The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1903-10-15
hcnded the possible ending to the

VIII Wink, snc Sald, SIMPLY. tici
lips had lost their warm red color: her
wide eyes were on his face In their
strange wistfulness.
Then | 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 glanCes
were suggestive. and they listened in
silence when the young man spoke.
When he finished an ominous silence
fell upon them. Then l.odio arose. or
them all he was the most angular and
uncouth. but among them he was
nobler than they.
"Ther depties dcdn't know ther
mounting" he said gravely. "Theys
might hey ANS stepped on EN-
othout KNOWN ct. HI he hev met
with an accident he mayn't bc able ter
KEN an II die 'thout help KEN ter
EN-. Ef thct gal O. Johnsings ken 90
over thar ter hunt em. I reckon we
uns ken do T."
His slow. heavy words reused an
interest In his listeners as all Green's
words could not do. and they arose Mt
once tn their duty with many n word
OF crumbling that passed unnoticed
because each understood that this was
simply their way of showing the depth
Of their interest.
The strange party moved along the
| mi pf h.,
across the bridge like spirits OF the
mountain. The ascent was hard and
toilsome. and Dolores was unused To
| such exertion; young Green was ath.
| letic, but he also had never SO had
his strength put tn 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 exer.
tion. She was painting and weak. but
she smiled her slow. brave smile. and
shook her head when he offered To
take her home IL she wished. She
came to find her father, she said
quietly. and she would find him: she
felt certain of that.
Up In the blue space vulturc hoy.
cred: the dull flap of his wings was
audible In the dead stiffness and hol.
low below. Dolores saw him. and her
eyes dilated.
See" she cried. her sweet. strange.
ly penetrating voice fun of terror
cchoing down the misty hollow. See!
Why is he there? 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 irstinctlvcly drcw her nearer
himsolt as though to shield her from
what might follow. There was moth.
ing certain about tho yulturo's prcv.
II might ho wounded hare. n stag.
ora man, That il was something
was certain: something. too. that was
wounded. not dead
They stood In silence a moment
with awo.atruck faces. Whilc tho bird |
of death hgyCrinu above them had n !
terrible meaning for them Dolores |
cluur 10 young Green with trembling 1
hands in the first wild moment: she |
did not feel his strong Grm 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 uf the yawn. |
Ing gulf. Il was marvellous how she |
impressed those about her with her |
personality. Many time afterward |
the young man was wakcncd I'm the |
night with the memory of her MS she |
stood there In her utter seli-furgctinl. |
ness, her feet touching the edge of |
the gulf opening before her her ten.
dor face grand with It's brave soul
II will call him" She said, gravely. |
He may answer, .or he Is there,
know"
She leaned above the void filled In
with gh0stly mist and gruesome shad.
ows; young Green's hand was upon
her arm, but she did not know II. She
called aloud, and her voice rang down
the silence waking the echoes from
rocl, To rock
Father Fathcr,"
The bird of death overhead flappcd
his heavy wings ana uttered u fierce
cry as n panther might that has lost
its young. They waited and listened:
no sound disturbed the hush of the
mountains heart save the echoes
ialnting farther and farther into the
mysterious depths below.
Father Fathcr!"
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!"
Tho vulture whirred down In front
OF them with its fierce cry. Then
suddenly up from the depths, yet not
Tar from them. fioated n faint call.
half moan, half answer. They listened
as though In doubt. afraid to believe
lest they be mistaken. But again the
faint voice sounded not far distant,
but weak. Green stretched himself
Hat ON the ground. and leaned far
over tho perilous edge.
About twenty feet below a sharp
ledge projected. forming a fiat shelf;
this was covered with a tangle Of
shrubs and bushes. The mist hung