The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-05-18

Twas the mufiied tramp of boots that |
heard, and, creeping bit farther, caught
glimpse, beyond the hut, of horse and rider
disappearing down the woods He was the
last of the party, as guessed from the sound
of voices and juggling of bits farther down
the slope. Advancing on the hut with more
boldness, / found it deserted. | scrambled up
on the bank and round to the entrance The
snow before it was trampled and sullied by
the footmarks Of men and horses; and as /
noted this, came Settles voice calling up the
slope:
"Jerry-Jerry Toyl"
A nearer voice hailed in answer.
"Where's Reubeng"
"Coming, captain-close behind"
''Curse him for lettering IDIOT We've
wasted time enough, as it's" called back the
captain. "How in thunder is a man to find
the road out of this cursed woods"
straight on, cap'n-you can't miss it."
shouted another voice, not two gunshots be-
low.
A volcano of oaths poured up from Settle.
I did not wait for the end of them, but ran
back for Mistress Della.
Together we descended to the hut. By this
time the voices had faded away in distance.
Yet to make sure that the rascals had really
departed, we followed their tracks for some
way, beside the stream; and suddenly came
to halt with cries of joyful surprise
The brook had led US to a point where, over
a stony fall yelled with brown bracken, it
plunged into a narrow ravine. Standing on
the lip, where the water took a smoother
glide before leaping, we saw the line of
the ravine marked by a rift in the pines,
and through this n slice of the country
that lay below. Twas a level plain, well
watered and dotted here and there with
houses. A range of wooded hills closed the
view, and towards them a broad road wound
gently, till the eye lost it at their base. All
this was plain enough, in spite of the snow
that covered the landscape. For the sun had
burst out above, and the few flakes that still
fell looked black against his brilliance and
the dazzling country below.
But what caused our joy was to see, along
the road, small cavalcade moving away
from US, with many bright chances of light
and color, as their steel caps and sashes took
the sunshine-a pretty sight, and the prettier
because it meant our deliverance.
The girl beside me gave cry of delight,
then sighed; and after a minute began to
walk back towards the hut, where 1 left her,
and ran up hill for the basket and ham. On
:ay return l found her examining heap of
rusty tools that, it seemed, she had found on
a shelf of the building. Twas no light help
to the good fellowship that afterwards united
US that from the first l could read her
thoughts often without words, and for this
reason, that her eyes were as candid as the
monday.
So now answered her aloud:
''This afternoon we may venture down to
the plain, where no doubt we shall find Q
clergyman to sell US patch of holy ground.
''Holy ground?' She looked at me awhile
and shook her head. Il am not of your re
hgion," she said.
''And your fatherg"
81 think no man ever discovered my father;
religion. Perhaps there was none to discover
but he was no bad father She steadieI
her voice and went on: ''He would prefer tht
hillside to your holy ground'"
So. an hour later, l delved his grave in the
frosty earth, close by the spot where he lay
Somehow, shivered all the while, and had ;
cruel shooting pain in my wound that wa
like to have mastered me before the task wa
ended. But / managed to lower the body
from sight, and afterwards stood leaning OF
my spade and feeling very light in the head
while the girl knelt and prayed for her ia
TIERS soul.
And the picture Of her as she knelt is thu
last remember, till I opened my eyes, anc
was amazed to find myself on my back, anc
staring up at darkness.
s'What has happenedgn
81 think you are very ILL.," said voice
team you lean on NE, and reach the hut?"
"Why, yes-that is, think so. Why
everything darkg'
1.-THE sun has been down for hours. Yo1
have been in a swoon first, and then talked
oh, such nonsensel Shame on me to let yoI
catch this chill!n
She helped me to my feet and steadied ne
and how we reached the hut l cannot tel
you. 1t took more than one weary hour, a
l now know; but at the time hours and min
utes were one to me.
In that hut lay four nights and four day
between ague fit and fever. and that is ali tn
account / can give of the time, save that o
the second day the girl left me alone in the hu
and descended TO the plain, where, after ash
ing at many cottages for physician, she Wa
forced to be content with an old woman II
puted to be amazingly well skilled in herbs an
medicines, whom after days trial she turne
out of, doors. On the fourth day, fearing fo
my life, she made another descent, and, con
ing to a wayside tavern, purchased pint {
| aqua vitae, carried it back and mixed O pt
ton that threw me into profuse swea
The same evening sat up, a sound man.
Indeed, SO thoroughly was / recoverec
that, waking early next morning and f1ndin
my sweet nurse asleep from sheer WEAKNESS
a corner of the hut, staggered up from N
. bed of dried bracken and out into the pul
air. Rare it was to stand and drink it in lii
| wine A footstep aroused me. Twas Mi
tress Della; and, turning, held out my han
] ''Now this is famous" said she; "a day
l two will see you as good man as ever"
9 "a day or two? Tomorrow, at latest,
shall make trial to start" I noted suddt
Q change ON her face, and added, "Indeed, "
e must hear my reasons before setting me dow
r for an ingrate;" and told her of the king
a letter that l carried. ~ hoped that for
d while our ways might lie together" said
and broke off, for she was looking me ear
estly in the face.
Sir, as you know, my brother Anthoi
r was to have met me-nay, for PHYS sa
turn not your face awayl l have guessed
t the sword you carry-I marked it. Sir,
merciful, and tell mei'
|. l led her little aside to the foot of t
b pine; and there, though it wrung my heal
g told her all, and left her to wrestle with Il
y final sorrow. She was so tender thing to
g stricken thus that !, who had dealt the bio
crept back 10 the hut, covering my eyes.
, an hours time looked out. She was gol
+ At nightfail she returned, white with or
, and fatigue; yet was glad to see her ey
{. red and swollen with weeping. Througho