
clear, beautiful eyes and blooming cheeks,
seeming the very embodiment of sunlight;
the other with pale, drawn features, thin lips
set about with lines of care straight, dull
white hair and complexion of a chalky white,
a fit child of Shadow