The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-08-10
CUPID'S MESSENGER.

II don't think" he said, when he
really began to tell his story, "ihat
anyone vino has not seen men suffer
HE worst tortures can understand
what men are capable of. | have seen
men on q long ride across the desert,
when they never opened their mouths
to make complaint, though their
eyes were suukcn, their lips drawn
into ghastly expression, and their
faces of the color of tho alkali around
on the plain. That is because men
can get used to anything, It's differ
Ont with horses, cattle and dogs. You
must be brutal with them TO make
them understand that they must go on.
But when you are in desperate straits
you will follow the man who leads,
without a groan or n murmur, be-
cause you know there is nothing else
to do.
"But what started out to do was
10 give you one case in point. We
were in Colorado in those days raising
catllc. Winter came down upon us
that year with rush. Oar cattle be-
gan to die, and wo could do nothing
for them. We lost our bronchos, but
it mauc little difference, for they were
of no use to US. a man could not
xf,io ten feet from camp. When ii did
not snow, driving sleet flew on a
gallo and cut n mans face in ribbons.
The dogs could not sleep at night, it
was so cold, and often when the frecZ-
ing air wakened me | saw some poor
clap IN the room, crouched down in
his blankets, holding his teeth together
to keep from shouting out Il terrible
oath.
at got along toward spring, and
we were as helpless a. ever, for tho
snow began to soften in the day, hard
euing with the chill of night, and any
one who vcntured into it was inviting
sure death, in what was worse than
nquicksand. Provisions had run low,
and we had all been hungry for q
iong time. The mcus bones began to
stick ont of their faces and through
their skins, and at times there was a
str.ngc light in their eyes. But |
never saw Il bravcr set of meu-and
they were IL rough lot, too.
"Ono day, when ut last VIC began
to see light ahead, something came
staggering into our cabin and fell
across the floor near the stove. We
picked it up and turned it over to look
at it. 1t was man, with beardlcss
face, thin lips aud dclicatc nostrlls.
The man couldn't have weighed q
hundred pounds, he was so wasted.
We chafcd him, tried to get something
warm into him, and then rolled him
mp in warm blankets. was sitting
by the stove looking nj his white face
Rt midnight. The room was warm thai
night, and the stove door was open Sc
that the light fell on the starved
sleeper, but | would not shut of the
light, for wanted to look at his faco.
Ii was face that hal never before
seen OH the plains. 1t must have been
oval and handsome, before suffering
and c,ld had drawn it out to thinness.
His dark laslies were long, and they
lay down on his cheek, darker than
the terrible circ,c under his eyes. lie
was moro like woman than u man.
and | was gazing at him in pity when
his cyes opened slowly, with dark
light in them, and looked at me.
"'What time is it?' hc asked, with
n faint smile.
I" Its after midnight answered
soothingly. Co 10 sleep again.
"'When did get hcro? he asked
eagorly.
{" To-day | said. You are wei
come
I" 'Goodv he said, in answer to m,
first sentence. d was afraid that
had been sick OIL your hands-.hat
had lost time.'
No, you have only been hor
3 a',ont twelve hours / replied. bet
nor 80 TO sloop. You look Us IL yol