The Bemidji pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami County, Minn.) 1896-1917, 1900-03-29
CHApTER II.-(ContInued. }

back In safety! ! was half demented
tn this awful storm, thinking you might
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 one
down there who, am afraid, has been
killed by it," And, as briefly as pos
sibIe, she told what had occurred,
snow, Bell, what | wish you TO do
Is to run and get Jamie, and come
down with me to the road. ! think
you and Jamie can manage TO carry
aim UP between you" Bell was con-
sfdered one OF the strongest women
within the island. Then jamie must
60 to crag Castle for the doctor as fast
as ever he can"
He'll did not oppose her young mis-
tress, though IL 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 a 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.
''Hea a deid man." said Jamie pres
emily, in low, awe-strleken voice,
'sThere's no use carrying him up to the
hause. mlssis; it's wasted labor"
Hn 4
girl, with an imperiousnesa she could
use at times, There may still be life
ia him--we do not know-and God
may spare It, Garry him into the
house, and then run down to Mr..
Banks, jamie, and ask him TO let you
saddle his horse and ride 10 CFag Gas
Gle az 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 hnrrying 10
Farmer Banks, sorely against his will,
though the storm was already begin
uing TO abate.
Meanwhile Bell, who had not been
On a DOCTORS household for twenty
years for nothing. tried with such sim
pie remedies ~ she could think OF, to
restore the young man to conscious
aess, But all her efforts were Of no
avail the deathly pallor, the hxed
rigidity Of that strong face Rtili re-
naained unhr0ken,
III fearI fear" said He'll. standing
ap and shaking her head AT last,
s-shere'a not much hope here, Miss Day,
AY. it's sad thing, such n0be-look-
tng young fellow as he Ia, and gen
tieman. as any one may see, Well
i've done all can, so you'd better come
away, dearie. and leaya him TIL the
doctor comes"
II shall stay here with him, Bell.
Ven can go and see about your work
said the girl quietly, He might come
cut of IT,, you know, and 1t would be
terrible II there was no one beside him
when he recovered consciousness,
'Juat 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 halrn she has
not seen death an 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
a. was, 80 handsome, so refined! And
only half an hour ago the owner had
been full of youthful strength and
energy, and had perhaps been think"
fng, as he sped along that long coun-'
try road. Of many a plan and scheme
for his future life. And now ne lay
there, cold and still, and they said ne
was dead. Oh, It could not be- 1t could
not!
A low cry burst almost involuntarily
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.
+4God have mercy'' 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
Tested--the tears Of pity for the I'M
known and lonely stranger, whose
friends could not weep for him because
they did not know what had befallen
him. f4& II
Suddenly Day fancied she felt mo-
tion beside her, as If the man had sigh
ed or drawn long breath. With g.
nervous start she looked UP quickly.
The eyes in the midst of that death
Iy pale FACET was no less pale than
before-were wide open, and staring at
her with strange fixity.
For a moment a 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-
manly spirit to her aid, and, putting
out her hand. gently placed it on his.