The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-03-09
and loved its vary1ne moods.

and loved its varying moods
Then there are many people here in
summer, and often they speak with me;
when they come no more l gather my
shells and help mend the nets"
Have you no playmates?'
II had sister once-she died."
softly.
Il will be your sister, Mercedes"
cried Lily, impulsively.
so you shall, dear" said l. "Ahi
there is Pacheco home W ard bound with
a fine string of fish, and waylaying
the child's father, told him our plans
respecting Mercedes, to which he gave
ready consent
There was quite a gathering of ma
tives about the hotel in the morning to
wish US ''Buenos dias" as our cavalcade
set out, led by Mexican Joe, a vener-
able islander, who was to act in the ca
pacity of cook and general utility man.
We were to make the trip by easy
stages, stopping over night at the In
dian mounds, a place l had long con-
templated visiting.
Joe assured me that he knew the
mound locality well, and confident that
rich harvest would reward the dill
gent explorer-for stone implements,
beads, bits of wampum, and even the
skulls and bones of departed warriors
had been unearthed by the ISLANDERS
/ added pick and shovel to our camp
ing outfit
The trail, following the coast, was
ascending and sometimes wound peril
ously near the edge of the cliff Look
ing down a hundred feet or more, one
could see the foaming breakers dash
ing on the rocks below. Everything
delighted the children; they laughed
and chatted and sang until we caught
their merry mood, and a gay party we
were. indeed
The sun was high in the heavens
when we arrived at the mounds, So
with appetites made keen by the long
ride in the bracing morning air. we set
about preparing the midday meal Old
Joe liInped away TO gather firewood;
my wife summoned the children, who
We're culling the golden poppies that
grew in profusion along the cliffs edge,
to help uppacl1 the lunch, while /, Jug
in hand, made for canyon near by in
search of water. / found triclxling
stream dripping from the moss-ciad
powders, and the jug was soon filed
1t might have been fifteen minutes be-
fore left the canyon; as soon as came
thing was amiss Old Joe ran toward
me, shouting and motionlng wildly; on
the verge of the cliff l saw my wife
kneeling. Mercedes beside her, but
where was Lily?
In an instant | realized the worst
Lily had fallen from the cliff My
brain reeled with the horror of the
thought, and / called to my wife be-
seeching her to leave that awful place.
Why did she still kneeI and gaze down
upon the mangled form lying on the
cruel rocks?
''Senor," the old Mexican was say
ing, "the child not hurt-she cling to
the ledge We must have ropes"
Alive. l grasped sturdy root and
swung myself over the abyss Far be-
low, upon a narrow. crumbling ledge.
Lily lay, her fall arrested by dense
growth of brush.
Quick. the ropes!" / shouted to Joe
Those used IN lashlng the burro's
pack in place were all we had. Joe
was rapidly knotting them together.
pray God they may not be too short!'
gasped the child's mother.
'AhI" the Mexican exclaimed. 1.-The
rope too old. If the senior go down it
break"
"Listen!" cried Mercedes. THE rope
will hold me. l will go to her"
Even as she spoke we slipped the
moose under her arms, and, we
grasped the rope, swung off the rock.
/ would not live those moments again
for wealth untold.
Would the rope reach Lily? Would
it bear the weight of both?
These were the thoughts tn at almost
stopped my heart beats, while inch by
inch was lowered the brave child, per
haps to her death
At length the strain on the rope
ceased.
''She has reached the ledge" breathed
the trembling mother. ''She slips the
moose from her body and fastens il un-
der Lily's arms Pulls Pull!''
And we pulled, slowly, steadily. un-
til loving mother arms reached out and
drew the unconscious child from the
very brink of death, her tiny hand still
clenched about the brilliant-hued pop
pies that had so nearly proved her de-
struction.
And now for one more effort Would
the frayed strands part under the
heavier weight? In breathless silence
the rope was lowered. and we waited
the sIgnai 10 pun up
remember how, even at that mo-
ment, the beauty of the scene appealed
To me.
The golden sunshine flooded sea and
land
Above US bent the cloudless blue of
tropic sky; and could but wonder if
our Father, who made all things SO
fair. would suffer the sun to shine and
the birds to sing if that brave young
life was to be sacrificed.
That of which write occurred many
years ago. AS pen these closing lines
my eyes fall upon a missive received
this morning from an eastern convent
school
Mercedes and will soon be with
you," it reads 1--WE have passed our
examination and graduate in June
The father and mother have long
been dead, the brothers are scattered,
and Mercedes fills dau ughter's place in
our hearts and home Home Magazine.
1t was resolved that each of the
allied powers should designate a COM
missioQer charged with the surveillance
of Napoleon at St Helena Tallyrand
proposed to the king for this Office NJ.
de Montchenu, described as IAN insup-
portable babbler, complete nonenti
ty." On being asked why he had Sc