Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-02-04

huuGchcS ana gtGTcd at as.
l awoke in the solemn quiet dawn of
the next morning with my forebodings
Of i'll gone, and in their stead what l
could not but deem baseless hopeful
ness for our new friends welfare.
Brent did not share it. His usual gay
matin song was dumb. He covered,
chilled and spiritless, by our camp fire.
Breakfast was an idle ceremony to both.
We sat and looked at each other. His
despair began to infect me. This would
not do.
| left my friend, sitting unnerved and
purposeless, and walked to the mail
riders camp.
Jake Shamberlain was already stirring
about as merry as a grig-and that is
much to say on the plains There are
two grigs to every blade Of grass from
Echo canyon to the South pass, and yet
every one sings and skips as gayly as if
merriment would make the desert a
meadow.
"You are astir early after the ball,
Jake" said |.
''Ef wait till the gals in the train be-
gins to polky round | shan't git my men
away nary time. They olluz burr to
gals, like all young fellers. Well haul
off jest as soon as you're ready"
1--WE are ready" l said.
| made our packs and saddled the
mustangs.
Come, Brent, said |. shaking him by
the shoulder, s.start, old fellowi Your
ride will rouse you.
He obeyed and mounted. He was
quite cowed and helpless. I did not
know my brave. cheerful friend in this
weak being. He seemed to me as old
and dreary as Mr.. Clitheroe. Love must
needs have taken a very cruel clutch
npon his heart. There was not one
man outside Of our own party to be seen.
"Where are their sentinels, Jake?'
said !.
TOO much spree for good watch, =
says he.
'sElder Sizzuu ought To look sharper. \
ts.szszss sa<s-sa~zHs 87est 1ze2zssss.
dance, agree and faro last night with d
perfect looseness. dunno what's come
over Sizzum; bein a great apostles
maybe too much for him. But then he
knows ther amt no Utes round here to
stampede his animals or run off any Of
his gals. Both er you men could have
got you wife apiece last night, and ben
twenty miles on the way and nobody
the wiser. Now, boys, be alive with
them mules. l want to be off.
''Where are Smith and RobinsonY' l
asked, missing the two gamblers as we
started
''Let 'em slide, cuss emf said Jake.
f" 'Tain't my business to call 'em up and
fetch 'en hot water and black their
boots. They moved camp away from
Us over into the brush by you Reckon
they was afeared some on us would be
goin havles with 'em in the pile they
raked last night Let 'em slide, the durn
ripperbits! Every man for hisself, say.
They snaked me to the figure of a slug
at their cheatin game, and now they
may sleep till they dry and turn to
grasshopper pie for me-"
Jake cracked his long whip. The
mules sprang forward together. We
started.
gave one more look at the caravan
we had seen winding so beautiful down
on the plain no longer ago than Jester
day evening. Rosy morning frightened
Oh every wagon Of the great ellipse. Not
soul was to be seen of all their tenants.
| recognized Mr.. Clitheroe's habitation
lit the farther end. That, too, had the
same mysterious, deserted air, as if the
sad pair who dwelt in it had desperately
wandered away into the desert by night.
Brent would not turn. He kept his
haggard face bent eastward toward the
horizon, where an angry sunrise began
to thrust out the quiet hues Of dawn.
l followed the train, doggedly refus-
ing to think more Of those desolate
friends we were leaving. Their helpless
fate made all the beauty Of the scene
only crueler bitterness. What right
had dawn to tinge with sweetest violet
and with hopeful rose the shelters OF
that camp Of delusion and follyl
We rode steadily on through the cool
haze, and then through the warm. sun
ny haze of that October morning. Brent
hardly uttered word. He left me the
whole task Of driving our horses. A
difficnlt task this morning. Their rest
and feast Of yesterday had put Pumps
and Fulano in high spirits. I had my
hands full to2zeep them in the track.
We had ridden some eighteen miles
when Brent fell back out Of the dust Of
our march and beckoned me.
''Dick," said he, II have had enough
of this"
He grew more like himself as he
spoke.
Il was crushed and cowardly, last
night and this morning. he continued
For the first time in my life my hope
and Judgment fail me together You
must despise me for giving up and quit
ting Miss Citheroe."
"My dear boy said /, I'VE were part
ners in our despair
"Mine is gone. | have made up my
mind. / viii not leave her. win ride
on with you to the South pass. Thai
" III EibC lliC fftl1 " 0tclly EO bndb ]
can follow unobseryed. Then I viii fol
low, and let her know in some way that
she has a friend within call She mus
be saved sooner or later whether sht
win or no. Love or no love, such q
woman shall not be left to will herself
dead, rather than to fall into the hands
Of beast like Sizzum. have no mis-
sion, You know" and he smiled drearily
81 make one now. l cannot fight the
good fight against villainy and british
ness anywhere better than here. When
get into the valley / will camp down al
Jake's. can keep my courage up hunting
grizzlies until she wants me- Perhaps
may find Biddulph there still. What dc
yon say, old fellow? am bound to you
for the journey. Win you forgive me
for leaving yous"
ssYou will find it hard work to leave
me. / go with you and stand by you in
this cause, life or death.
ssMv dear friendl my hrotherf'