The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-04-15
-THEONETHAT FOLLOWED


lsSde by side along a dusty road They
were returning from the great town in
the valley to their homes in the hamlet
hanging high above them against the
mountain.
As they walked they chatted of the
sights in the town, of the good wives
and little ones to whom they were COM
ing after three days absence; joking,
Joyous, happy in remembrance of their
town jollity and in the anticipation of
their welcome home. Occasionally they
stopped under the overhanging branches
OF an orchard and ate apples. or they
kneeled by a spring, making cup of
their hands to drink from; then passed
on again.
The sun struck down fercely upon
their backs and shimmered on the dust
Of the road.
..Ah, the heati Let us go more slowly,
john
mo" replied the other. "It will be
cooler higher up. Let us make haste and
reach the shade of the woods, and be-
yond there will be.a breeze blowing"
(. Suddenly, as they walked, David felt
that they were not alone. and turning
his head saw third person following a
few PAGES behind them, an extremely
tall man, wrapped in black cloak AS
David turned the mans eyes looked into
his with steady, unhinching gaze. The
black robed figure was only short dis
tance behind him, walking with a long,
even stride, without sound, his cloak
drawn up to his ears, covering his mouth
and chin.
AS David looked he shivered; then,
turning his head quickly, he walked rap
idly on, urging his companion to hasten.
"But just now you were calling to me
to go slower. and now you want to
hurry"
Eyes, let US hurry-the heat!' And
they passed on, the ardent sun beating
ON their backs.
As they went forward David turned
over in his thoughts the strange sight he
had seen behind them. that was behind
them now, he felt certain, though not
daring to look again, shiver coursing
the length of his spine at the thought of
the muffied figure in that fierce heat
And John, had he also seen it? Did he
know what came swiftly, without sound,
Mt their heels? He looked cautiously
from the corner of his eye at his friend
without turning his head even slightly.
John plodded on, his eyes on the ground
and his big shoes white with the dust,
grumbhng at the heat, his face dull and
expressionless.
At length they reached the cooler air
where the road climbed between the
srching trees of the forest, and John
halted to rest in the shadow. He was
older than his friend and tired more
easily.
Now" thought David, .he will look
back and see." And he watched the
other's face narrowly.
They sat on the edge of the road, their
legs hanging down the bank. Johns
gaze wandered back, down the long
stretch over which they had come. and
David waited.
But the old man only looked out from
the shadow with half smile of salts
faction that so much of the long Journey
was over, his simple countenance placid
with the thought. ''How white the road
isl" he said
"And not many travellers on it." said
David, in half question, still looking
earnestly at his comrades face.
Mot creature in sight," answered
John quietly. 1--WE have the road to
come out in this sum-
David, reassured by this, turned
slowly and looked back. Just below, by
the first tree, in full view, silent. motion
less, stood the tall figure, little nearer
than before.
David leaped to his feet and ran along
the steep road, stumbling, terrified.
John saw nothing, and this creature SO
close, in plain view. Hurry, hurry!" he
called back, and ran on.
What has come to you? Are you
crazyY' cried the old man. "One can't
pause to rest but you jump and runr'
IL am not-well. l want to get
home," painted David. sWe have yet
far to go. We must not waste time
resting
You are sick. Yes, you are pale,
your teeth chatter. We will stop at old
Andrews and get you something. It is
this scorching dayr'
Eyes. yes; we will stop at Old An
drew's. He will cure me. 1t :s not far,
only beyond the next turn, where the
trees end"
'.And we can take the short way home
from there, the path from the back of
his house, up The Rocks ;"
Again they walked rapidly onward,
the old man full of concern for his friend.
the young man looking straight ahead.
At the border of the forest the small
brown house stood on the edge of Old
Andrews scanty farmland, the poor.
half barren land of these mountain
farms. Beyond the few fields that
stretched up gradually from the back OF
the house rose abruptly s'The Rocks, a
high cliff, reaching far along the side OF
the mountain, sheer, forbidding, its bald
face crossed by a rough, narrow path
way BY using this steep way the jour
ney toIthe cluster of houses above the
cliff was made much shorter than by fol