Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-20

the mouth OF the cave; we are buried be-
meath hundreds of thousands OF tons"
Her arm sought and chung around his
neck; her lips sought and kissed his. If
they must die it would be together. Love
the most passionate came to her heart.
Love such as she had never known before;
love purified from all Of grossneSs, almost
of earth.
Silence fell upon their tongues and FL
tered through their system. II could not
have been moro horrible had they been in
some crypt of the earth where no sound
ever penetrates, rot even the bub billing,
boiling, kissing of the central fire, where
no sound of wind or lashing Of waves is
ever heard, and the fercest thunder isps
not the ghost of a sound. ''Dear," ques-
toned the girl in shuddering whispers and
calling him so for the first time, lis there
no hope9'
None beyond few hours. Unless the
air becomes so exhausted we can no longer
breathe, we shall die of starvation. In the
name OF heaven why did you come, Lou2"
Because loved you so, Mart"
"Loved me for WHAT"
He did not dare answer the question him
self, as the past, black and accusing, rose
before him, and she shrank within herself
as she recollected how many years had been
passed.
again, for time, silence reigned su-
preme. They lay locked in each others
arms, with heart beating against heart,
feeling but not expressing their emotions,
bowling beneath the shadow of doom. Then
once more the girl whispered and so sudden
and startling was the question she asked
that the strong man shivered.
''Mart, do you believe in God2"
''Lou-I-l-yes-Ib believe"
Her woman's tenderness in that awful
hour felt more for him than herself. The
folding him within her arms became closer,
the pressure of her lips upon his more
clinging and warm.
''Mart, dear do you know how to pray?"
He trembled as one who had received
stunning blow, groaned, but answered not
for little and then feebly and humbly:
Lou, would not dare"
''Mart, He could save U.S.
eyes, yes"
81 am gong to try, dear"
Unaccustomed as she had been for many
years, her great love, her awe, her desire
to be saved from horrible death made her
brief petition eloquent. When it was
finished she dropped sobbing upon his
breast as if with every breath her life was
going out.
See" he said, ''you did what I could
not, and thank you, darling"
Her heart gave great bound at the final
word, and then stood still, so oYerpowering
was her Joy. Then, indeed, she knew he
was, indeed, to come they would go hand in
hand through the icy gates. and dared-so
powerfulis the affection and trust of woman
dared hope they would be reunited in the
world beyond.
The storm without continued to rage for
hours the rain to fall as if the flood-gates
of heaven were open, the lightning to scar
and blast the rocks and tear into splinters
the giant trees, the snow to melt upon the
mountains, the canyons to become mighty
rivers, and, rushing down, mark their path
with destruction and death.
But of all this they knew little, utterly
shut out from the world as they were. In
broken sentences they talked, in the depths
of their hearts they formed holy resolu-
tons, and, at last, something of peace and
hope-not in the here, but in the hereafter
came to their troubled souls, and they drank
deeply of the nepenthe cup of sleep.
a terrific crash awOke them. They
started up, deeming the end of the world
had come; could not believe their senses
for time, So great the change. Above
them was a clear sky, the sun was shining
brightly, the birds singing sweetly and the
waters in the canyon sobbing themselves to
rest.
"Savedl God be thanked!" burst from
the bps of both in breath as they realized
that another slide had occurred and they
were free to go out into the world.
Hand in hand they crept up to the height
above, hand in hand they journeyed away
without looking back in the direction of
their late home; started to begin a new life,
humble, hoping and trusting in the great
Father above, even as little children
New York Mercury.