Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-08-11
OHAPTER III.-lContInued.l

back In safety! | was half demente'
In this awful storm, thinking you nigh
be killed" said the good woman, draw
Ing Day In by the hand.
Eyes, Bell" said Day, her voice
broken and painting, "There's some on
down there who, am afraid, has beer
killed by IT," And, as briefly as pos
slble, she told what had occurred.
Nov, Bell, what wish you to DE-
Ia to run and get jamie, and come
down with me to the road, ! thinl
you and jamie can manage to carry
him up between YOU" Bell was con
sidered one Of the strongest women
Within the Island. "Then jamie must
90 to Crag Castle for the doctor as fast
as ever he can"
Bell did not oppose her young mis-
tress, though II was with consider
able amount Of fear that she ventured
forth.
Jamie, the farm lad, was still worse
hanging back in evident terror, and
starting nervously at every fash, But
both were awed to solemn silence
when they looked upon the white and
apparently dead face turned upward to
the stormy sky, and every few seconds
illuminated by the awful glare Of the
lightning.
"He's a deld man." said jamie pres
emily, In low, awe-strlcken voice.
There's no use carrying him up to the
house, missls; It's wasted labor"
mo, no! do as | tell YOU" said the
girl, with an imperlousness she could
use at times. "There may still be life
in him-we do not know-and God
may spare 1t. Carry him into the
house, and then run down to Mr.
Banks, jamie, and ask him to let you
saddle his horse and ride to Crag Cas-
tie as fast as ever you can for the
DOCTOR"
Her orders were obeyed. In less
than ten minutes the unconscious man
was lying on the couch In the sitting
room, and jamie was hurryng TO
Farmer Banks, sorely against his will,
though the storm was already begin
ming to abate.
Meanwhile Bell who had not been
In a Doctors household for twenty
years for nothing, tried, with such sim
pie remedies as she could think Of, to
restore the young man to conscious
ness, But all her efforts were Of no
avail-the deathly pallor, the fixed
rigidity Of that strong face still re-
manned unbroken.
81 fear-I fear" said Bell, standing
up and shaking her head at last,
there's not much hope here, Miss Day,
Az, it's a sad thing, such notebook
ing young fellow as he Is, and gen
tleman, as any one may see. Well,
I've done all can so you'd better come
away, dearle, and leave him till the
doctor comes"
II shall stay here with him, Bell
You can go and see about your work"
said the girl quietly. HE might come
out Of 1t, you know; and 1t would be
terrible II there was no one beside him
when he recovered consciousness"
Just as you please, Miss Day." said
the faithful Bell. But she shook her
head as she went out of the room, NUT
tering: "Ah, the poor BARN! she has
not seen death as often as have"
Day sat perfectly still in her chair a
little distance away from the couch,
with her eyes fixed on the face lying
on the cushion.
Something in 1t fascinated and al
most mesmerized her. She could not
withdraw her eyes. SO young face
1t was, so handsome, so refined! And
only half an hour ago the owner had
been full of youthful strength and
energy, and had perhaps been think
ing, as he sped along that long coun-
try road, of many plan and scheme
for his future life. And now he lay
there, cold and still, and they said ne
was dead. Oh, 1t could not be! 1t could
not!
A low cry burst almost involuntarlly
from Days lips, and, rising from her
seat, she went to the couch, falling on
her knees beside it, and covering her
face with her hands.
God have mercyv she prayed,
speaking aloud in her passionate earn
estness.
Her head sank lower, and for long
time she remained kneeling thus, feel
ing the warm tears run down her
cheeks and drop on the cushion on
which the unconscious mans head
rested-the tears Of pity for the UNI
known and lonely stranger, whose
friends could not weep for him because
they did not know what had befallen
him.
Suddenly Day fancied she felt mo-
ton beside her, as II the man had sigh
ed or drawn long breath. With o
nervous start she looked up quickly.
The eyes In the midst Of that death
ly pale FACET was no less pale than
before-were wide open, and staring at
her with strange fixity,
For a moment vague, powerless,
superstitious fear rushed over Days
soul, seeming to clutch her heart in
an icy grasp. The face was still so
like that of dead man, and the eyes
seemed to have no sight in them.
Then she summoned her brave, wo-