The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-06-12

The big black was picking his way heavily across the
ground. dodging now to the right now to the
left to avoid the trees huge ghosty shapes that swept
Steele the face with singing hngers-hat tore
at clothing and flesh.
He must have gone mile now-perhaps morc-he
could not tcll for nothing passed but blackness-oo
pressing terrible blackncss He was powcrless TO tell
where he was where lay the ravino- He knew only
that ahead, somewhere lay the road down which she
was riding to her death. He might strike this road be.
tween her and the He might strike on the far
side if so, he could stand its edge and by shouting
from time to time her of her danger Blu. he must
get there first!
Stumbling, the black crowded against 2 tree, and
Steces leg caught between horse and trunk. STILL
he did not check his mount, though his leg was scrapcd
from ankle to thigh ,7.s0
AS his horse stopped to sniff the ground before him.
the darkness bore Stcccs eager the sound of
hoofbcats 1t must be shc And in another instant she
would lie crushed and bleeding the foot Of the Leap:
for she still distance away, and the hctrap
must lie somewhere in the Dense livd baclncss that
separated them. ~4
He did not hesitate. But, with warning cry Of
Barbara Barbara" he plunged red spurs into the
black body beneath him. ..f.
He felt the tense, spasmodic contraction Of mighty
muscles. Then, like bolt from crossbow the great
animal sprang straight at the black wall OF darkness
The girl the chestnut, cantcring swiftly along
through the night refined her to its launches as
she heard the cry For instant nothing greeted her
sraining but silence. And then there came almost
from under the very head of her marc dull crashing
noise, and hord sounds like the swapping of dry wigs
and the bIood-chiIling of horse. And then
silence again.
She leaped from the back of the shverng chestnut
and felt her way along through the darkness
Suddenly her extended foot met no resistance She
dropped to her knees and her searching hand felt the
rocky edge of the bridgeess chasm and from beneath
her the sound of groans.
Not for an instant did she hesitate One little foot
in its patentleathcr ridngboo swung the rough
edge of the ravnc 1t felt about the utter darkness
and last found projecting point of rock and from
that foothold she again CROPPED downward and length
reached the bottom of the chasm Then with hands
oustreched she went slowly onward, led by the gasp
ings growing fainter of the dying horse. The
groanings of the had ceased and her heart stood
still.
She found him lying there beside the horse. And for
fraction OF an instant she stood helpless terror;
then she dropped to her knees beside him and sought in
his pockets for match.
She found his case, and drew from it, striking it
on the rocks beside his head The little light family
illumincd his white, face And then suddenly, with
cry. she fell forward, her lips on his.
After time-how long she did not know, she felt
the body beneath her stir, and groan came from the
lips Startled she lcapcd quickly backward. In the
dense darkness she could hear him moving.
II must get there first" he muttercd, and his voice.
though weak tense with purpose He struggled to
his knees and length gained his feet and stood sway
ing unsteadly in the darkness while she SILENT
helpless for she had thought him dead
And then the girl awokc from her dream of despair
and called to him softly ss
"Hcr voice he cried unstcadily She'll be killed.
must get there 6rstl" and he shouted again, tremu-
lousy the warning that she had heard as he and the
big black had taken that desperate plunge from Lovers
Leap ss
But even as he called she was before him and
The little chestnut whnnicd long, impaticntly
"Hallo7 came from the brink of the
chasm and the bright little eye of lantern pcered over
inquisitivey. The voice was Glcndnnngs.
care you thcre7" tho voice again, anxious.
fearing, eager
"Ycs" answered Steele. Here"
"Both of your " came chorus of tense queries
Both of u.s." the reply; and the mans voice was
not alone.
"Oh then you aren't dcad!" came in tones OF great
relief and abiding JOY from the brink.
"On the contrary" was the reply, this time in the
voice of the man. i am just beginning to live
And whist then happened one saw; for 1T was DARK
very dark to some; and yet brighter than Gods own
sun to others.