Mexico Missouri message., 1903-08-27

i
edge OF her errand flashed upon him.
He touched her arm gently to detain
her.
you are going to find him. Miss
Johnson--DOlores? You believe he Is
lost over on yonder mountain? What
fools we we're not to have thought of
that before. Let me go with you:
may I? What could you do should
you find him7" He used no softening
words to her; he knew she cOmpre-
hended the possible ending to their
! search.
you must ride my horse Miss
Johnson. The way is long and rough,
and"
Il will walk" she said simply. Her
lips had lost their warm red color; her
wide eyes were on his face in their
strange usefulness.
Then l will leave him at the tav-
ern," he said, quietly, to comfort her
A group of men we're 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
we're suggestive, aud they listened in
silence when the young man spoke.
When he finished an ominOus silence
fell upon them. Then Lodie arose. or
them all he was the most angular and
uncouth, but among them he was
nobler than they.
"Ther dep'tles dedn't know Their
mounting" he said gravely. "Theys
might hev ans stepped on em
o'thsut KNOWN ct. Ef he hev met
with an accident he mayn't be able ter
KEN an II die 'thout help KEN ter
'em. Fl tibet gal o. Johnsing's ken 60
over thar ter hunt 'em, l reckon we
uns ken do t."
His slow, heavy words reused an
interest iu his listeners as all Green's
words could not do, and they arose at
once to ther duty with many a word
Of grumbllng 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
ghostly mist of the valley road and
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 to 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-
ton. She was painting and weak, but
she smiled her slow, brave smile, and
shook her head when he offered to
take her home If 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 a vulture how
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 full of terror
echoing 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 we're TO such scenes, and young
Green instinctively drew her nearer
himself as though to shield her from
what might follow There was moth
ing certain about the Vulture's prey;
it might be wounded hare. a stag,
ora man, That it was something
was certain; something, too, that was
wounded, not dead.
They stood in silence a moment
with awe-struck faces, while the bird
OF death lowering above them had
terrible meaning for them. Dolores
chung to young Green with trembling
hands in the first wild moment; she
did not feel his strong arm about her;
there was a 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 a time aftetward
the young man was Weakened In the
night with the memory OF her as 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
7 viii call him." she said, grayely
''He may answer for he is there,
know"
She leaned above the void filed in
with ghostly mist and gruesome shad
ows; young Green's baud was upon
her arm, but she did not know it. She
called aloud. and her voice rang down
the silence, waking the echoes from
rock to rock
"Fatherl Fathert"
The bird OF death overhead tapped
his heavy wings and uttered a fierce
cry as panther might that has lost
its young. They waited and listened;
no sound disturbed the hush Of the
mountains heart save the echoes
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