The Dolores star., 1909-04-30


went nearly under. Then she rose
again and struck out for the opposite
side.
Stevens slipped out Of the saddle
and swan beside her. one hand on the
bride.
The tide carried them down . yard
at time: and when at last she strug-
gled ashore on the opposite bank. they
had to cast back nearly half . mtIe
to the trail. Then away they vsas
again.
The sun was beating down on the
mans bare head. His hat had been
swept on in the river. Things went
dim and misty every nov and thea.
He began to sway In his saddle once
or twice. Only when the pouy's stride
began to slacken did he pull himself
together and urge her on again.
They topped q rise. and the long,
low buildings Of the watawa station
came Into sight. beyond q stretch Of
malice scrub. Al last! Stevens
brushed the hair back from his fore
head. and smacked the pony Saily
on the neck. She shook her head and
whinnied plaintively.
Whats up. old girl!" he cried.
She stumbled on for . few yards and
then collapsed. He only Just slipped
out OF the saddle In time.
He stood looking down at her Her
bloOdshot eyes were rolling. her breath
came in deep gasps. her foam-necsed
chest was heaving.
He knelt down and stroked her neck
soothingly. murmuring soft words OF
encouragement. In 4 little while she
responded, and struggled to her feet
He led her for few yards. patting her
and letting her feel her way gingerly.
Then he clambered into the saddle
and set her OF.
They plunged madly through the
malice. The sharp thorns tore the
ponys chest and hanks, and made
great ugly tears in the mans breeches.
Even his brown arms were. scratched
and bleeding. But they struggled
gamely on. and at last broke out Of
the fringe Of the malice into the grassy
paddock beyond. And then the nag
went down with crash. finging Ste
vens over her head. He sprang to his
feet, and stood there staring at her
dazediy. but she had foundered hope
lessly this time.
Thsn ne turned and ran towards the
house. staggering blindly across tho
grass.
Dorothy lay back in wicker chair
on the veranda. looking out n the
rapidly deepening afterglov. Suddenly
a faint. hoarse co-e-ee came across the
paddock. She looked up wonderingIy.
| A dark swsying form was coming TO-
wards her. Tnstinctively she shaded
her tired eyes with thin white hand.
Then she sat up. her golden hair
streaming round her. her eyes strain.
Ing to make out the newcomers face.
It wasn't-it couldn't be-
And then with sobbing cry Of
"Dorry." he fell on his knees beside
bsr. and dropped his head upon her
lap.
The Bitter Bit.
A week or two ago an attendant at
one Of the big theaters on the Paris
boulevards found a fne pear necklace
which she handed over to the boz.
once. One Of the spectators, q lady,
saw the woman pick up the necklace.
and went to the box-ofYice and claimed
It as her own. To mark her appre-
citation Of the attendants honesty she
gave her 20 francs. The next day..
however, the real owner Of the neck
lace presented herself at the theater to
make inquiries. On bearing what had
occurred she burst into 4 laugh. and
explained that the pearls were but imi.
tation. and had cost her ~ francs only.
So the smart lady" loses at least.
eight francs on the transaction.