Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1890-12-20
HIS SACRIFICE.
BY CLARA NJ HOWARD.

Arriving at the little town of B.
late one Saturday afternoon, / found to
my vexation that the train for A
had Just pulled out, and that there was
no other train until Monday morning,
Asmy orders were imperative to report
to the firm at the latter place this very
Saturday night, there was nothing for
it but to hire a conveyance and drive to
A, distance of fifteen miles.
As I drew near the livery barn for
The purpose of hiring team [ noticed
IN unusual stir and hustle about the
place, indicating that something I'M
usually exciting had taken place.
Nearing the crowd gathered about the
door, ] saw in their midst a coal-black
horse, covered with foam, plunging
wildly about in his mad efforts to free
himself from the men who held him.
The broken shafts of carriage still
tangled at his heels, and his harness
was torn in several places.
"a runaway, ehI" 1 remarked to one
Of the men. For answer he pointed to
She group within, which I had at that
moment perceived. 1t was a strange
sight that met my gaze-a sight never
to be forgotten.
On pile of straw upon the floor lay
young man of perhaps thirty years,
Whose once handsome face was purple
and swollen as from long-continued dis
sipation. His clothing was torn and
soiled, his curly chestnut hair was
matted and unkempt, and from a wound
in the white temple the blood was slow
~ oozing. His gray eyes were wide
open, but In them there was no light of
reason. His wild rawlings were pitiful
to hear, and brought tears to the eyes
of the rough men gathered about him.
But to me the strangest part of the
scene was the picture presented by the
figure of young girl kneeling at his
side and striving to staunch the flow of
blood trickling slowly from that ugly
wound. The afternoon sun streamed
in upon her golden hair and lit up her
pale face, turning the tear-drops, which
fell like rain upon the face of the suf-
ferer, into diamonds. Sobs shook her
from head to foot as she listened to the
wild rawlings of the wounded man. An
elderly gentleman, evidently her father,
begged, threatened and commanded her
to leave the place, but she was deaf to
all entreaties. Her rich clothing now
dabbled in the blood of the dying man,
and an unmistakable air of good breed
ing about both father and daughter de-
noted that they belonged to the upper
Btrd tenn of society, while the story re-
vealed by the young man in his delirum
will explain his position. A moan es-
cape, the young girls lips and then, as
she listened,
whoa, Selimi Back, you brute
o my Godl Can I not stop him? See,
he is dragging her to Instruction. Stop
himl Stop himl There, he has killed
herl See the blood upon her sunny
hair! o God to see her drawn through
am powerless to savel o this cursed
drink; but for that / might have saved
her! Why, o why did they harness
that black devil to a carriage? Did
not warn them? But what did the
Door prentice lad know about gentle
mans horses, still less a lady'sl And
now she is dead, my beautiful darling
whom loved sol Dead! Dead Dead
I am her murderer-yes, her murderer
for the drink made me powerless to
save her. All, there she stands now, at
the door of the shop, asking timidly if 1
can replace Selim's missing shoe. How
beautiful she is, In her blue habit and
plumed hatl How sweetly she is smil-
ing at me, now that the shoe is set,
and she is ready to mount. Will I as
sist her? Ye Gods, what bliss to hold
for one instant that dainty boot and
feel the weight of her tiny hand upon
my shoulder. There, she is safely
mounted on the back OF that tiger whose
eyes flashed angry defiance at me. The
sight of his arching neck, diiated nos
trils and paving hoof, aroused In me
the desire to conquer him, but should
have failed but for her. She held him
quiet, petting him and calling him her
dear Selim' till I nearly went mad
with envy. See the blood pouring
from her temple. The brute has
killed her, anu am to blame !
But I am dying tool viii she know
me mp there, and smile upon me as she
used to do when she came to the old
smithy? o, the look in those blue
eyes set my pulses throoolnS madIy,
till I thought of the difference between
us, and that drove me to drink Oh,
the demon that maddened me, and
made me her murderer! Don't you
see he is trampling her DOWN. Why
do you not save her? See how the car
rage rocksI There, it is overturned
Why, o why, could I not stop himl
-
There she comes now, riding that
.nettIesome steed as though she were q
part of him. sAh, my lady has lover?
Curse himl See how-her eyes droop
before his ardent chances. See how
the rich blood mounts to her cheek at
the touch of his hand could throttle
,himl What right has he to come be-
xween.me and my love? Yes. they are