The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-08-04
--sz==:ss==M===:s5s=====s=zzs==--.:-. =

gall, with Lady Claire Linwood, accom-
panied by a groom, started out for theil
usual horseback ride. Both were skillfu
horsewomen, and both were extravagHnt
ly fond of the saddle. This morning they
had resolved to follow a wild looking
path leading through deep wood, one
they never had noticed, In rides past the
spot, until the day before.
Suddenly, after an advance of about
! half a mile, both girls noticed at once
that footsteps had diyerged from the
beaten path, and looking towards the
| point to which they seemed directed, they
were astonished to see the opening en-
trance to what seemed large cave, over
hung with vines Of thick luxuriance.
These vines seemed lately to have been
parted. Refining up their horses, they
paused before the spot, In order to sur
yey 1t more closely, when all distinctly
heard low moans Of pain, issuing from
a point near the entrance.
| Surnlsing at once that some fellow
being was In distress, Ethel requested the
groom to dism0nnt and investigate the
place, and Immediately return to report
the cause of the apparent suffering with
in. The man dismounted as requested
and disappeared from view, only to re-
turn with the news that an eccentric
bookseller, who had recently made his
appearance In the neigh borhood, and who
was known as the Rev. Edwin G. Styles,
was very i'll In that remote and hidden
spot, Bidding Roger assist her to the
ground, Ethel at once hastened to the
side of the sick man.
She found him stretched upon an old
cot bed in this damp and gloomy retreat,
far away from the haunts of men. She
noticed few articles of furniture, and
a few utensils for daily use, but saw no
trace Of fire or food.
On a rude bed lay stretched the form
of the eccentric being who had been
much talked of during the past few days.
His cheeks were flushed with fever,
while the weary movements of his head
told of intense pain in that region. Clasp
ed In his thin, white hands upon his
breast lay small wallet.
Seeing at once that the poor creature
was very low, perhaps near death, Ethel
stepped back to the entrance of the cave
and requested Roger to ride with all
speed to summon DIR. Elfenstein to his
side She also requested Lady Claire to
remain within call, while she herself
would watch over the sufferer until aid
should come.
At once Ethel returned to her self-as-
sumed charge, and endeavOred to arouse
him from the stupor' he was in, in order
to ask Of his relatives and home. The
effort was vain. A low, incOherent NUT
tering, in which the words brother" and
save me-" were mingled, was all she
could hear.
1t seemed a long and weary while to
the anxious girls, before voices were
heard In the distance DIR. Elfenstein
was the first to enter the cherries place,
while two men beside Roger followed,
ready to bear the sufferer in their arms
to wagon quite distance down the
road, beyond the narrow pathway the
girls had pushed over on the backs of
their gentle horses.
The doctor paused a moment to exam
Inc the patient. but looked very grave as
he did so, and whispered to Ethel;
II think we are too late TO save him. |
He will live but few hours, as death |
Is even now upon him. He must be re-
moved, however, at once, and as know |
of no other place, shall take him to my
own house."
Taking the wallet In his hand to draw
1t away he found 1t impossible to do |
so, as the death clutch of the dying
fingers upon 1t was tight and still strong,
so leaving 1t where II was on his breast. |
the doctor summoned the men, who gent, |
ly raised the slight form In their arms
and bore him forth. Soon the poor man
was lying on blankets and soft pillow
upon the floor Of an easy wagon, while |
the doctor sat by his side, carefully fan.
ming away the flies that might annoy
and thus they wended their way back
to their homes.
A few hours later, In the comfortable |
guest chamber at the young physicians
home, the poor wayfarer breathed his |
last, and as the sympathizing physician |
closed his eyes and Strengthened his form
he drew away the wallet carefully and
folded the poor, thin hands upon his
breast
After dlspatching n messenger for an |
undertaken he summoned Mrs. Clum as
a witness, and passed to his private ONCE |
in order to examine the mysterious wal
let, that should, he hoped, reveal the Sc
cret of the wanderers family and home. |