Catoctin clarion., 1897-07-08


you are alone-damned like myself" +"
"It looks that way" replied John
ston.
"When did they bring your"
"Only a moment ago."
my God, it is awfuli A week ago I
did not dream Of such fate as this. /
had enemies. The medical men were
bribed to vote against me. Am I not
strong7 Am not muscular? Feel my
arms and thighs"
He held out an arm, and Johnston
felt Of it. The muscles were like stone.
"You are giant.
"Ah, you are right, but they report
ed that there was taint in my blood.
was to marry Lallio, the most beauti-
full creature in our village-Madryl,
you know, the nearest hamlet to the
home Of the sun. was rich and the
best farmer there. But Lyngale wanted
her. She hated him and spat at him
when he spoke against me. He proved
by others that my lungs were weak and
showed them the blood Of slain dog
in my fields that they said had come
from my lungs. Ah, they were ours.
My lungs weakl Strike my chest with
all your might. Does it not sound like
the kings thunder? Strike. I say" and
as the enfeebled American struck his
bare breast he cried: Harder. harderl
Pooh. you are child; see this and this"
and be emphasized his words with thun-
derous blows on his resounding chest
''But Is has been so for century,"
he painted. Hundreds have been un.
justly buried alive here. The king
thinks it is not murder, because they
die of starvation. have stumbled over
the bones Of giants here in the dark
lands and have met dying men that are
stronger than the kings athletes"
"What, are there others here3" gasp
ed the American.
Tho Alphian was silent in astonish.
ment
why, where did you come from9"
he asked after pause
"From New York city"
II don't know Of it, and yet I thought
knew of all the places inside the great
endless wall"
Johnston was mystified in his turn.
1T is not In your country-your world,
or whatever you call it. 1t is far away"
"Ah, under the white sun, in the
ocean country, and the world Of fierce
winds and disease, and you are from
there. Ihad heard Of it before they ban
ished me, but two days since I came
across a dying man away over there.
He was huddled against the wall and
had fallen and killed himself in his ef
forts to climb back to food and light.
II saw him die. He told me that he
had come from your land when be was
a child. His trouble was the lungs, and
he had fallen off to skeleton. He
talked to me Of your wide ocean land.
Is 1t indeed so greatp And has it no
walls about it?"
mo; it is surrounded by water"
II cannot understand. And after
pause In which Johnston could hear the
great fellows heart beating he contin-
ued: "That must be the heaven the man
spoke about. And beyond the water is
1t always dark like this. and do they
Danish people there as the king has
os?'
"No. Beyond are other countries. But
is there no chance for US to escape from
here?'
The Alphian laughed bitterly. "None.
What were you banished for?''
II hardly know"
''Hold out your arm. There" as he
grasped Johnston's s arm in clasp of
iron, II see. You are undeyeloped, un-
it. None but the healthy and strong
Is allowed to live in Alpha. 1t is
right, of course, but it is hard to bear.
But I must lie down. am wearied
with constant rambling. l am nervous
too. l fell asleep awhile ago and
dreamed I heard all my friends in
great, clamoring body calling my name,
'Branasko!' and then I awoke and cried
for help"
AS he spoke he sank with sigh to
the ground and rested his head Oh his
elbows and knees and seemed asleep.
The American sat down beside him, and
for long time neither spoke. Branasko
broke the silence. He awoke with q
start and eyed his companion in sleepy
wonder.
ugh, Idreamed againl" he grunted.
"AIe you asleep?"
"No," was Johnston's reply. II am
hungry and thirsty and cannot sleep.
$50 am I, but we must wait till it is
lighter; then we can go in search OF
food. When was boy, learned to
catch fish in pools with my hands, and
it has prolonged my life here. When the
light comes again, shall show you
how do it.
"Then the day does break? I thought
it was eternally dark here
"It does not get very light, because
we are behind the sun, but it is lighter
than now, for we get the suns refiec-
ton, enough at least to keep us from
falling into the chasms. =.
Branasko lowered his head to his
knees and slept again, but the Ameri-
osn, though wearied, was wakeful.
Several hours passed. The Alphian was
sleeping soundly, his breathing was
very heavy, and he had rolled down on
his side.
Far away in the east the darkness
gradually faded into purple, and then
into gray, and slowly hints of pink ap-
peared in the skies. 1t was dawn. john
ston touched his companion. The man
awoke and looked at him from his
great swollen eyes.
"It is day." he yawned, rising and
stretching himself.
"But the sun is not in sight. "
"No, it shows itself only in the mid
die of the day, and then but for few
minutes. We must 60 now and search
for food. will show you how to catch