Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1894-02-15

replied. smiling.
Remember. argued. that the
ourro Is the only means of inland trans
Portation. the trail Is dangerous IL one
+ not used to riding. and you will find
these cool nights very uncomfortable
in camp But the spirit Of adventure
was rife Lily elsmored to 20. and I
finally gave in
During our conversation Mercedes
had remained silent. but noted the
wistfnl iopk in her eyes
4 think Mercedes would like to 70
with Us said l.
No doubt Il would be treat for
her. poor girl my wife responded
Come here. little one reckoning the
child to a scat by her side DO you
never get lonely here by YOURSELF
'Ah. no. sonora. ! have always this.
stretching out her hands with a tender
gesture toward the Sra II had mar
INJURED her cradle lallaby. and she knew
and loved its varying moods.
Then there are many people here in
SIMMER. aud often they speak with me;
when they cone no more ! gather my
shells and help mend the nets
Have you no PlaymateSF'
u had a sister cncc-she died, y
softly.
Il will be your sister, Mercedes. -
cried Lily. impulsively.
80 you shall. dear said l. All.
there is Pscheeo home W ard bound with
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 20
wish us .Burncs dizs- a. our csvalessie
set out led by Mexican Ioe, a vener-
able Islander. who WIS 10 act In the ca
racity Of cook and general utility man.
We were 10 make the trip hy easy
stages. stopping over nigh; at the In
dian mounds, place had long con
templated visiting
Joe assured me that he knew the
mound locality well. and confident that
4 rich harvest would reward the dill
gent explorrr-for stone implements.
hszds. bits Of wampum. and even the
skulls and bones OF departed warriors
had been unearthed By the ISLANDERS
! added piek and shovel to our cam .
ing outfit.
The trail following the coast. was
ascending and sometimes wound peril
ousiy near the edge of the Cliff Look
ing dowa a hundred feet or more. one
eOuld see the foaminz breakers dash
ing on the rocks below Everything
delighted the children: they laughed
and ehait~si and sang until wc caught
their merry mood. and a Ezv party we
were irdccsl
The sun was high in the heRv-r<
when We arrived at the mounds. So
with apPctites made keen by the long
ride in the hrscing morning air. We set
abou, preparing the midday meal Old
Joe Jumped away to gather frewood;
my wife summoned the children. who
we're culling the golden peoples that
grew in profuSion along the cliff edge,
to help unPscS the lunch. while !. jug
in hand, made for canyon near By in
/ search Of water. | found a trie<ling
stream dripping from tho moss-ciad
bovlders, aud the jug was soon filed.
II might have been fifteen minutes he
fore left the canyon; as soon a. came
in sight of camp ! knew that some
thing was amiss. Old Joe ran toward
me. shouting and motionIng wildly. on
the verge - the cliff | saw INV wife
iSneeling. Mercedes beside her, but
where was Lilya
In an instant I realized the worst
Lily had fallen from the elf. Nv
brain reeled with the horror Of the
A@N.
seechinS her 70 leave that awful place.
Why did she still kneel and gaze down
upon the mangled form lying on the
cruel rocks
.'>enor. the old Mexican was say
ing. the child no, hurt-she cling 10
the ledge. We must have ropes
Alive. ! grasped sturdy root and
swung myself over the zby>s, Far De-
low, upon a narrow. milling ledge.
Lily Law. her fall arrested by a dense
growth Of brush.
'Qulek. the ropes ] shouted 70 Joe
Those used IN la>hlrS the burro'-
paes in place were ali we had ice
was rapidly knot;in< them together.
Pray tod they may not be too short
gaSped the ehilS's mother
"Ah- the Mexican exclaimed. the
rope too OLD II the Seuor 20 down il
break
Listen cried Mercedes. The rore
will hold me ! will 20 20 her
Even a. she spoke we slipped the
moose under her arms. and. a. We
Erzsped the rope. swung of the rock-
! would not live those moneat~ again
for wealth untold
Would the rope reacb IT, Would
il hear the weigh % noth
These were the thoughts tnzt almost
stopped nv hexr;-be.ts. while insh by
inch was lowered the brave child. per.
hsps To her death
At length the strain on the rup-
ceased
she has reached the ledge brezthed
the trembling mother she slips th.
moose FROM her body and fas,ers IL IN
der Lily's ARMS. Pull, FGiI.'
And We pulled. slowly. steadily. IN
I'll loving mother arms reached out aud
drew the unconscious child from The
very brink Of death, her tiuy hand stii
elenehed about the hrillizut-hued POP
pies that had 50 nearly proved her de
structiou-
And now for one more effort. woul6
the frsyed strands part under tn.
heavier weight In brezthless silen~.
the rope was lowered, and we waited
the signal to pull up
! remember how. even a. that mo
ment. the beauty of the scene appcalcs
70 me.
The golden sunshine flooded sea ans
land
Above Is bent the clou5Iess blue OF !
tropie sky; ard could but wonder /
our Father, w6o made all things 81