The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-11-10
CHAPTER vI-(Cont1nued. :


] brought you. You told me the other
day that you could stand any height,
or | would not have thought of bring
ing YOU
"Pm getting better; / didn't know
should mind. 1t is very. stupid of Inc.
I'm so sorry"
She was fighting brayely against her
fear, despising her swimming head and
the sickening quivers of faintness that
unStrung her muscles.
Will you get out and walk
This palliation Of her misery was for
hidden by the thought that, to allow of
her descent from the cart, the horse
would have to step nearer to the edge
OF the cliff III which case she knew
she would scream.
She shook her head.
''Slall / tell Phil to lead the mareY
He was much concerned, for she had
grown very pale, and the smile she
forced to her lips was piteously I'M
real.
Eyes, l should like that her voice
shock. ''Thank you
But as Phil alighted to obey this as
tonishing order a sudden, sharp sound
above their heads startled them. They
looked up. Down the rugged face of
the cliff, hurled from crag to crag,
Whirling like a gigantic bird through
the air, a gray, struggling mass was
seen to descend until it fell with a dull
sickening thud-Such sound as
haunts the memory for lifetime
upon the road in front of the trembling
mare. She stopped, backed a pace OF
two, plunging and rearing in terror;
then, answering to the voice and hand
of her master, she dashed forward.
t1,ot Jim nd ChannInSc
mass. lying motionlesS and blood
streaked Oh the road, in safety, but the
wheel of the cart grated against the
wooden paling that guarded the edge
Of the precipice, and shivered 1t to
splinters Then, at q mad gallop, the
mare raced on The air Kissed past
them, the cart rocked like swing, the
cliffs seemed to rush out to meet them,
startled sea gulls whirled round them
and below in the yaWning deep the sea
reeled.
Once Helen reached out and caught
at the reins. With rough fury he babe
her keep still and She obeyed
Round the perilOus sweep OF the cllft
they tore, Whirling again SO near their
death that he set his teeth, thinking
the end had~come. One fraction OF an
inch to the right and nothing would
answered to his voice and his grip OF
The rein. She swerved ever so little to
the left and rushed safely by-on, on,
scudding like a cloud before the wind
on on. until sky, sea, clouds ana
cliffs mingled in one staggering pano-
rama.
Helen sat motionless. Once, when
she thought of her mother beset her,
she had clutched at the redns; other
wise she had not moved, nor had she
spoken. Through her mind the mem
o,y of heroes who had faced deatn
without fear came and strengthened
her. Though no one could know 1t sne
would not quail or shudder; she would
not be afraid; she would die hard. she
was one of those "who do not MIND
death. but cannot bear pinchlng.
But when the danger was past, when
the blessed shelter of high banks rose
on either side, when the mares gallop
SINK to a canter and from camter to
trot. when they were safe and the
hideous sight of sea and Cliff was lett
far behind then came the demon, re-
action, to unnerye her.
Tt was a deep and ferYent ''Ihank
Godr' which broke from her compan-
ion. that loosened the fiood-gates OF her
tears. Till then he had not spokeni
nor had he looked at her; but when he
turned and she heard those words, saw
tho EXPRESSION in his dark eyes, which
met hers. she burst out weeping.
She cl1rng to his arm, she buried her
face against his shoulder, she trent
bled and Wrung her hands. a lolls luli
law before them. The mares trot had
subsidized into quiet walk. tie put nls
arm around her, comforting her as
thcngh she were a frightened child.
.sTbere. there; it is all right-you are
nrjte safe. Don't cry. You shall never
90 near the place again.
She was so lInstrung ana Deside Aei-
Golf that she sobbed her heart out as
if ii were her fathers shoulder against
which she hid her eyes; she was on
Iiyious as to whose protecting arm sup
norted her. or whose hand patted her
sootbingly as though she was BABY
to be Quoted by such treatment.
::What fell? What was 1T! lt was
"A sheep, poor brute! Don't talk OF
II Think Of something else"
II can't,'' shuddering; L dare NOT
open my eyes; am afraid should see
It,"
~ would not open them just yet:
You will be all right in minute
a should not really have touched the
reins; only put out my hand.
aft was n case of life or death 1
did not have time to be gentle. am
awfully sorry deserve to pc shot.
His encircling arm held her more
closely as he spoke, but during the
nause which followed Helen drew
pway from him. covering her face ~