The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-09-13
= Ell T.
TERREMOTO
By HONORE WILLSIE
Copyright, 1906, by P. c. Eastment
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For three months now Eleanor had
been on the desert edge fighting for her
brothers health. At first the desper-
alton Of the struggle had kept her
thoughts from straying eastward; had
crammed with anxiety each moment
that otherwise would have been wretch
ed with homesickness.
But now, with the leisure that came
with Jacks returning health, homesick-
ness was beginning its inroads upon
her. This made doubly hard to bear
the fact that Jack was developing the
fractiousness Of the convalescent and
that an ordinary pacific disposition was
becoming so irritable that it taxed even
the devotion Of this most devoted sis
ter On this particular afternoon he
had expressed an inordinate desire for
a certain brand Of cigars.
But, Jack DEAR" objected Eleanor,
1.-The doctor says that you must not
smoke
"Who says I want to smoke? growl-
ed Jack. II just want to look at them
and sniff of them and feel them. And
want them today"
Eleanor sighed patiently. ITS FIVE
miles to town, Jacky. And though it's
o'clock, it's frightfully hot Don't you
want to wait until tomorrow"
"Oh, of course, If you don't want to
do the favor for me-" replied the in
valid, walking feebly across the tent to
pick up fan.
"Why, certainly I'm going, Jacky,"
she cried. The heat won't last much
longer" and she disappeared toward
her own tent, leaving her brother look
ing a bit sheepish.
So now Eleanor was riding slowly
along the blistering trail toward the
sleepy little adobe village which boast
ed single Yankee store, at which she
thought she could get the cigars. She
was a beautiful girl, slender Of body
and lovely of face, with the refinement
of good blood through many genera
tons showing in every lineament. Her
dark blue eyes, shadowed by the heavy
lashes, looked tired, and her figure
drooped q little as If in utter weari-
ness.
"It's getting pretty hard" she
thought. Its spring up there, with
the snow melting into little rivulets,
and the pussy willows out, and the
wind flowers coming. Only the thought
Of Jacks getting we'll keeps me from
going mad"
She started q little as CHEEKY hal
loo greeted her, and she saw riding
down the trail toward her broad,
shouldered, jolly chap in cowboy at
tire. BE wheeled his mustang and
rode beside her.
II was taking a ,jaunt out to tell you
that have almost finished my work
and must fly eastward again.
"Oh, that Is too bad!' cried Eleanor.
The mans fine brown eyes beamed.
"I've only known you a week." be an
swered, ''but it's been a mighty pleas
ant week"
"Jack will miss you," said the girl.
The man eyed her silently. "She's
wearing herself OUT. he thought u
wish I could take her away from
here. Burwell's nearly strong enough
to 20 it alone now. Gads! She's q
beauty
Eleanor wiped the alkali dust from
her face and told him the reason for
her trip to town.
Rather hard on you" commented
Hartley.
Eleanor smiled, but said nothing,
and they rode for some distance In 81
lence, Hartley's gaze scarcely leaving
for an instant the dropping profile be-
side him.
81 wonder" he thought, If she real
ICES that she's never told me a word
Of herself, who she is or-by the Lord
Harry, II she'd have me I'd marry her
tomorrow even If they both came from
a founding asylum"
By this time they were riding up the
street of the dirty little Mexican village
whose inhabitants were too absorbed IN
the sight Of the Americanos to move
from beneath the horses feet until
urged to do go by Hartley in a patois
that made up in vigor what It lacked
in lucidity.
The Yankee store was the only frame
building for. miles around. It was
owned by an enterprising Vermentes,
who was making small fortune In the
lazy little town, where money went
faster than It came.
Hartley tied the horses and they en-
tered the store Just az they stepped
within the door it slammed shut vio-
lently behind them and the tremor OF
tts impact shook the entire building.
The storekeeper. the only other person
in the dusky room, looked up in sur
prise that quickly changed to alarm.
The tremor instead Of ceasing In
creased.
What's the matter?" he cried, run
ming to the front Of the store.
"I don't know" replied Hartley III
were up north I'd think it was
dynamite blast, but
y, tho rxyiOdoyp N1Q p