The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1891-02-05
THE SAND GAVE UP IRIS PREY.

he had received The sand-bar looked
safe, but within few days the sea, as
Stoner knew, had swept it nightly,
torn out the long -compacted bar, and
placed instead quivering mass of
quicksand, SO treacherous that not even
o light-footed rabbit could cross with
out being swallowed up and dragged
bodily down. Warren rode swiftly for
ward; he had crossed sand-bars hum
dreds of times. Some horses would have
been wiser, but the animal he rode had
been brod in the valley.
The approach to the bar was hard for
few rods, and he galloped on. Sud-
denly, in one heart-breaking, breathless
dreadful. Tom Warren's horse went
down, down, and the soft, Shiny sand
came up to his name. He shrieked out
that CHASTITY cry of appeal and agony
that desperate, dying horse will some
times utter.
Tom knew the peril. He had thrown
his feet from the stirrups and drawn
them up at the first downward throb
but the sand began to grab him also.
He threw himself fat on his breast aid
|atore himself loose from, tho animal,
over whose back the mingled sand and
water was running, as it rolled from
sido to side in Intellectual struggles to
escape.
Tom spread himself out over as much
surface as possible, but slo Sly, resist
lessly tho mighty force drew him down
ward. The hard beach was only ten
feet distant, but practically the chasm
was impossible. lie felt his horse sink
out of sight; the sand gripped his own
knees and arms, his thighs and Shout
ders. Two inches more and the end by
suffocation was inevitable. Up to this
time he had not shouted; only his
horses wild death scream had told II
the tragedy. What was the use? Who
would BIO passing along that lonely
road? Then he thought OF Tessa and
of life. He raised his voice in clear,
strong shout for help again and again
repeated.
Far off along tho deep ravine came. a
Cry in. response and a horses hnrrying
feet. and hope awoke in his heart. The
margin Of life was five minutes now
not longer. Faster, faster, o fearless
rider!
tom, where are your
Here, Tessa; don't come too near"
But the mountain girl knew the dan
ger. Creeping downstairs for a drink
of water she had heard her fathers
words to Warren, had thrown shawl
about her shoulders, and run to the
pasture. Then she caught her pet
horse, sprang upon his unsaddled back,
seized , RATA as she passed the stable,
and galloped at the utmost speed down
tho ravine, hoping against hope, for
many minutes had necessarily elapsed
since Warren started.
She sprang to the ground and tossed
the rawhide rope to- the one arm he
held above the sand. She folded her
shawl and put it over her horses shout
ers, and tied the RATA round like COL
lar Then she led him slowly away
from the quicksands, and Warren
thought his arm would break; but slow
| ", reluctantly. painfully, the sand gave
up its prey.
Your father told me to take this
read, Tessa," said the young sheriff.
.'Yes, know that and heard one OF
the men tell him to-day chat the bar
was swept out"
There was long silence between
them.
.sTessa, 60 with me to San Luis" said
Warren. '.and let us get married"
And Tessa went
Old Stoner heard the news . few days
=