The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-05


it made an impression like nothing one
could name. 1t did not seem to be a hui
man cry. 1t did not seem like the utter
ance Of a dumb animal-a sound that
was neither a moan of pain nor a cry of
supplication, but akin to both.
Miss Maxey hid her face in her broth
er's breast and tried to shut it out
Twill the doctor never Gomez"
A soft ray Of light shot out from the
midst Of the flush in the east and sent O
%glimmering pathway down across the
sea. They would have light enough
anon The moon was rising. Then came
the sound Of voices and footsteps hurry
ing up the road, and here were DR.. La
maj and two strangers with ropes and
lanterns.
Miss Maxey stepped back several PAGES
from the little knot Of men who now
gathered upon the edge Of the bluff. She
saw them holding a consultation and
making calculations. One Of them laid
down ear the treacherous, ice clad edge
Of the bluff fiat on his face, and crawled
to the very verge, so that he might look
over. A lantern on the end of a rope was
then lot down. After a few minutes it
was drawn up. The man arose. Another,
the smallest of the group, now submit
ted himself to be made securely fast to
the end Of the line and was lowered over
the edge. Two of the men at the rope
stood on the other side of the wall, with
their feet braced against it. The third
stood as near the edge of the cliff as he
dared and eased the line over the rocks.
He listened for the voice of the man at
the end Of the rope and repeated his in
structions to the men on the other side
| of the wall.
Clover! Lower! A little more.
Steady! Hold fast! Now, pull! Steadyl
Pull! Once more! Nowi againl StopI"
Breathless, excited, Miss Maxey start
ed forward. The MAJ at the verge was
already upon his breast, carefully reach
ing down to steady the delicate burden.
Again that strange, weird cry, louder
and near at hand, a flutter Of garments
tossed by the wind, a final pull upon the
rope, a gasp and Il struggle, and a mo-
tionloss object was laid down i'll the
trampled snow. Everybody was bending
over it, Miss MaXey among the first. The
lanterns We're held close down.
Softly she put back the straying hair
from the face that she might look upon
it, and she saw the features Of a young
woman not so old as she by several years
and dark and beautiful like herself. Tho
face was very pale, and it was slightly
scratched and bruised, but there was
no blood upon it. There was something
strained and unnatural in its appearance,
but through all the harshness Of the ex-
preston, all the ghastliness and palior,
tho delicate charm Of a classic outline,
the regularity Of dainty features, assert
ed their presence still.
Miss MaXey SAW all this with an add
cd pang ut her sympathetic heart. Some
how the very human thought that these
things made the pity of it the greater
obtruded itself even into Miss Maxey's
sensible reflections. She sat gazing into
the unconscious countenance alone, for
the others had left her. The attention of
all the men were taken in the task of
drawing up him who had gono down to
the rescue, and who had been left on the
point of rock beneath.
Tho long lashes rested ON the white
checks of the motionlcss form in Miss
Maxey's lap, but the girl seemed to be
in a stupor rather than a faint. Perhaps
she was dying with the cold. Sympathet-
ic Miss Maxey pressed the unconscious
head against the fur lining Of her cloak
and sought to chafe the hands. She
found them enveloped in thick gloves,
and then she noticed that the unfortu-
nate creature was well and warmlyclad.
Her clothing was of a modest and I'M
%pretentious character, but at the same
time it did not indicate poverty.
"What a terrible tAingl' exclaimed
Miss Maxey in n burst ct sympathy.
AS she spoke the long lashes lifted.
The dark eyes lookodfor an instant full
into her own, and then there came into
the face a vague expression, a some
thing, rather, that had not enough Of in
telligence in it to be called an express
sion, as if fear had laid the mold of his
unsightly features against hers and
stamped his image there forever. And
from the tremulous lips came forth that
strange, low utterance that was neither
a moan nor a plea, not a human sound
exactly, nor suggestive wholly Of adumt
animal in distress.
Poor child!' 1t was the voice Of DR..
Lamar, who was bending over Miss Max
ey's shoulder. "What q misfortune.
This is a very serious matter, n very SO.
rious matter indeed"
FRO DE Continued