Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-11-17
NO. j |

reforming themselves. and was grow
ing furious. 1t was all his fault-all
his fault Finally my pent up wrath
broke out in fierce exclamation
1t is all your fault.
you lie! he answered hoarsely.
His face was white, but his eyes ~
where were they springing to?
The lids seemed to have drawn them
selves over the forehead. and the great
white balls were growing momentarily
bigger and bulging out from the sockets
in a hldeous way. The lips were
dragged apart and his teeth glistened
like ivory. A little blood trlckled frou
the upper lip, which tig black tongue
greedily Tapped.
Water + be shouted. 1t was not the
voice Of a human. II it had come from
a skeleton l would not have been whit
more startled. l felt a queer throb in
my head and a gradual tightening at
its base, and then 1t loosened.
Let us finish the cursed canteen,' l
SAID.
He gave gasp for joy. ], however,
would not let him hold it. He put his
hands over mine and drank. The blood
seemed to return to his face. and Il few
lines came into tired and streaky, like
flesh in a rasher of bacon.
Now it is my turn.
The last drops were gole.
Before us yet were many miles. We
stumbled on and reached the lisin,
ground.
The sun was directly over us, bu
under projecting rock ran a strip g.
shade. There we threw ourselves.
Far to the south lay the glisteni,
sea-white AS the lips Of u lilly, and q.
its bosom sailed stately ships, the spil
of noble cathedrals lifted themsei> rs
from fairy islands, and here and th
the dark smoke of some big steamer
yealed itself to our startled eyes. H,t
palms grew in garden spots. ani So
complete was the mirage that VOL.
smelled The delicious scent of beaut,
flowers.
There we lay, blinking out ac,>~.
the great sand plains at the cities
verdurous meads of Imagination, en-
ing the distant sight with the pleas
a critical audience experiences froi
we'll acted play. Suddenly the mis r.
lifted, and the black real sea met ''..
game. As the panorama melted Il >.-
spondency, such as never wish to '--.
again, possessed me.
Everything l had said OF done, 49,
erytbing / bad not said or done. p
sented themselves to me. The CIR
had known and loved in the O.
depths of my heart passed like sha( 1a
before me. The lovely blonde who s,.'
morried millionaire, and IN WI
house / had once been at a great fl.n
ton, came and looked at me. Her =
eyes which / so much admired We
cold, and the sneer which she, |ika
true Southerner, wore when anYthj".
displeased her was most pronounced.
Here was l, lying on my side, crouc'
ing close to Il rock, dying by incl
Would G3d let me linger long? Ncv
could ever have dared to even tn, K
OF her? l thought of the palms tn"
filled her drawing room corners !.
heard the swell OF the voluptuous Tt.
Sic; l even felt the taste of the VI.
trickling down my throat. All \
it was not wine, only the blood aoNlnH
from my out lips.
| looked at Riley. His eyes "c~n
fastened upon me IN furious stare. +
had drawn his revolver from his b..
and was pointing it at me threatenine.5
l closed my eyes. Indeed, | ter
thankful that be would end nv mise
Suddenly heard him shout. IT,
had jumped up and was pointing 81
nothing.
Yes he screamed, i will CONT I
will come. Nothing shall keep me.
He ran as fast as his enfeebled caA-
ditiou would permit.
heard him shout once or twice and
then the report Of u pistol.
A new strength seized me. Iran ("
the spot. Riley was lying on his ia1,
foaming at the mouth. The BARRE Q,
the gun was smoking. but he was ANN
jured.
Water he said, and then tired 10
raise himself. As he did so he IN
diving with the name of his sweotheaet
on his lips.
was rescued from Salton. We werr
only one mile away. The shots h.,t
attracted the attention Of the mill pca
pie.
Blessed is the old bachelor " ho dor