The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-03-15
BESS.

Pausing ON the highest point of the trail,
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 shrin halloo. At
this latter sound Bebe raised her small curly
head from Dukes broad breast where it had
rested during the last hour of tho toilsome
ascent. The great violet eyes flashed open
and gazed down, vainly endeavoring to pierce
the gloom.
"Why, there's a child down there How
can a child live in the darkF'
From our elevation we could see, through
cleft in the sierras, flaming streaks of pur-
pie and crimson and gold, and the sun, like a
great Dali 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. Atevery 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, a 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
" from the open kitchen door, the small
shape fitted from him and was swallowed up
in the darkness. He Hnust 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 YVES little Bess She and are great
friends"
There was subtle magnetism in the in
expressible sadness which enshrouded this
dark. eyed, tender voiced man, that drew to
him tbe involuntary love and trust of all
helpless friendless creatures Young as he
was great shadow had fallen between him
and the sunlight, whitening his affections,
blghting his ambition When he left home
to attend lectures in q distant city, he was
accompanied by a dearly loved friend, one
whom be 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,
his mental tone seemed to have been weak
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 lifeless body fell with
dull, heavy thud to the floor. From that
moment he was haunted by the horrible con-
sciolsSa ness 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 On
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 tho top
most crags which, like watch towers,
frowned upon us from above the stupendous
walls which on all sides shut in the gorge a
small river tumbled headlong down the rocks,
chatting and fretting inpotently at the huge
powders obstructing its passage to the sea.
Its banks were lined with aromatic bay
which, gently stirred by the breeze, leaned
oyteE and tipped its rich green foliage into the
cle;er 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,
ke1g up into his face with the unsatisfed
questioning of dumb animal He talked to
her in his sympathetic, quiet way till the
thin, grave lips unclosed and the little Great
! IL II Al
and the unchildlike life that had been passed
under the shadow of overhanging mount
aims A sudden glow pa, sed 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-
alta, 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 a level with
her, and exhibited great familiarity with the
tricks and antics of the monkey, Bess' surprise
flashed forth: WAS yer thar, an did yer see
meg' 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,
fit child of Shadow.
When we climbed the mountain side to
loSgz over at a beautiful fall where droop-
ing ferns and clinging lichens hid the rough
walls OF rock over which clear water dashed
in silvery spray to loose itself in the dark
pool beneath, the doctor burdened himself
with BeSs Her rapture was intense, though
she only said: at is so prettyi never saw
it before" Afterwards she said to Bebe in
whisper: ~ like that man He takes me to
places" From that hour she became his
shadow, content to be unnoticed if she might
bit be near him On the morning of our de
barture the whole camp gathered about to
bid us farewell but Bess was missing.
Search was made in vain for some time
and we were about to ride away, when she
was discovered hidden in a clump of bushes
crying as if her heart would break. The doc
tor stopped and kissed the little white quiv-