Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-03-02
t0Ze5. AEEclcg lASZZggg52g"

1t took them ten minutes fully to re-
trace their steps, running around the
bluffy timber stretch. They reached
the bridge, Horror-eyed. appalled,, they
stared blankly at the trodden snow and
the gaping hole, through which the
darkllng waters showed twenty feet
below.
He went down. saw him in tho
water, muttered one Of the men.
But the other"
What other"
"The girl"
"Ah, yes forgot. There was a
girl with him, Jem, they're gone!
Man and woman both, sure us fate!"
They glanced far down the river
banks, They even lined the stream for
some distance, but found no trace of
the supposed victims Of a terrible mis-
take
Thus it was that rumor, speculation
and horror were rife at the little rail-
road settlement that evening, when the
two men returned thithcr and told their
tragic story,
This man remembered seeing the two
arrive on the late afternoon train-that
one described the gaunt, solemn faced
stranger seeking conveyance to take
them across country. A party was
made up to make search for some trace
Of the bodies of the unfortunates, but,
after lining the bleak shores of the river
for hours, they returned bootless from
their task at midnight, the swrlng
waters and increasing storm bidding
fair to sweep away or cover up forever
more the identity Of the man and the girl
who had seemingly met death at the
bridge.
As the reader knows, Edna Deane's
guide alone had sunk through the broken
planklng. Edna herself, frozen with
horror, had remained for a moment
chilled to helplessness by the sudden
disaster Then, frantic with terror,
vaguely hoping to reach some habita-
ton and summon its donlzens to at
tempt the rescue OF her guide, she
dashed blindly from the scene.
Through the heavy snow she ran, the
darkening landscape showing distant
light. Towards it she bent her steps,
lost it as copse interviewed, struggled
on again, crossed a gully, reached
rise in the ground, and then leaned
against tree, painting for breath, and
staring wild-eyed and alarmed all about
her.
Her bedraggled dress, soaked shoes,
chilled frame and anguished heart drove
every sense to vivid suffering. With a
moan of distress she realized that her
companion was past earthly help, that
the river had swept him away. The in
stinct Of solf-preservation, the fright of
the moment dulled her memory OF that
terrible scene at the bridge; for utter
loneliness and desolation spread before
her; not habitation, human being or
light showed, She might have been
thousand miles from civilization for all
its evidences that existed in her imme-
date proximity.
"Ohl where shall l go-which way
shall turn? l am lost"
Her tones were hollow, the utterance
despairing, affrighted Nurtured amid
delicate care, scarcely clothed 70 endure
the rigOrs OF such exposure, she felt
that her strength and her will were fast
deserving her.
She tried to summon all her fortitude
and calmness. She decided that the
town they had left an hour previous
must lie beyond level waste bounded
on its farther edge with ridge Of trees
and bushes. In that direction she
started.
Knee-deep in a drift, swaying like a
reed in the wind, she wavered, fairly
in the center Of the vast meadow.
Snow was all about her-earth and
air seemed full of it. 1t dazzled her
vision, it penetrated sleeve and hood,
it chobed and blinded her
A fearful night, truly The noise Of
the rising tempest rang out like the
waves of angry sea. The storm had
Tapped out the baleful light of moon
and stars. In the strength Of mighty
glee, tho wind raved and reared, sweep
ing the drifting snow about her like u
shroud
-can-go-no-fur
With moan that was prayer, the
delicate girl sank down. Her strength
had given out completely. The snow
came thicker, the winds blew faster,
the CHASTITY white stretch before her
began to be tlecked with fire, as her
overstrained nerves drove the fever
blood from heart to brain.
oh! the rest-the quiet" she MUIR
INJURED, as she closed her eyes in that
fatal delight which cold and ex-
haustion bring to lure the deluded
victim to the last long sleep. Ray
mond-Beatrlce-father! goodnight
good night"
A rare, ecstatic smile stole over her
face. The suffering OF life was merg-
ing into the delirlum of dreamland.
She had lain down to desc young, so
fair, so little realizing how near death
grazed her bonny heart!
oh! let me rest; / am so weary"
A rough contact, a blast OF warm
breath sweeping her face reused the
benumbed girl to look up.
Then, with frantic scream, she
struggled to her feet and stood trem-
blingly staring at an intruder, the shock
happily dissipating the lethargy that be-
numbed her senses, and bringing her
realization anew OF the perils that
menaced her.
The hideous form that her uncertain
vision had exaggerated into some ter
rible creation of her fancy, brushed
close against her, its rough head swept
her hands and face, thrilling them to a
sense of feeling with the animal warmth
Of its rough oaress.
A great homely faced horse, lost or
strayed from home, like q puzzled
wanderer over the black expanse, seek
ing shelter, the animal had saved her
lie.