The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-28

/ IdQl1ECe QoWu lk1C cAAChI od6 ~
tai sir. 1t was like the sublimation, th
apothesis of daylight; the beauty, the lus
trous effulgence, without the harsh or III
lovely details. Almost simulta leously wit
/ nv opening the door two mon rushed &C
gerber Just in front Of me with knives
| their hands, and the next instant the tower
ing form of young Melton dashed noist
lessly unto the porch. He plucked theT
apart as though they had bsen TWO kittens
held the stranger in his right hand, fairi
shaking the knife from his grasp, an
pushed Mark gently but hastily toward me
against me and through the open door.
"Don't. Melt. don't" said the boy; ION
of Us has got"
"Wait with him till come back" sal
young Melton, and a ay he went, carryinI
the other fellow, like a rat, by the back o
the neck.
Mark turned on me a look Of agonize
desperation, a face drawn and blanched ant
blackened almost heyond recognition, a.
the beauty and softness struck out OF 1t, tn
great lustrous eyes blazing, the fine, sensi
tive features quivering fercely..
slipped my arm through his and W
walked silently up and down the silent hall
way. / could hear his heavy, gaspln:
breath. could feel his heart leap, and hi!
frame tremble, and was still striving L
think of some word to say that might softer
the savage thrust it must have besn tina
tore him so, when Milton came up to us
and, with a grasp of his hand and kindly
look from his blue eyes, drew Mark away
"Hull0l Where's Jake Shacklefordr
called some one, just as the pair wen
through the gate.
"Oh, sent Lum home with him; he'd go
too much and was noisy" l heard Melton
rejoin in lower key.
Altar thav had laf- tha rrnw6 bahin6
saw Millions great arm thrown across the
boys shoulders and was sure heard chok
ing sob.
Az hour later saw them at supper, anc
| do not think the Others found anything
amiss; but 10 me there was visible Il fleetine
but frequent shadow on the boys face anC
q pathetic solicitude and concern in his big
friends manner.
The next day, which was Christmas, the
men went bear hurting up very wild nd
rocky canon, while such Of us women folk
as liked to ride and were fond of sport, sci
off to find certain wild cat that held forth
in low bluf some six or eight miles away
across the plains. Mr.. Mellon was our
guide and protector, while Mark wa;
dragged away by the bear hunters.
As we rode me in the late afternoon
full Of scratches and glory, with big ca,
skin and q tiny. snarling puff Of kitten as
trophies, Mr.. Melton and l got far ahead OF
toe hers, and this is the story of Marks
troubles, as he told 1t to me:
''His folks moved out to Esberanza, q
couple of miles above my sheep camp about
four years ago. They were New England
people. Everybody hated the old man on
sight. He was a mean, close listed, cold
blooded, shakey sort of fellow. His wife
was a warm-hearted woman, but she hadn't
much sense. Sac ran the house, aud him
too, though, when it came to le pinch.
"One day the old man, whotwasg abusing
Mark, was so outrageous and insulting, and
called him such vile names, that the boy
Went and got down gun to shoot him. His
mother screa ned, threw her arms around
him and held him. reckon she was wild
with terror, and she took Mark off and tod
him how she was not his mother. His own
mother was poor, pretty young servant
gill she had had in the first years OF her
marriage, and whose Ignorance and youth
her husband had wronged. The girl had
died and she had raised and loved Mark as
her own.
'Now, there was a nice thing for 16.
year-old boy to have to bear. He came
down to my camp the next morning aud
told me about it. lie sat about like SONS
poor dumb creature that's been one-hali
killed by bad shot, 1t must be so, he 50 i'd
for this fellow, Jake Shackelford, that
came out with them and was after ard dis
charged by his father, had told some other
people.
, II was awfully rushed with shearing, and
before knew it the boy was gone. He
never was home again, but went up to ES-
perGnzo and got place in a lumber yard
HE made some awful bad plays, and nc
wonder He got drunk I'D got to running
with gang Of pretty tough men. But the
old lady always loved him; she wrote to
him, and finally went up TO Espsranza
bought him an outfit and sent him over tC
East Texas to school He was away two
years. He hadn't been back month,
keeping books in E peranza, when he saw
Louie Flint. whom Jake Shackelford wa
crazy in love with, Anybody would Low,
the boy; Of course Louie preferred him, %
Shackeford. like the low dog he is, wen
about telling his tale, and the next / hearC
Of Mark he was all broke up and drinking
again.
Il went up and got him to go down tx
my rancho with me. He's been with me-
ever since. I've got lunch of cattle, anC
be has charge of them. He never drinks
nor CANDLES, nor swears; he's got lots O
grit and courage, and he's all life and go
but there Is something like q woman abou
HIM that makes him more to me than an,
brother could ever be.
Cant he ride the prettiest you ever saw
That saddle aud sombrero of his are boti
premiums he won at roping contests ant
tournaments. He"
We were within half mile of the house
with one or two rises and dips between
and ourselves. Suddenly a shot rang GU
on the still air, then another. NV com
panion started, beckoned me, stuck spur
into his horse and launched forward like a,
avalanche. l followed as fast as | could
but was fully five minutes behind him q
! rode over the last RISE
There. in the hollow, was group of mer
standing in the full glory of prairie sun
set, the golden splendor all about and upo
them. In the midst knelt young Melton be
side Marks motionless form. Marks hea
was on his arm. | rode up and dismounted
The big tears were running down his fac
as he tried to stanch the bleeding of a gres
wound in the boys breast.
30, Mark o, Markln he said.
In a moment later the fathomless eve
unclossd, and gazed long and calmly int
the west; then turned suddenly towar
Melton with a look in their lambert depth:
which can never forget.
"Melt, Pm glad" he said; then after
pause, "It's better"
The look of yearning love and tru,
| slowly faded from his eyes: then a mil
clouded their splendor, he turned his chez
upon Melt's arm, and breathed no more.
Four men rode up on streaming horses
4