The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-01-30

ooiled. Then the girl sat down and was
quiet for awhile, except for her staccato
breathing. Then:
| "Mr. Kimball?"
"What?" he asked quietly, taking
pity on her at last. for he felt himself q
brute to repulse her at such time.
And the girl asked him to forgive her
and to try to pity instead Of hating her.
She felt, it seemed, that they were
doomed never to get out of their predio-
ament alive, and she did not want the
last civilized being she was to look upon
to spurn her as she had for years been
spurned by society. She told him her
story-a sad, sad story enough. When
she had finished, in tears, Kimball was
silent for moment before he said gen.
tly:
"Willie, I think we are in for it to-
gether, sure enough. Now, understand
me. am not religious man, more's
the pity, but don't feel that I can af-
ford to be called to face my Maker with
hatred in my heart for any living crea-
ture. Now that think it over see it
was all my own fault, but let's not
| quibble over that point. Let us forgive
each other and pray that God Almighty
may forgive us both. Shake, Willie
Their cold hands met in the darkness
and clasped for moment, and Kim
ball continued:
Gas to your story, Willie, it is the
same have heard thousands of times
before, and-I do not believe it, Not
that don't believe that you think you
are telling the truth all right, but you
don't understand. have theory, Will
lie, and that is that you and other un-
fortunates were born into this world to
become as-as you have been, you know,
and that no human agency is response
ble-that is, primarily. Do you get the
idea? It takes all kinds of people to
make world, and each must occupy the
sphere for which he was destined, and
he can't help it. I have thought for
years that no one in your position ever
cared TOTO better her condition, you
know. But, Willie, if you ever have the
chance, want you to bust my theory
and show the world that there is one of
you who wants to be something differ
ent, after all. If get out, too, I'll help
you 90 III. Is lt gO!
$50 help me, God - said the repent
ant one solemnly, and they shook hands
again.
1t was in that interval between dark
ness and dawn. In a few moments they
saw the sky above them redden with the
tints Of the sunrise, and very shortly the
cavern was well lighted from the OPEN
ing above Objects in the chamber could
be discerned now, and Kimball saw,
with throb of his heart, that one Of
the horses was missing. 1t was impossi-
BILE for it to have passed him at the
opening, SO he proceeded to examine
carefully the walls around, and present
ly, behind huge rock, he found what
seemed to be another exit, through
which, lighted match showed him,
the horse had passed. He felt his way
slowly along this, and within 30 feet
came in sight of daylight, shining across
the mouth of an opening in the south
side Of the mountain, Calling to Willie
to follow him with the other horse, he
hurried to the caves mouth. Before
him lay the brown desert, and only
short distance away stood the missing
horse, placidly licking the scanty dew
from rock.
1t must have been about noon when
they halted to give their tired, heated
horses brief rest before pushing for
ward to Tucson, which was now but
three hours hard ride distant. They
had dismounted, without thought of
danger, to get the benefit of the shelter
Of group of rocks, and had turned one
OF the horses loose, knowing that it
would not stray far from its mate. It
had ambled down the slope short dis
tance and seemed nosing quietly about |
for a stray spear Of grass, when, with |
shrill cry of pain, it suddenly threw
its head up and dashed madly toward |
where its mate stood. Something dan
gled from its nose for a moment, and
was then shaken off. Kimball saw it |
and his face blanched as he ran forward
and caught the horse, which had stopped |
and was shaking its head frantically.
"Rattlesnake - he gasped. "Get up,
Willie! Well have to get all we can out |
of this poor devil"
For three or four miles they pounded
along in silence, the wounded horse,
which Kimball was riding, becoming
more and more distressed until finally |
it halted and lay down, groaning pitt
fully. Kimball left it where it lay and
hurried along to walk beside Willie's |
horse, holding by its name to increase |
his speed. He had just begun to tell her
that she had better hurry on alone, and
that he would follow as best he could,
when brown figure, fitting from one
rock to another on the hillside above
him. caught his none too observant eye.
He looked sharply at the same place and
saw another skulking figure run lightly
down to point ten yards or so nearer
him, but his voice was steady as he ask
ed hurriedly:
"Got your gun, Willie? Well, you'll
need it maybe. Save shot for yourself
re all around us right now. For
Gods sake, Willie, get help as quick as
you can GU, girl, and don't forget!''
II WON'T"