Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-02-07


IL Is cool In the house at the shady
! side. and Dave can lie down there"
, David cast one brief glance back
I ward ms he followed the others Into the
, house. In the road just beyond the
, gate and looking over II stood the one
that followed
Old Andrew was held I'm high esteem
among the mountain people as half
doctor half wizard. with his knowl.
edge Of the use OF roots and herbs. lie
brewed muddy. pungent tea, which
David drank. and Mary. tho wife.
placed extra plates nc the table and In
sisted on the travellers taking supper,
Let David rest" she said, "and II
he Is better after supper you can go
home IN the evening by the short cut
There viii he a moon. or he may stay
the night II not strong enough TO 90
home"
SO Il was arranged. Old Andrew ana
John talked together OF the simple.
worn subjects 81 their rude llves-the
poverty Of the soil. the long season
without rain. the many hardships that
bcfall the farmer.
The wife piled David with questions
/ about the town. WAS there big
| crowd 0t the fair? And the weather
was II fine every day.. Did you see the
I cows from the Duncan FARM and 80
/ on David answered absently. think.
[ Ing OF the waiting stranger outside the
gate.
when the twilight fell. the young
man felt able 10 20 on and was anxious
I 20 reach his family. so the two men
set out along the path through the
I rocky fields. As they reached the base
OF THE Rocks ana began the steep
ascent the moon rose.
John led the way, stepping cautious
| ~. calling back 90 the other to avoid
the uncertain footholds.
But David. climbing after. thought
OF nothing but the somber shape that
had waited outside and had followed
close across the fields after them and
which be felt climbed up and up be-
hind him, step for step.
There was no sound except when at
intervals loose stone rolled down. dis
lodged by their feet. The night was
beautiful. The broad face OF the cliff
shone In the moonlight. Here and
there along the edge OF the path. where
there was danger. rude ratings had
been placed to protect the traveller.
These were sllyered by the moon. At
some places rock juttlng out east be-
low II a dense shadow amid the sur.
sounding Wilderness.
As they climbed David tried 90 force
himself TO turn and face the man In
the black cloak and question him, his
name. his mission. why be followed
gaining steadily step 10y step. but he
lacked courage. once he had met that
cold. steady gaze. lie could not brave
Il again. He watched his comrnde
climb above him slowly. Slowly he
climbed after and. CHANGING down, saw
the edge OF the black cloak blown up
ward against his legs.
He stopped and put his hands over
his eyes. "Who are your he said In a
low, broken voice. "Why do you fol- /
low. pressing nearer and ncarcrY
And voice answered az his ear.
while the folds Of the cloak. blown up |
ward. tapped about him. You shall |
know my name when you are at the |
end Of your Journey"
"No. nowr whispered David hoarse.
ly. Now, your name"
Farther on" came the voice. "When 4
you reach the next railing"
And they climbed on again In the
moonlight John had gone round
turn OF the path out Of sight Ilvld
advanced fcebly, rising laboriously
from step 10 step, pausiug often. He
could feel the other pressing Up be-
hind him, ever nearer.
When they reached the railing above.
David stopped, with his hand upon It.
"Now. your nameV
"Do you not knowT"
The moonlight fell with tender beau
~ over the broad valley below. upon
the white road. upon the forest trees.
upon the small brown house az the
foot OF the cliff. The black cloak float
ed about his head. before his eyes, com
Ing between them and the fair picture
A hand fell upon bis, grasplng the rail-
Ing.
Your name! Your namew
Dayid's hand closed firmly on the
wooden rail, and he leaned heavily
against II for support. An arm closed
round him.
Il am 80 near-so near. DO you not
known
There was n sharp sound Of breaking
wood as the rotten timber parted In
two, and David fell outward, his strug-
Cling feet scraping along the rock. As
he FELL the folds Of black swept round
him. the arm embraced him more close
ly. and they went down together. And
David knew that the one that followed
was Death.