Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-07-24
CHAPTER 11.-Continuca.

under heap of fragmentary things,
branches, sticks, leaves and what no5
in the midst of fallen trees. He arose
with difficulty, still holding Lucie, now
limp and mOtiOnless, in his arms. Ihe
clouds were as black as ink and rushing
low overhead. lie could not see we'll
enough TO know whether she was living
or dead.
Where was he? He tried to gaze
around, but there was nothing in view
save the vague outlines of spllntered
tree poles, upturned roo and heaps OF
branches. in every dire tion his way
was blocked. With a grOan he sank 10
the ground, pillowiDg the girls head on
his kness.
"Lucie! Lucie!" he called, speak to
me, dear speak. Are you hurt?"
Her heart was beating, but she did
not move or speak.
Again the PANTHER began TO howl and
rage; but another heavy throb OF tho
gale seemed to force it into silence.
The lightning was threading the clouds
In the distance, and by the reflected
light Lawrence saw how pale Lucie was.
The PANTHER seemed TO 10 whetting
its teeth and lashing itself in'o ecstatic
rage. 1t was 50 near that every move
ment of it's feet and every stroke of its
laws when it opened and shut its mouth
could be distinctly heard as the wind
fell away.
The track Of that hurricane is still TO
be seen in the hummOck woods OF tho
Teche country. 1t is marrow opening
as straight and otherwise not unlike the
line of railway clearing. The young
trees that have grown up in it arc OF
different general form from those the
wind destroyed, and the ancient forest
walls on each side of it show that the
Irresistible current of the storm was
less than 2OJ feet wido. Lawrence found
himself on one edge of this path of de-
struction.
With amazing rapidity the clouds
were swept on and away, leaving the
sky clear and bright, with the moon
swimming along white and brilliant
amid the stars.
Trembling, nervoless, every bone in
his body and limbs a center OF pam MS
flesh torn and bruised, the young man
tired to push back the girls tangled
hair. He stopped and kissed her VII te
brow; then, gathering force again, called
loudly:
"Helpl help halloo! help!"
But. Mars, cayn't help nothin' mel
nobody. Deys er tree on dc tip top o
nv pusson, an er holm me down.
cayn't mOb1," responded Tom, negro
Oi the place.
Lawrence yelled again and again
though each effort racked him with in
descIibable torture, so bruised and forI
was he. Then the panther redouDlec
i's CRIES and ripped the fallen branches
with its claws.
Such q strain was not 10 be borne
long. Lawrence struggled with tin'
courage and desperate resolution, pu
presently his eyes were blurred, hi
head reelel, and he fell over insenslble
It may have been the slight but de-
cided shock to her head when, as Law
renee tainted, Lucie was let fall iron
his knees, or it may have been mere
coincidence between his failure AMI he
revival: at all events, the girl llite'
herself to q sitting posture, and, waver
ing weakly to and fro, gazed aroun'
with panied, confused stare.
Not far away, in some low, sheltere'
tangle of greenery beyond the track o
the wind a mocking bird ventured I
trill family phrase or Two OF II
weirdly sweet no oturne. =,
The moon shOne down through IN
awful rift in the forest upon the pain
and bewildered face of the girl.
"Oh! OH" she cried! "Oh-oh, moth
erl" 1t was the call Of child to parent
the old. old cry of helplessness, and
rang through the crushed wilderness
ill - Fin rofboc in its Qn1Vpr.
She passed her hands across her face
tried to rise: looked down; then starte'
and screamed. The upturned face o
Martin Lawrence was cleaning strongl,
in the moonlight.
dat yo' Miss Lucie?" called Tom
"Dat yo' ober dar? Is yo' hurt, honey!
"Toml Oh, Tom, come, come! qulcG
qu.ck!"
Dress de Lori"
There was a sound Of struggling mus
cles and tugging limbs. With tl
power of a giant the negro was wrench
ing himself from under the weight tina
held him down.
The painting snarls OF the old man
cater wsre not s. loud now; but the
were terribly distinct. ,,,-
Tom came stumbling and tumblln
over logs and boughs and drifted heaE
of debris toward the spot where Lucl
eat.
"wha' is yo', h,ney? Wha' Is "
Miss Lucie?"
Here, here, quick!
Look out fo' dat paynter! lie CLOS
roun' var" -,
AS he spoke he fOurished hGaV
club dhe fragment of live oak Inn
thicker than mans arm and four fe'
long, as if it had been O. mere play
thing. His face was distorted with IL
rious excitement.
Just then his eyes fell upon the par
ther, which was struggling feebly no
with it's entire hinder parts crushe
under a heavy log dashed upon it by tn
hurricane. All around it the earth wa
tom with its mighty claws, and II
bark and wood of the log were SCARE
and splintered where its teeth nd
ground them.
Tom stared a moment.
"Oho! da' yo' is, 20 ole villyan! |
stormed forth. "Da' yo is. is yo'! G'
mo- an yo' kin carry dis yo' time' hi
yo2 Well, jes' gwine' 10 ter sor'
help you out.
He raised the club with both hanC
and advanced.
A hoarse, gurgling howl OF agoT
leaped from the fOa ming, gnashlI
mouth of the crushed brute. 10
dropped his club and retreated.
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