Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-12-20
DECEMBER 20, 1908

glimmering and passing upon the hill
sides and along the holm which lay
beneath him. But he had got beyond
carrying a torch He tried the buttons
of his coat again, to assure himself
they were we'll fastened against the
stepmother's breath which waited an
occasional snowflake adoWn the hill
side and he bent his face against wind
and weather, making his way east for
Muladuff chapel.
Notwithstanding the difficulties he had
in making his way through the dark
ness, he let his eyes and his mind rest
often upon the myriads of glimmering
torches that were appearing and disap-
pearing as they moved over the land
Scape, and a sense of the beauty and the
romance of this custom, which he had
so long forgotten made itself felt in
Dams soul, and he acknowledged to
himself that, though there might not be
gold mines in this land, there were
things \ 1ich, somehow, gave ~on FAR
more blissful feeling than gold mines
ever could. Below him on the hillside
he saw torches pass so close that he
could make out the forms of those VINO
bore them. Men and women, old ana
middle-aged, were going singly or in
pairs or in groups-moStly in groups;
and boys and girls in plenty were NOV
ing forward too-mostly in pairs, the
one torch Sufficing TO light each couple.
groups
We're chatting and laughing right Sayly
as they went, and, when one met with
mishap in the dark, Volleys of light
hearted laughter pealed from the merry
bands. Every one was happy, every
one was re-free-eXcept Dan, though
Dan could not feel happy in his own
heart (and even could not know why he
was no), yet observing their happiness
he felt nearer to happiness himself than
he had for seven years and more.
1t caused him some CONSERVATION
when he suddenly observed the torch
light fall upon faces that he had seen
at the convoy that night. He darted
up the hillside there to seek a course
further removed from the torchlights,
and before he knew it, getting over
high fence which he hoped would insure
him safety, found himself dangerously
near three girls who were by that route
lighting themselves forward GIRLS OF
his convoy party, too And, horror Oh
horrors, though the shaWls were around
their heads, the size, and sep, and form
of The middle one bespoke to him Grace
O'Friel! Yankee Dan covered and
shrank back against the fence over
which he had stepped, hardly daring TO
breathe until they would be gone anu
have brought to a safe distance the req
head of disas .er. which so necessarily
pursued him.
"The deuce take all red heads, say l,
from the bottom of my heart!" Yet
there was far more evaporation than
sincerity in Dams prayer, as the most
casual listener might have noted.
won't you help me down. sald
voice above him. my torch has gone
out and | am in a poor way
Dan was suddenly brought bolt up
RIGHT n nervous "Oh!" escaping from
him. which drew a merry laugh from
the intruder on the Stile.
"Im sorry tove frightened you, com
ing on you so sudden, but L couluh
help it." the little girl said, as Dan
lifting her in his arms, put her sately
upon the ground.
you didn't brighten me-" said Dan'
rebukingly. H.,
well, / took start out of you. I'm
afeard, anyhow" ,.,u
Nor took start out of me, either,
said Dan petulantly. "Girls doh
frighten me-" ,,.
"0h." she said, with a note which
nalnahlv implied a deal of latent knoWl-
edge, "they said different at the con-
voy" A,o..o5
When Dan now WINGED he blessed
the stars that they were not shlnln9,
"Parcel of fools, one and all! saio
Nan eft troubles me mortal nttle
what they said, or what they dldn
say" .. ,,o,+,.
too He had suspected that for. ne
knew he had heard the voice TINS night
before. Five minutes earlier ne misnt
have been frightened of her, but the
only terror which the convoy party
held for him was now past ana gone
a quarter of a mile gone.
"Well. thank you, anyhow" she at
Li- eida yoischieVOuslV said, "fOr both