West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-05-18
CHAPTER Iv.
'rItten specially for The Argus.

CHAPTER IV.
There were gold and silver coins. n
few green backs of rather large demon.
ination. and several old.fashioned
pieces OF jewelry. These last Bill
fingered lovingly. They had been his
mothers aud he intended them ex-
prsssly for LIS adsrnment when she
should become his. Presently he
put them back into the box, replaced
the same into it's hiding place, and
lighting large pipe with n blazing
brand which he took from the fireplace,
he went out and sat down on the stoop
in the moonlight. or 10 the west a
bank of dark clouds were heaving up,
and slight cold breeze had begun TO
blow oyer the mountains, good evil
dence of n coming storm. Bill sat on
his doorstep long INTO the night, lost
in meditation, little dreaming OF the
trials through which his beloved Liz
was passing even then. When the sky
had become entirely overcast and when
the cooling breeze had begun to blow
almost hurricane, Bill became aware
of the coming storm, and as the FIRST
patter ofraindrops came down he arose
from his position and en- tered his cabin.
The fire had long since died, but
all was intensely dark within. As the
man turned TO close the door he fan.
cied he heard cry mingled with the
sound Of the storm, aud impelled by
some strange motive, he stepped once
more oyer the threshold and bent his
head In an attitude of listening. A
moment passed and again the cry was
waited To him down the hillside. Once
more he listened and again tho call
came, but this time IL was his name
that reached his ears and went echoing
family down the gulley At the same
moment the rain began TO fall in great
binding sheets. Ball started forward
into the intense blackness of the night,
but paused n few steps from his door
| Again came the cry; "Bill Bill -
The man hesitated no longer, for above
the din of the tempest he recognized
the voice, and with a shout Of LIZ"
he shot into the night in the direction
Again and again the voices respon nded
TO each other, eyer growing nearer,
until the two met under the shelter of
II towering pine, aud were clasped in
| each others arms. The woman was
pabting for breath and was wildly sob
oing out her story in broken sentences
Bill, however, was unaffected at first
by what she was saying, even II he
understood the half of IL. His first
duty was TO soothe and quiet the .re,n.
bling girl, which he did with the ten
derness of mother, and with every
endearing name aud phrase of which
he was master. Then gathering her
IN MS strong arms he strode off
through the storm an1 the darkness
toward his own cabin, murmuring
words Of love all the time and rouudlv
swearing at those who had allowed his
Liz TO be out of doors on such night.
Arriving at his cabin he kicked the
door open with his strong right foot
and striding In deposited his burden
tcncerly on the only bed the room af-
torded Then kneeling before the fire
place he quickly made up the fire. and
as soon as the light had become suffi-
cient he turned cheeriiy toward Liz.
Poor Liz. her wild fight through the
woods and her fear in the storm had
been too much for her, and she lay in
a dead faint, her long dark hair stream.
ing down over the coyerlid TO the floor.
her face deathly white and her poor
feet torn and bleeding. Her clothing
was torn almost into shreds and one
arm hung ia a most peculiar position
over the edge of the bed. Bill Qazed
at her a moment as II he had suddenly
been deprived Of the sense OF speech
and action, then recovering himself he
hurriedly loosed the collar Of the tight
Jersey" from her neck and began
chafing her hands in both his strong.
warm ones. Presently the eyelids
huttered, long sigh was drawn from
the pale lips rush Of color came back
10 the face and Liz was herself again
She attempted 20 rise from the bed ,
but sank back with a groun. Then
\ Bill noticed her arm. Taking a knife
from bis pocket he slit the tight sleeve
/ from the wrist 70 the shoulder. Just
below the elbow a dark bruise, swell
ing rapidly. shown in marked contrast
to tho pearly whiteness OF the grace
| fully moulded arm "Po' little ahn. .
said he: Liz, IL am broke" and az he
said IL hot tear fell upon the quiver-
ing flesh. lie turned 10 procure 10.
tion and bandaRe TO apply TO the in
jured member, bat Liz interpreting
the action, detained him by catching
one Of his hands. with difficulty she
drew herself to a sitting posture on
the bedside and beRun bravely
mo, Bill, hsney. doan' ye 20 fur to
hep my ahm. 10 air not hu'tiH much
nOhow, an mus tell sc wat come
fur Bill, honey, 10 air all over It
come sooner'n / looked FUR, and now
We mus 60, honey, We mus 90. an
leave youh Liz bchin" And then in
quick, disjointed sentences and in her
own peculiar way, she told him Of