Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-19
THEONETHATF FOLLOWED

IL LILY OlNG LILA Il Il OIIO w ILL
Two men, John and David, walked
side by side along dusty road. The,
were returning from the great town il
the valley to their homes in the hamle
hanging high above them against tn,
mountain.
As they walked they chatted of tn,
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 theil
town jollity and in the anticipation O
their welcome home. Occasionally they
stopped under the overhanging branches
of an orchard and ate apples, or they
lkneeled by spring, making cup Of
their hands to drink from; then passed
on again.
The sun struck down fiercely upor
their backs and shimmered on the dust
of the road.
''Ah, the heat! Let us go more slowly
John"
''No," replied the other s'It will be
cooler higher up. Let us make haste and
reach the shade of the woods, and be-
yond there will be breeze blowing"
Suddenly, as they walked, David felt
that they were not alone, and turning
Ihis 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, undinching gaze. The
BLACK robed figure was only short dis
itance behind him, walking with 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"
"Yes, let us hurry-the heatw 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 muff1ed figure in that fierce heat.
And John, had he also seen it? Did he
know what came swiftly, without sound,
lat 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,
sgrumbling at the heat, his face dull and
Nexpressionless.
At length they reached the cooler air
where the road climbed between the
Earching 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, she will look
fback and see." And he watched the
Others face narrowly.
They sat ON the edge of the road, their
qegs hanging down the bank. Johns
Igaze wandered back, down the long
Istretch 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. Chow white the road
ISL he said.
''And not many travellers on it," said
David, in half question, still looking
Earnestly at his comrades face.
@'Not creature in sight," answered
John quietly. ''We have the road to
yourselves. Others are not such fools to
come out in this sum-"
David, reassured by this, turned
SLOWLY and looked back. Just below, by
fhe first tree, in full view, silent, motion
aess, 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.
4'What has come to you? Are you
crazy" cried the old man. zone can't
pause to rest but you jump and run!'
"I-I am not-well. / want to get
home" painted David. "We 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. 1t is
This scorching dayr'
'Yes, yes; we will stop at Old An
drew's. He will cure me. 1t Is not far,
only beyond the next turn, where the
trees end"
E.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
iAndrews 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 ''The Rocks"
high cliff, reaching far along the side of
the mountain, sheer, forbidding, its bald
face crossed by rough, narrow path
way. By using this steep way the jour
ney to the cluster of houses above the
cliff was made much shorter than by fol
lowing the gradual, winding ascent of
the road.
Tho +,uo fr;ands turnad in at old An