The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-07-27
a Breath
Of Me 2essrf
A Thrilling Story Of Life IN tho Do
main Of Cesolation.

-o-e-~-%-4-S-S-@-
Crouching like benumbed pebble
midst environments OF heat. horror and
tragic space. a rude shack wedged its
foundation toes wearily. yet somewhat
dehantly into the unyielding heart Of the
desert. Nature, usually so amiabia hos
pltable and benehcent. glared on the
shack and its inmate, thing demon
iacal. antagonistic, repellent; here she
was unadorned. naked of verdure or
good naiure-a great yawning premoni-
tion OF death and evil. About the tiny
habitation she wreathed her scorching
breath, while her emissaries the hurry
ing winds, whirled and flung the hot
sands with suifocating intent tossing
broadcast their massive, infuriated
voices as they ragged and roared ami
fought among themselves.
In the doorway OF the cabin. door
way without door, young girl stood
gazing into the heated arena, which the
Creator must have constructed for the
final struggle of the elements. She
thought half dreamily.
Far In the distance a couple OF whirl-
winds were running race; long. sinu-
ous, nature-acrobats that glided over the
sands. gathering clouds Of dust and
Ringing them into the eyes OF the firma-
ment with irrepressible insolence.
my Godr cried the girl, with half
stined, sobbing breath. will this horror
never. never end?'
Silhouetted In the ramshackle doorway,
seemed to rldicule her youth and beauty.
Her gown, heritage of the past home
life, was somber black, and contrhsted
vigorously yet delightfully."- with her hair,
crisp, glorious. waving masses, half red.
half gold. where rich. subdued tints OF
Eunbeams and pomeRranate blossoms lin
gered and radiAted
As she stood looking. half shivering
from the heat. the sun, a great golden
ball rolled slowly from the arms OF the
azure armament into the vague shadowy
abysses beyond the brink of the horizon.
while Its fast-dimming rays darted hith-
or and thither Frightening for an instant
the grotesqut wrinkled. frowning face
OF the omi&potent nature fend, the der
ert.
Surely. surely. sec some one" She
clutched the decayed door casing In her
eaRerness. and leaned through the open-
ing straining her eyes and gasping for
breath. so great was her anxiety lest the
object fade and disappear. for the
mirages with their phantom loyalty.
beauty and promise had deceived her
many times. Could this be another lie?
A hope that was intoxicating whispered
contradiction. She shaded her eyes with
her hand to hetfer shield them from the
flying sand.
Yes. YES, II is, II IS. Thank Cod II
IS lll-he i staggering"
She tushed inside. took a canteen from
neil on the wall and filled II with
water from a bucket in the corner
over the earth floor In her frantic haste
Then out over the sands. through the
murky twilight. she ran-ran. with
heetness, buoyancy born OF hopeful
He saw her coming~,this man worn and
Yeehle from his struggle with the nierei-
less, remorseless wastes. To him she
meant life. and like one resurrected he
watched death Inumbling at defeat. creep
away and disappear tn the mists that
shrouded this gateway of the inferno.
As she reached him. he staggered from
exhaustion. She put her arm about him
for support and as she did so she felt
that warm. throbbing. pulsng life was
there with herewith her who for two
years had seen no human being except
her haif-crazed father. who spent his
days and half his nights aimlessly pros
pectlng for wealth that was ever
elusive.
tie man was ~ ind fainting. with the
impafsioned fervor OF a child with a
new treasure. she clasped him close TO
her vibrating body With her strong Young
arms. He was hers. for she had found
him, On the Joy OF II. He was real:
he was tangible. q breath. light an
essence from the world Of people.
But he was becoming heavy She could
not hold him. and ne was slipping away
from her, slipping as she thought 10 the
hungry sands at her feet. Was he dead?
She took his head between her hands.
She covered the inaNmate. tired face
with kisses. She took no heed that he
was handsome. that he was young. for
20 her he was simply leaf from the
world book she had known and loved.
He should live. he was hers. treasure
brought by the desert tides Tenderiy
she cooled his feyered head with water
from the canteen. At last when despair.
strings. % he moved viii great r. ~ erors nsai n
raised himself 10 sitting posture his
fingers sinking into the loose sand as he
feebly braced himself. With dazed mys-
Iaa a.otr. 49,
ngure that knelt beside him-so close thar
cheek.
''Ah. YOU are better You are stronger.
You are rested Come, we must go."a
and her great hungry eyes seemed at
tuned with some infinite soul melody
This desert wanderer was like a rose
thrust through the gratlngs Of her prison
"a light sent 10 illumine the gloom OF
desoiation.
Again she wound her strong young arms
about him and helped him to his feet.
Again she held him clcse-so close he
could hear the thr0bhinRs Of her heart
and fan
An expression o. unut,erable Joy swept
over his sunscorched face. A vague con-
seriousness Of reality was creeping over
him. TremblinRly he put his hand on
her arm almost hurt her In his eager
ness. Through her thin black. sleeve he
felt the warm yielding flesh OF life
"A woman. Can II be possible? You
are real. genuine? You won't disappear.
dissolve ia these ferocious heat mists?'
Yes. l am real. Come. rest on my
shoulder. ] Will take you to our cabin
with the vigor Of manhood dominant
IN his heart he attempted to trudge on
without assistance But his body was
weak incapable. and he was finally com.
PEELED to lean against her and allow her
to nut supporting arm about him
Slowly they trudged toward the cabin,
which doomed darkly in the gloom. The
sands crept close on every side anS with
the exception OF few fantastic. strag-
Cling yuccas. and a desert willow that
stood near the ca bin and resentfully chung
20 the barren soil in an effort TO shade
a small spring. there was neither tree nor
shrub TO punctuate the landscape.
Out OF the impenetrable abyss OF night
came the wall OF a coyote, a sound
stiffness: a cry that sped through the
heat mists. quiverng 10 an echo ana
died a shiyer of dread went through
the man. To such things the girl had
become accustomed. and she gave no
heed.
Together they entered the gaping open
mouthed doorway OF the shack. The girl
guided him through the blackEeRs OF the
single room, cautiously skirmishing to
avoid the stove. table and benches. The
humor OF the situation impressed the girl.
and when they reached the farther end
OF the room she took both his hands and
lauRhingly backed him to a rude cot. The
soft half-whispered laughter .dhtrrbed
the uncanny gloom. and after the coyotes
doleful notes, was sweetest music 10 the
man.
Now at last you are quite safe" he
said. Now you can rest She reached