The Somerset reporter., 1905-11-16


ferrcd and early destroyed, then few
memories and then death? And what
death trampled, maHsIed, made into
thing unspeakabIc b. those trampllng
hoofs. All. the pity If H. he.i thought
10 have 10 taste Of happness~
He cllnchcd the rrns tighter. No. be
would not die Somehow lie meant 10
live. For moment he. too, was panic
stricken "Diek. Deg@ he groancd
Can't you 90 faster Pull away from
them. old boy, There is no one 10 care
much what happen ~ us, but we want
to live anyhow
Again he looked luck Slowly the
herd was gaining on the leaders. The
forward ranks were more and more
massed. Worse Than the rOar and
screcch of hundred locomotives was
the din about hin. He could see the
break in the levpi stretch OF prairie
that marked the river banks. Nearer
and nearer it came, and closer about
the quiyering broncAo pressed the snort
ing cattle. Now Bruce could see the
rocks on the opposite bank, now he
caught a glimpse Of the brown water,
aud then-a sudden stumble, a mad
roar, and horse and rider went down
together
For years and years he seemed to
have been falling Sometimes he
caught sight of her, and always her lips
moved but he caught no word or sound
G.r,ati,,a,, no NauttraJ 10 oyly bo,. ~ D.,
she said, but his questions when they
came were absolutely irrelevant. and
he cursed himself for a fool. and grad
ually the search was becoming painful
Strange aches and mserieS racked his
body The glimpses of her face became
less and less frequent Suddenly he
opened his eyes to rest them The walls
of his little ranch bedroom seemed IA
miliar enough. but what were these
agpneS that wrung and wrenched him ?
Then memory came. All, yes-the
stampede and the fall He closed his
eyes again and fccbly pondered over
his rescuc. Then soft rustic and a
little murmur near the foot Of the bed
made him open his eyes once more. 1t
was she, The red gown. the vivid face.
the soft parted hair We're all the same.
If this were delirium, he thought. why,
let delrium - on TO the end of the
chapter. and Just for luck he would
speak 10 her once more Just to see il
she would faint away. rs usual.
Its Il nice day, Mice" he remarked
in a strangely small Voice
oh Alien, Allen do you really
kuo% Hic:" AID VIA 4 rush Of skirts
She WIS on her knees beside the bed,
Know her! Gould he recognize his
own consciousness
You were in the blackboard" he
said
How did you know" she asked.
Il didn't know Ibid the cattle get
me-"
The girl Shuddercd and moved closer
NO; the pony fell close to the rivers
edge, his body shielded yours from the
herd. and the cattle used him for a di-
viding point and went up and down
the river They had to shoot the poor
broneho, but We got You into the buck
board and back 10 tire ranch some
how
Bruce turned Il tewildered face to-
ward her, and in response the girl
went on:
"Uncle John and are touring the
west. and | wanted to say hello to
YOU Cousin Frank told me you We're
here Then came the Stampede
Her voice traled into silence Bruce
put up feeble hand and pressed her
sof; cheek close Ia his own. This. then
had been The reason for it all-tho
lonely yigils, the long hours, the con
stant desire and the endless misery VI
loneliness
alice" he said gently, "is it To be
yes now
The girl caught her breath. Her only
answer was 10 leave her check close
TO his.
And Bruce nesting closer, closed his
eyes and fell asleep