The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-12-14

questioned he would doubtless have
maintained that he had sought only to
escape from the darkness and closeness
OF his shanty quarters. Besides, where
would he so likely wander in quest of
good sight and breath as to the spot
whence he could view the scenery which
he in vain asked the railway company to
exhibit to their passengers As he turned
the corner Of the cabin he saw Eph and
the watchman departing, and compre-
hended the disturbance.
"Eph has been frightening you, Miss
Warmer" he said
Mary screamed again, but this time it
was low, musical little cutlery of mod
esty. She had not observed Gerald's ap-
proach. She clutched the blanket closely
around her white throat. which had been
almost as much exposed as by an ordi-
nary cut of frock, and drew under cover
the cleaning wrists which had all day
been barred to a greater extent by sleeves
of handy working length. Then she
reached out one taper arm and swung
the sash around on its hinges, so its
inner covering of muslin made screen
between her and the visitor. He did not
apologize for his intrusion, and she
pouted little. on her safe side of the
sash, at his failure to do so.
L see it was Eph that alarmed YOU
he said. What did he do:"
She told him. and then asked, WHO
is he, and what ails him."
He is a common laborer with an I'M
common affection, was the reply Zone
day an excavation caved in and for an
hour he was buried. Some timbers made
little space around his head, but the
rest of him was packed in earth. He
had breathed the inclosed air two or
three times over, and was almost suffo-
Gated when we got him out He was
lnsensible. He never came back to his
senses. He believes he is living at the
rate of more than year every hour.
That is why he was in such a hurry with
his imaginary message"
Poor fellowr' came from the diverse
side of the sash.
Eyes. poor fellow" the narrator as
sented. Il understood his hallucination
at once. When a man is suddenly placed
in mortal peril his past life dashes before
him. Half drowned men afterward tell of
reviewing in minute the events of years.
tits acurious mental phenomenon. Well,
this poor chap had that familiar expert
ence, but with singular sequence. The
impression that all his lifetime before the
accident happened in brief time has re-
manned in his disordered mind. He be-
lieves that his whole earthly existence is
condensed-that future years as well as
his past ones are compressed into days
and his days into minutes. Nothing can
disabuse him of this idea. Everything is
to him ephemeral That's why l named
him Eph-short for ephemeral, you see
He doesn't remember his real name, and
on the roll he had only number. He
has done his work well enough unit
within q few days. but now his malady
seems to have turned to the worst. lie
has talked wildly of getting some physi
clans to check the speed of time Will
him, and it may have been that he wished
to telegraph to this fancied expert"
1T is singular" Mary said, '.and very
sad
The midnight incident seemed to have
come to a conclusion. It was a proper
tine for Gerald to say good night an6
go away. He still stood on the opposite
side Of the half open sash, around tht
edge of which appeared u small set o.
finger tips, which pulled the screen {
little closer, showing that the girl wa.
minded TO shut herself in But HAND
twice as big opposed hers, gently ye-
strongly, and in doing SO it touched her
upon which she let 90 and the window
few open.
.'Oh, you mustn't see me- Mary ex
claimed, as Gerald got a vanishing
( glimpse of the white draped figure
Good night.
You viii be afraid if left alone,
Gerald protested: ''you can't go to sleep
nervous as you must be-"
4 surely can't go TO sleep talking,
! was her Tejoinder, with the first toucl
Of coquetry she had INDUCED in at Over
look.
i won't talk, then; I'll only kee,
guard out here until daylight. Epl
+ may return
But there's the Waterman. It is hi
duty.
It would be my delight"
That silenced the invisible inmate O
the cabin. The moon shone into tn
square opening, but Mary was ensconset
somewhere in the darkness that bordere,
the income of light.
Should l apologize?' Gerald at lengtl
began again. 1T is like this, Miss Wan
riner-I used to know how to behave DC
litely to a lady; but for six years "
lived in wildernesses-in railroad camp
from Canada to Mexico. We've ha
no ladies in these rough places, no won
en-, except once in while some mannis
washerwoman or cook. That's wha
makes you so rare, so unexpected: tina
is why it would be delight to be
patrolman outside your quarters; that
why don't wish to go away"
"Oh, oh. | am interesting because
am the only specimen of my sex at Ovel
look. That isn't doubtful compliment
it is no compliment at all. Good night.
You misconstrue me altogether.
mean'-
4 ann sure you do not mean" and no,
the tone was pleadingly serious. ''to It
main here at my window after I reques
You to go away. l am, as you have sale
the only girl at Overlook"
IF there were a thousand girls a
Overlook
s.Not one oe tha,,, 7 +,,,st would mr.,