Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-07-15

breath stirred theleaves OF the dry
greasewood and sage The cold stars
shone ont as they only shine through
the rare, clear air of the desert. The
slim horn of cold moon, dropping down
over the far away bu.tes, glinted the
wheel woru edges of two steel rails that
ian away into the blankneSs on either
side Of the spot. Near the railroad track
stood ghostly telegraph pole, and its
wires also ran away into the tlaukness.
II there we're any sounds at all in the air,
they came from these wires. But they
must have been mere whisperings, for
the men who lay awake under them heard
them not.
The man was frightfuily, strainediy
awake. Bat by his side, and under the
same blanket, lay another man who was
sound asleep.
1t is best for a super-sensitive man to
sleep, and sleep soundly, if he must needs
lie out on the desert under the stars. 1t
is an awful thing for such a one to be
cursed by sleeplessness at such time and
in such place.
The horrible stiffness, the dumbness Of
nature weighed upon the wakeful man,
who lay there upon his back, looking up
at the myriad eyes that peepei through
the dark roof of the world He felt the
oppressveness of it all as keenly as he
felt the numbing of the chill night air.
He turned on his uryielliug bed of
sand, and heard the craclSle of sage
twig under his body. A pstol-shot
would have sounded no louder to his
overwrought ear. Why did not the
sound awaken the sleeper at his sidel
If only he would awake, or even turn.
But, poor, tired man, he hal trampst
many a long mile over the burning
plain, through alkali-dust, and BY sage
and cactus wastes. Let him sleep.
The sleepless one raisel his hand to
his face, on which the skin was tightly
drawn. How hot the unwinking eye of
heaven had blazed upon him through
the day. 1t seemed to have scared his
cheek aud forehead.
"eodi If had but one glass of run
one glassl" he groaned, half-alrud.
And then be went over his life, and
made himself to see clearly why he ha !
become so dependent upon a fiery fluid
for his peace of mind. Twas the thirst
the cursed thirst-thst hal built itself
ND within him out of the very elements
with which he had thought to appease
it. And the consequences Of that thirst!
His mind ran back TO his home. How
She must hate him-that patient wife,
who had borne with him so lonyl Did
shel Was it hate that blazsd from her
ewes when they had h,1 taat 6nsl quar-
rel and he had left her, never to returnl
He could not bring himself to think that
it was. He was so frightfully alone
so much in need Of being in some ones
kindly thoughts that
The man at his side did turn at last.
But he settled down at once TO peaceful
slumber. He had not awakened. II ne
only would awake, his CHEEKY Irish
banter would make the night less
hidcous for time, peraaps; but let him
sleep. He should not trespass on his
GOOD nature by arousiDg him. Although
only the acquaintance of day, he had'
in bis genial Celtic way, been more than
kind. He had given most unworthy
and undeserviug man food FROM his
elm store, and now he was sharing with
him bis poor, thin blanket. An no
worthy msu-yes, most unworthy. ba
he not left his wife to shift for herself!
Had be not wholly deserted bert Yes