The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1909-04-15
CHAPTER xvll.-tconslnusd.,

strange disorder now Negley should hav
made an effort ere this to reach him. Th
power that devastated the city and wit
unspenf violence swept the morne Nigh
have reached three leagues at sea I Saw
that the gray was Interchangeable In th
roof of the world. he could not believ
that all this was one day. Lar,
would never forgive him for being whole
at the price of her mothers eyes Their
seemed no adjustment possible for thii
cruel play Of bis service. Fl,
called the mothers name softly. but his
words made no impress-ealled in frenzy
af last. and felt her shudder In his arms
boy r.
Yes. yes"
TELL Lara that there was no yesterday
no last night And leave me here-in
ehe dark r.
How long afterwards he never knew.
but he awoke to find himself uftering in
coherent sentences. The woman was quite
dead The hours drew on into
eternity. but the gray still lived in the
sky. He loosened his arm. and the blood
rushing into the strained limb bore with
1t thrashing pain. The water had cool
ed. but he did not put his burden down.
He had not yet fathomed the extent of
her surrender. nor the signet and color
OF her personality upon every word she
had spoken. He heard a cry
from Lara. and deemed it the encroach-
ment of personal madness. Scornfully he
answered Again the voice Of the WON
AMI He arose and called her name A
shadow darkened the ori6ee, and be saw
his lady in the sky
1t may be in this marvellous world.
where men carry on their wars and their
wooings. some pursuing their little ways
OF darkness. some bursting into blooms of
vaior and tenderness-it may be that az
ter the most exalted passage of agony and
terror, two Of Earth's people were return
ed 70 each other in the strangeness of
these One swooning at the curb of an |
ancient cistern. under the hot leaden sky |
the falling sea before. and Pelee. with /
his tens OF thousands slain, on her right /
hand: the other in the pit below. standing /
I'm the cooling water. and calling upon her
to forgive him for failing in that which
only the gods could do II may be that
In the collection of Earth's tableaux an
other such 6lm is curled away-from an
other age and another cataclysm-
"Niver you worry your hearrt. SORT
called Macready, to whom the voice Of his
friend bad brought imperious conscious
ness, man-wise. instead Of collapse. "Th'
faint is nothin'. It's a fortune fur thin
as can faint fur joy, an no HURT In ut
SORT. Have you tn strent' Z do tn over
hand up tn chain, wit tn fairest av tin
tousand at tn top. sorrT''
Constable placed his burden upon the
@l1ha ~ u
himself free from the water. His weight
was mountain The Eve days had done
what four had not-played havoc with
the one hundred and ninety pounds of !
manhood which struggled upward under
cheers. and fell across the rim !
II the cistern into Macready's arms.
Lara awoke and found Constable bend :
ng over her. Her eyes rested upon his
acerated hand. upon the swollen veins in
is throat and temples She saw blood :,
pom bis clothing. blisters upon his neck !,
weat and mire upon his face. 4
he reality came that he was praying for q
err to forgive him-because her mother =
ad died in his arms. i.
"Peter, my beloved % she murmured =
You say-rhat mother -
She halted, for the grief uprose In =
% fullness in her mind The day had ~
ut look Of horror in her eyes that -
onths would not efface. But s.
lere was no mortal hurt upon her. Her -
,striis. lips, hands-all moved in their =,
az OF dear perfection. Some time she ia
Guild see that he had done his best. j.,
Though he had failed In all else. =;
J had saved this MASTERPIECES from harm. hs
'But IL had not come back. she never -,
DuId have known" he pleaded. 'And 49,
Q forgave me-I'm quite sure-as you'll h.
rgive me"
What are you saying?7 she cried sud- to
nly. What do you mean? Ii Is hor- ctr,
,Is. but came thinking to find you all we
ng here-as they are In the cify-alI we
nd and down-and have found my gou
er livingi" IN ,
and Ernst. afar of, watched all
pufs Of smoke and steam rise like "a
y-white birds from the ruins. ron
Ernst, lad said the other, eth boss us.
tn l'adin' lady are havin' an intel eres
sooal repasht in tn cinter av tn Neg
age. be tn ouId well. Bear In moind a.
re chorus gurrl, an conduct your asks
In accord" -,