The Red Cloud chief., 1898-11-18

shore. several hundred rect heiow'
whilst my face and hands were
scratched and bleeding. and my feet
constantly clipping from under me-
AZ last, jammed In between two bush
es, l croucled cautiously forward to
review my position. Ny sprlshtly
guide had reached the sheep track,
then. after looking hastily round for
mo. I saw her suddenly epring up the
side Of a block OF granite, rs bald ne
the palm Of my hand. and disappear
Stewards over tho summit.
by Jove!" I exclaimed In utter
establishment. why. she's on ante
lope, n mountain cn:. the old witch's
granddaughter! wish ! had never
come across either of them! sup
pose l must get down somehow
Half kneeling, half sitting, ] de-
scended slowly. swinging myself from
bush 10 bush, Needless OF the singing
blows from furze and thistle, keeping
my clumsy heels we'll off the treach-
erous soil. when suddenly. almost
halfway down. from under q bed OF
bracken that covered her to the chin.
HeleD's face looked IN at me full OF
eager, contrite concern, her strange
dark eyes sweeping my disfsured, per-
spring face with n look that thrilled
me almost uncannily.
81 am so sorry" she painted; "oh,
20 sorryi quito forgot you were a
stranger and unaccustomcd 10 the
cliffs; they are dreadfulIy sllppery this
weather. l have to go after the sheep
for Mike every day now-he can't hold
on a bit, though he was born on the
mountain. All, how you have hurt
yourself, to be sure! Those dreadful
furze bushes! Put your hand on my
shoulder. I will guide you down the
rest; We have only the ferns TO work
through now to the path. Here's
your hat; it's not spoiled a bit
picked 1t up on the beach before the
water had time to reach IT,"
ut wac after my hat you were seal
ing that cliff?'
Eyes, I had no time to 20 around by
tho path; the tide Is on the turn and
would have taken 1t of TO America in
two minutes MORE
? You're NOT going away now, are
your" I asked eagerly, lifting my hand
from her slender shoulder. You'll
I see me beyond the first point, won't
your"
. Yes, y%es-for sure, yes" she an
Q swered quickly; II will go with you &c
the Goats Back. II you like-ay, and
beyond It. Oh, Mr., Dennys, what Q
r rude, wild, ill-mannered girl you mus
r think me to fly off and leave you like
n that after you being so kind to com
9 that long way-from London itself
e Just to tell granny about poor Uncl'
Q Brian! VIII you forgive me, please?'
/ pressed the childish hand, sayini
'milinsly--
Yes. yes, forgive you, Mis-
Helen"
I. And You will let me wipe the bloo'
from your poor face. won't your" sh
pleaded, dipping a large cool leaf int
o a little crystal pool under a rock
handkerchief this child Of nature ha
- none, I suspected-and passing 1t owe
y my hot and blood-stainod face.
-, After this we marched on side b
side and became fast friends. Lon
before we reached the ruined cabin,
"a knew the whole story OF her lionel!
neglected life. knew that she ha
been born on the mountain-had live
there all the eighteen years OF he
=, uneventful life, never once having VII
Ia tied the post-town of Droomlagne
~ that she had no father or mothe
N brothers nor sisters, but lived all alon
a. with her grandmother and two ser,
ants, Mike Doolan and his wife Biz
dy; and finally, though the poor chill
made no complaint OF her natur;
guardian or indeed seemed aware thel
was cause for any, yet I clearly sa
that she was shamefully neglected b
her, and no more concern paid to hi
bodily OF her mental we'll being tina
IL ehe had been a goat browsing on II
mountain-side, instead OF a dea
daughters only child.
!, After helping for a couple OF houl
"a every morning In the dairy and farm
yard, she told me she was free TO
y what che pleased. wander whittier 81
7 would the whole day long. make VIII;
chance acquaintance che liked, con
In at any hour Of the evening unique
toned, northumberland, she hs
often spent the whole night lying q
the cliff. when she found her hive,
M tilated attic too hot and close to slice
~ in, and no n had been any the wise
and even II they were. She argued
=, answer to my diss onting look-Bidd
~ wouldn't mind. and granny wouldn
care-not shell And. besides. VIII
harm was Il? Sure nothing In Il
world made her feel 80 good and hal
ny as lying there all alone In the gre
W stiffness, waiting for the first strsa
OF dawn to wake up the sleeping sc
watching the white winged sea-birt
sailing In and out among the gro
dark rocks!
And now I mnst be going. Mr.. Del
nys." she said. when o cluster
We matched roofs lying close to tho shoi
came within view" for there's Ball,