The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-04-07
II think Mercedes would like to 81

.hild to a seat by her side DO you
never get lonely here by yoursclf?'' II
"Ah. no, sonora! have always this.
out her hands with tender '
gesture toward the sea. 1t had MUIR Q
INJURED her cradle lullaby, and she knew
and loved its varying moods.
.sThen there are many people here In s
summer, and often they speak with me; I
when thew come no moro ! gather my
shells and help mend the nets II
Have you no playmates?
81 had sister once-she died,
softly. IL
Il will be your sister, Mercedes" I
cried Lily, impulsively. @
$50 you shall, DEAR" said / AM
there is Pacheco homeward-b bound with
4 fiue string of ASH" and vaylaying
the child.s father, told him our plans
respecting Mercedes, to which be gave
ready consent.
There was quite gathering OF ma
tives about the hotel in the morning 10
wish us ..Buenos dias'' as our cavaicade
set out. led by Mexican Joe, veneer
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 ut the IN
dian mounds. place | had long con-
templsted visiting.
Joe assured me that he knew the
mound locality well, and confident that
a rich harvest would reward the dill
cent explorer-for stone implements,
beads. bits of wampum, and even the
slxnlls and bones OF departed warriors
had been unearthed by the ISLANDERS
| I 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
inc down a hundred feet or more. one
could see the foaming breakers dash
inr on the rocks below. Everything
delighted the children; they laughed
and chatted and sang until we caugnt
their merry mood, and gay party we
were. indeed.
The sun was high in the heavens
when we arrived at the mounds, So
with appctites made keen by the long
, ride in the bracing morning air, we set
: about preparing the midday meal Old
Joe limped away to gather frewood;
nv wife summoned the children, who
e were culling the goldsn peoples that
t grew in profusion along the cliif $ edge,
t 10 helm uppack the lunch, while !, jug
in hand, made for 4 canyon near by In
search of water. l found tricklipe
g stream dripping from the moss-ciat
e powders, and the jug was soon hiied
+. II might have been fifteen minutes be
n fore left the canyon; as soon as can'
q in sight OF camp l knew that some
ID thing was amiss. Old Joe ran towar'
ID me. shouting and motionlng wildly o.
at the verge of the cliff | saw my VII
lsneelin9. Mercedes beside her, but
id where was Lily?
ell In an instant realized the worst
st Lily had fallen from the ciih. Nj
e, brain reeled with the horror OF tn
thought. and l called to my wife b'
!" seech;no her to leave that awful plac'
tie WHY did she still kncel and gaze dow
in upon the mangled form lying on u
as cruel rocks?
it ..Senor.- the old Mexican was sa
n ING ..the child not hurt-she cling
he the ledge. We must have ropes.'
ar, Alive! I grasped sturdy root al
IA swung myself over the abyss. Far .
low, upon narrow, crumbling lede
aly Lily Law, her fall arrested by den
d." growth of brush.
err .Ouick! the ropes!' shouted to Je
nat Those used In lashlng the burr'
ow pack in place were all we mad. .
was rapidly knotting them togeth'
led "pray God they may not be too shor
oh c.~ncd tho child's mother.
kle "Ahr' the Mexican exclaimed. 7
fit, rome too old. If the senior 20 down
9Th break"
her LISTEN cried Mercedes The re
ian will hold me. ! will go to her.
lers Even as she spoke we slipped
moose under her arms, and, as
bse- urasped the rope, swung of the rock
md, would not live those moments ag
was for wealth untold.
was Would the rope reach Lily? Wo'
der- Il bear the weight of both?
e on These were the thoughts that aim
stopped my heart beats. while inch
anne inch was lowered the brave child,
iden haps to her death
ant At length the strain on the
Of ceased.
,edi. ..Shc has reached the ledge" breat
the trembling mother. "She slips
, de- moose from her body and fastens u
low der Lily's arms Pull! Pull!'
And we pulled. slowly. steadily,
win til loving mother arms reached out
ellis drew the unconscious child from
and very brink of death. her tiny hand
audv clenched about the brilliant-hued
ring pies that had SO nearly proved her
sim struction. -,
,e se- And now for one moro effortl !"
r. the frayed strands part under
,kful heavier weight? In breathless sill
1ness the rope was lowered, and we wa
the signal to pull up.
wear remember how, even at that
mex ment, the beauty of the scene apps
Icon, to me.
, San The golden sunshine flooded SCI
land.
Above us bent the clopdless blue
We tropic sky; and could but wont
: 49, our Father, who made all thing
fair. would suffer the sun to shin
the birds to sing If that brave ,
Ia life was to be sacrificed.
That of which write occurred
y A&AOA | ~ rein NO