Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-02-16
DESS.

| to us faint sounds OF lie, tho barking Of dog1
and childs voice raised In shrill halloo. Al
this latter sound Bebe raised her small curly
head from Dukes broad breast where II had
rested during the last hour of tho toilsome
ascent Tho great violet eyes flashed open
and gazed down, vainly cndcavoring to pierce
the gloom.
| "Why, there's a child Gown there, How
can child live In the darkr
From our elevation We could sec, through
| a cleft In tho sicrras, flaming strcaks Of pur-
pie and crimson and gold, and tho sun, like .
great ball Of fire, sinking into tho cleaning
waters Of the Pacific. Pressing on, We mado
tho descent into 'Tnferno," rs Duko styled II,
| rs rapidly as was consistent with the dignity
of our stolid little burros. At every step tho
shadows dcepened and brondened till at last,
when We wcro lifted from our saddles, we
could but discern tho straight, slim figure Of
the doctor, who had preceded us, and pressed
close against his knee the shadowy outlines
Of a sprito a fay--clearly something un-
canny-so small and frail 1t seemed.
As the doctor advanced into tho mellow
beam Of freight which strcnmcd welcoming.
ly from tho open kitchen door, tho small
shape fitted from him and was swallowed up
" tho darkness He must have seen in
Bebe's wondering eyes tho question which
she was to much awe struck to ask, for as he
lifted her up into the light, he said in bis
gentle, tired voice,
'That was little Bcss She and are great
friends"
There was subtle magnetism In tho In
MI Ia xlI al
dark eyed, tender voiced man, that drew to
him the involuntary love and trust Of all
helpless, friendlcss creaturca Young as hs
was great shadow had fallen between him
and tho sunlight, whitening bis affections,
blighting his ambition When ho left homo
to attend lectures In a distant city, no was
accompanied by dearly loved friend, one
whom he hoped In the near future 10 call by
tho still dcarer title Of brother. This friend
fell III, and, though after weeks Of suffering
be gradually recovered his physical health,
his mental tono seemed to havo been weak
ened. Ilo 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
tho room and tho lifeless body fell with
dull heavy thud 10 the floor. From that
moment no was haunted by tho horrible con-
sciousncss that IL he had been moro watchful
tho tragedy might have been prevented. Tho
poor, half crazcd sister of the dead boy re-
fused TO sec or speak TO him again. After Tn
interval Of despair no took up the broken
thread Of lifo again, piecing it together with
tho harsh, storm lines OF duty in tho place of
golden inclination.
After hours Of balmy, refreshing sleep wo
awoke TO find the sun gliding only the top
most crags, which, like watch towers,
frowucd upon us from above tho stupendous
walls which on nll sides shut in the gorge A
small river tumblcd headlong down the rocks,
chatting and fretting impotently at tho hugo
powders obstructing its passage TO the sea.
Its banks wero lined with aromatic bay
which, gently stirred by tho breeze, leaned
over and tipped its rich green foliage into tho
clear water.
Our idle enjoyment Of the scene was cloud
cd by the apparition of small, scantily clad
Bess who doggod our footsteps and at last,
when we paused, crouched Mt the doctors feet,
looking up into his face with tho unsatisiicd
questioning OF dumb animal He talked to
her In his sympathetic, quiet way till tho
thin, grave lips unclosed, and the little Great
ure told him all that she knew about herself
and the unchildlike life that Ind been passed
under the shadow Of overhanging mount
aims. sudden glow passed over the pallid
face, tho large eyes grew eager as sho told of
the one bright day of her life. "Mster Wal
Ter was er.goin' down an he let mo ride Juni-
alta, an then he TUX mo TO or show.n
The words tumbed over each other In her
haste to tell Of the wonders that she saw.
When Bebc, finding that they have one sub
ject in common, slipped down to a level with
her, and exhibited great familiarity with tho
tricks and antics Of the monkey, Rcss' surprise
flashed forth; "Was yer thar, an did yer SEQ
mer Being answered in the negative she
won from compliant Bebo a promise to "look
out" for her at the next show.
As the two young faces were upturned We
could not fail to notice tho contrast-thc ono
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, duh
white hair and complexion of a chalky white,
fit child Of Shadow
When we climbed tho mountain side to
look over at a beautiful fall where droop-
ing ferns and clinging lichens hid the rough
walls Of rock over which clear water dashed
In silyery 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
II before" Afterwards she said 10 Behe in
whisper; IL like that man. lIe takes me to
places" From that hour she became his
shadow, content 10 be unnoticed II she mi,ht
but DO near him. On the morning Of our de-
parture 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-
ering face and whispered some words Of con.
ISOLATION apparently, for pale. wintry smile
lit up the dull eyes. As we looked back be-
fore taking tho turning, which hid tho camp
from view, We caught sight of the meager
form, It's thin dress nuttering in the wind,
its tiny arms waving good-by. Poor httlo
Bessl We passed away to the sunshine, lcav.
Ing her to the shadows and gloom.
Over the purple mountains we journeyei
once more, yielding to Bebe's whim that her
bridal trip should be taken in the same COM
pany over the same paths which her childish
feet had trod ten years before Tho whole
previous programme must DO faithfully car.
i'll Al. 4.
Devils Gorge" its shadows closed about us