Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-08-28

You must ride my horse. Miss
johnson. The way is long and rough.
and"
II will walk" she said. simply. Her
lips had lost their warm red color: her
wide eyes were ON his face In their
strange wistfulness.
Then I will leave him at the tav-
ern." he said. quietly. to comfort her.
A group OF men were around the
door of the tavern as they approached
and were talking over the events of
the previous day. When young Green
and Dolores appeared their sianees
were suggestive. and they listened in
silence when the young man spoke.
When he finished an ominous silence
fell upon them. Then Lodie arose. OF
them all he Was the most angular and
uneou,h. but among them he Was
nobier than they.
'rher dep'ties dedn't know ther
mounting" he said gruyely. ''Theys
might hey ans stepped on EN-
o'thout KNOWN ct. Ef he hey met
with an accident b. mayn't be able ter
KEN an II die 'thout help KEN ter
EN-. FL tibet .ai o Johnsins's ken go
over thar ter hunt 'cm. l reckon We
uns ken do ~
His slow. heavy words reused an
words could not do. and they arose at
once to their duty with many n word
of grumbllng that passed unnoticed
because each undcrStood that this was
simply their way of showing the depth
OF their interest
The strans. party moved along the
shostly mist OF the valley road and
across the bridge like spirits OF the
mountain. The ascent was hard and
ioiisomc. and Dolores was unused to
such cscriion; Soung Green was aih.
l.,Ic. but he also had never so had
his strength put 10 the proof. They
paused many times to rest and re-
cover breath. By and by Green helped
Dolores. Her recent lack of food and
sleep had untitled her for such cxcr-
'Ion. She was painting and weak. but
she smiled her slow. brave smile. and
shook her head when he offered TO
take her home II she wished. She
came TO IND her father. she said
quietly. and she would md him: she
felt certain OF that.
Up In the blue space n yulturc how
cred: the dun nap OF his wings was
audible In the dead stiffness and hol-
low below. Dolores saw him. and her
eyes dilatcd.
"Scc." she cried. her sweet. strange
iy penetrating voice full of terror
cchoirg down the misty hollow. See!
Why Ia he thcrcy They follow where
there are wounded. He Is not there
for nothing"
Their eyes followed hers: her terror
was reflected In their faces. used as
they were to such scenes. and young
Green irstinc,ively drew her nearer
himself as though to shield her from
what might follow. There was moth
ing certain about the vuiturc's prey.
IL might be wounded hare. n stag.
ora man. That II was something
was certain: something. too, that was
wounded. not dead.
They stood in silence n moment
with awc.struck faces. while the bird
of death lowering above them had
terrible meaning for them. Dolores
clung to young Green with trembling
hands In the first wild moment: she
did not feel his strong arm about her:
there was look in her eyes he could
never forget. Then she loosened her
hold OF him. and stood alone slender
and stately on the brink of the yawn-
ing gulf. II was marvellous how she
impressed those about her with her
personality. Many n time afterward
the young man was wakened in the
night with the memory of her us she
stood there In her utter self-forgetful.
ness. her feet touching the edge of
the gulf opening before her, her ten
der face grand with Its brave soul
Il will call him." she said, gravely.
He may answer for he is there,
know"
She leaned above the void filled In
with ghostly mist and gruesome shad-
ows: young Green's hand was upon
her arm, but she did not know 1t. She
called aloud. and her voice rang down
the silence. waking the echoes from
rock to rock
Father! Father!"
The bird of death overhead tapped
cry as a panther might that has lost
its young. They waited and listened;
no sound disturbed the hush of the
mountains heart save the echoes
fainting farther and farther into the
mysterious depths below.
Father! Father!"
"He did not hear" said Dolores,
quietly. "Or perhaps he cannot an
swer. will call again"
That he was there she did not
doubt; whether dead or alive she
would find him; she believed that, too.
She placed her hands to her mouth,
and her voice again woke the echoes
like the tones of flute
Father! Father,"
The vulture whirred down in front
of them with its fierce cry. Then
suddenly up from the depths, yet not
far from them, floated faint call
half moan. half answer. They listened
as though in doubt. afraid to believe
lest they be mistaken. But again the
,.of,n cpnnIad nor far distant