The Brunswick daily news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1903-1906, 1903-06-21
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Across the :
DIVIDE (
BY MARION BENTLEY !
Copyright, 1902, by the
S. S. Mcclure Company
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BY MARION BENTLEY
Copyright, 1902, by the

BEAST. The man lay, bright eyed, dry
Tipped and silent, on the shakedown in
the wagon bed,
AS the horses stopped inStinctively
amid the willows beside the stream
the girl turned to her father with aM
encoura ging smile. But at sight of
him the smile changed to tense lines
of horror. On the mans chin trickled
vivid crimson STAIN
An hour later Anita Murdoch walked
away from the hastily improvised
camp with young DR.. Byrne. He
glanced down at her pityingly. She
was SO delicate, SO quiet and so pref
ty. What was her father thinking Off
She was no more fit to take up claim
and manage ranch on little or no
capital than
She looked at him In mute inquiry.
II thought best not to say this be-
fore your father, but you must not
think of resuming your journey. He
would never survive the rough roads,
and the rare air on top of the Divide
would certainly bring on another hem
orrhage."
"Then you mean that we can never
go into La Junta valleyP'
There was anguish in the question.
and the doctor hesitated.
II believe the disappointment would
kill him." she continued. Ever since
we got that first railroad circular he
has been counting on going there, get
ting we'll and strong and working
again. We've taken the La Junta Ban
ncr for six months and we know just
where we want to live and how to file
our claim. Oh, we must go onr'
"Well, for the present you had better
stop here ard let your father recuper-
ate. Perhaps when it is cooler At
any rate. there is tidy two room
shack right back of my office. The
rent is cheap, and l can keep an eye
on him until he is in shape to travel
1t won't Go for him to sleep here on
the river edge even one night We
must pull him together, you know"
And the doctor nodded ercouragingiy
to the girl, who stood watching him
with wide open, frightened eyes.
So, all unwillingly, did the Murdocks
take UP their residence in Fort Simp.
son. The hot blasts Of July merged
into the sullen humidity of August.
and one day in the freshening breath
Of September Henry Murdoch tOttered
to the postoltice for the La Junta
Banner. They read it together, he and
Anita, read of the mountain locked
VOL EI-h ChnnQ
fercely nor yet the blasts blew cruel
ly; where crops rose like air castles in
the night; where the sick were made
well; Where-and this was the best Of
all-starved, weak lungs were fed and
strengthened. The Murdocks knew all
the prominent La Junta citizens by
name, rejoicing with them i'll success.
sympathizing with them In adversely.
They lived in Fort Simpson, but their
hearts were in La Junta. And now
only the Divide, with its pitiless alti
tude, stood between them and this
promised land, to reach which they
had sold their little Iowa home.
That night after her father had
fallen into a troubled sleep she footed
UP their account book. They had lived
so simply, yet little remained. If they
sold the horses, they might reach the
valley by rail, but mountain railroad
fares are high, and without horses
how could they farm?
She rose impulsively and hurried to
DR.. Byrne's office. He received her
with undisguised pleasure. OF late he
had felt that his calls had been I'M
welcome Very delicately they had
limited that professionally he was not
needed. and he feared that they might
view his obvious attempts to drop
in" socially as professional calls char
itably paid.
Father seems stronger today. Don't
you think he can stand the journey
very soon"
DR.. Byrne shook his head.
"The nights are cold There is al
ways frost in the mountainsT p.
"But you said when it was cooler"
she persisted.
He led her to the window and point
ed silently to the distant mountain.
where even in the moonlight she could
catch the CLINT of snow patches. She
clasped her hands in despair.
"Why-why did you tell me he could
go later? You knew all the time that
he could not take the trip. and yet
She turned upon him fercely and
read that in his eyes which made her
wrath burst into a fame, In her IN
reasoning love for her father she read
In this other mans love for herself
only selfshness. He had thought that
if she stayed she might learn to love
him. And now she hated him.
sob. if l had never listened to You,
Now he will stay here to die"
Dr. Byrnc tried to take her hot hands
In his. but she drew away from him.
my dear girl, you are well and
strong. For you the overland journey
has no horrors; for your father It
means-death."
"Then," exclaimed Anita bitterly, "
must get something to do, so that we
can 20 by rail. l thought 1t my duty
to care for him, and now our money IL
nearly gone"
He gained possession of her hands
this time.
ANITA. It Is yodr duty to care for
him until the end. Won't you let M
help you? Marry me tomorrow, and ]
will care for you both"
mo, no"' she exclaimed passionate
ly. ut has been his dream to go there
DR.. Byrne, If you love Inc as you say
you do help me to get work-anythine