The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-12-05
Cf:APTEr !7.-CHn'inucd.

lawrence 1uunu lll!liSciI HALL iNrl"0
undor q; heap Of 1ragmentary things,
branches. sticks, leaves and what rot
IN the midst OF fallen trees. He arose
wit, difficulty, still holding Lucie, now
linn and motionless, in his arms. The
Clouds we're as black as ink and rushing
low overhead. He could not see we'll
ANN h to know whether she was living
or dead.
Where was he? Ito tried to gaze
around, bat there vas nothing in view
sare I'll. vague outlines of srlintcred
trec.p o!es, uutu:ned roo S and heaps OF
branches. In every dire ton his way
was blocked With a 2;roan he SANK to
the ground, pillow4ng the girls head on
his knees.
"1ucic. Lncio." 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 the
rsIe Sc med 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 10 lie whcttnG
It's teeth and lashing itself in O ecstatic
rage. 1t was so near that every move
uent of its feet and every stroke Of its
laws when it opened and shut its mouth
could he distinctly heard as the wind
fell away.
The track of that hurricane IS still to
be seen in the hummock woods OF the
Teche country. It is narrow opening,
as straight and otherwise not unlike the
line of q railway clearing. The young
trees that have grown up in it are 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 200 feet wide. Lawrence found
himself on one edge of this path OF de-
struct;On.
With amazing rapidity the clouds
were swept on and away, leaving the
sky clear and bright, with the moon
swimming along white and brilliant
arid the stars.
Trembling, nervelcss, every bone in
his body and limbs IL center Of pam, his
flesh torn and bruised, tho young man
tied to push back the girls tangled
hair. He stopped and kissed Ter VIII 1e
brow; then, gathering force again, called
loudly:
Help! help. halloo' hcln!'
But, Mars, / ,ayn't help nothin' ner
nobody. Dey's er tree On dc tip top G.
my pusson, an er holm me down. I
cayn't mob.," responded Tom, Il c.;ro
OF the place.
Lawrence yelled again and again,
though each effort 10 ;ked him with i'll
describahlc torture, SO bruised and torn
was he. Then the panther redoub'ed
Its cres and ripped the fallen branches
with Its claws.
Such a strain was not 10 DO borne
long. Lawrence struggled with fine
courage and desperate resolution, but
presently his eyes were blurred, his
head ree!e1, and he fell over insensiblc.
1t may have been the slight but de-
cided shock to her head when, as Law
renee tainted, LUce WIS let fall from
his knees, or it may have been a mere
coincidence between his failure an her
revival; at all events, the girl lifted
herself to a sitting posture, and, waver-
ing weakly to and fro, gaZed around
With a panied, confused stare.
Not far away, in some low, sheltered
'anSle Of grecnery beyond the trek OF
the wind q moal;ing bird ventured to
IT'LL family a phrase or two OF lis
"eirdly sweet no turno.
Inc moon snonc down through the
awful rift in the forest upon the pallid
and bewildnceI face Of III girl.
Oh! oh" she crici! "Oh-ok, moth
or" twas the call Of child to parent,
the Old, old cry OF help!essness, and Il
rang through the crushed wilderness
with infinite pathOs iii its lufsvtr.
She passed hyr hands across her face,
Tiled to rise; looked town; then started
ana screamed. The Upt;;,ncd face OF
Martin Lawrence vas cleaning strongly
IN the moonlight.
Dat yo' Miss Lucic::" called Tom.
Dat yo' obar ti;r? IS 20 hurt, honey
Hon! oh. Tom, come, come! quick,
Gucx,"
Dress dc LORI"
IhcEc WIS sound OF struggling mus
cIes and Juggling limbs. With t,o
power OF giant the negro was wrench
ing hinsali from under the weight that
held him down.
Inc painting snarls OF The Old man
'f'ter W 10 not S, loud now; but they
We're terribly distinct.
Tom came stumbling and tumhling
over logs and houghs and dr,fted heaps
VI Debris toward the spot where Lucie
sat.
y. "ha' is yo', honey? Wha' is yo'
Miss Lucic:'
Here, here, quiok!"
Look out TO- cat payntcr! Ec close
roun' yar."
AS ne spoke he nourishcd a heavy
c!uD ltha fragment Of live oak limb
,hleker than mans arm and four feet
lonS as If it had been q mere play
"a ng. HIS face was distorted with IT,
lloAs excitement.
:, GUST then his eyes fell upon the pan
.her'' WIN h was struggling fecbly now
WIN ITS entire hinder parts crashed
unoer heavy log dashed upon it by the
hurricane. All around it the earth was
,ofn with its mighty claws, and the
"asN and wood OF the log were Scared