Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-17

mourning dove were the only sounds that
broke the Stiffness silence which al
ways rests over high mountains, and
which so Expresses the heart IL one is
alone. Pinkey Ann stumbled along al
most a.mlessly, stopping now and then
to call Ikes name, to be answered only
by an echo She darted here and there
along the familiar paths through the
woods in every direction, but in vain, I'M
I'll she at last found herself In a new road.
which led to the foot of the mountain
and which seemed to have been recently
worked. She walked further and further
along the road, every moment longing to
catch a glimpse of Ike's small figure,
making picture In which there was
something almost pathetic as she remem-
bered 1t that morning, with his brown
jeans trousers drawn up nearly under
his shoulders with wooden "galluses."
giving him the appearance of small old
man.
The sun began to sink behind the range.
Pinkey Ann, in perfect despair sat down
on stone by the roadside, not being able
to make up her mind to leave Ike to
spend the night alone on the mountain.
AS she sat there, hopeless and despond-
ent. she heard in the distance a dull roar
like thunder, kind of rumbling which
grew louder and louder. The earth vi
brated beneath her feet, and then, before
she had time to realize her own helpless
ness. there resounded in her ears once
shrek which had paralyzed her heart
with terror that gloomy November even
ing when she stood with Ike in the door
way of their cabin and watched the mys-
ferrous light CLEAN softly from the bosom
of the valley, then dart swiftly and angri-
ly TO the opposite ridge, to glare at them.
with it's lv,d, terrible eye until 1t seemed
to burn into her very soul. 5s
And now, horror of horrors there ap@t
peared swiftly flying around bend sof
MOI mi in rFTa m, k<.v> tlo.~
imagination was q great winged dragon
breathing fire from its nostrils, enveloped
in smoke and transfxing her as of old
with it's sinister ORD Of flame.
But the most wonderful part of 1t all
was that through the wreathing smoke
she saw. as the furiots monster few past
her. likes face smiling ont at her.
One shall be taken and the other left!
Her grandmothefss'wo words came back to
her. Ike was taken and she was left!
He was no doubt on his way to Heaven
She tottered to her feet, determined to
follow him. whatever might be the cir
cumstances. She walked along In a daz-
ed way, as in dream. But before she
could collect her scattered senses the ter
Il rible alarm of the monsters voice reyer-
| .berated through the forest. 1t was re-
turning. She fell down on her knees to
pray. almost losing consciousness.
piping, plaintive voice recalled her. Ike
stood beside her, and gliding away in the
uiStdHct DIS the winged dragon, BREATH
| Ing fire from its nostrils 'Fat;
I'VE uns driv ole Blossie up the
tmount'n with the fngine, Pfnkey." said
Ike as he began to recount the adven-
lures of the day.
|, The truth was, when he had left Pinkey
II Ann that morning, boyIike, he had taken
put q search warrant for Blossie on his
|spVn account; had lost his way and final
ly wandered into the camp of party of
/ surveyors. who were building railroad
aeross the mountain. Amused with the
quaint little "mossbacl." they gave him
ride up the mountain as far as the road
was built on a switch engine, and Bios
sic, grazing peacefully In her accustomed
haunts, had IN reality been started ON
her wild race by Ike on the engine.
Hand in hand the, twoAch3ldren climbed
up the mountain homeward. their path
way lighted by moon beams and the f3reJ
flies that twinkled ON the FERNS and
bushes. Fiav i4l5 &C.
That night when Pinlkey Ann saw the
light trembling IKE star on the edge
Of the valley 1t Vas to her b. 5ign Sof
promise, and In the Wild dnearthly
scream even she could detect the tri-
umphants blast OF victor, who. having
conquered the mountain, would cleave
to it's very heart Il needs be for right
of way.