The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-03-26
The Two
ElSieS
By Bessie w. Coleman


" dear" With might and main
Elsie Christy tugged with
the reins of the horse, but in vain. He
plunged straight on. Directly ahead
Of her i'm the woods a low bough shot
out and the horse was going straight
into II.
On a level with her chest she real
lied IL she tried to stoop under she
would be either killed or scalped. so
quick as flash she clasped both arms
around the bough and let the horse go
from under her. In dropping to the
ground her ankle turned and she fell.
faint with sudden pains, to the ground.
Unable to move, she rocked to ana frO.
rubbing the injured ankle and calling
loudly for help.
After some time she heard footsteps
approaching and called out. In answer
! a mans voice said. Where are your"
over here by the tree" she replied.
and then, "Oh, Mr.. Tracy, I'm SO glad
II Is you. I've hurt my ankle. You
, know. l thought 1t would be great fun
to ride that old work horse and SO
put the saddle on him and started out
| alone. He went beautifully till ! de-
/ cided to try the trail through the
| woods. and It is perfectly silly, but we
ran into this tree and his mouth was
so hard I could not pull him away"
why, what did you do?"
| do! Why, / simply hung up there
like Absolom and then dropped
: wasn't II stupid guess l sprafned my
ankle for I can't get up"
/ Let me carry you, Miss Christy.
It's wonderful your brains weren't
knocked out"
| The next day Elsie Christy held
court on a couch In the library and all
the members of the house party came
In to cheer and entertain her but one.
4 tNus hn
| her home.
Left alone at last. she lay there
thinking about II, when the door open
ed quietly. The man in the door hes
itated and then turned to leave after
| seeing the occupant please don't go,
am perfectly harmless, for In my en-
feebled condition l couldn't move II
wanted to-"
Il thought perhaps you preferred
being alone" he answered. You
know better-please sit here and let's
be perfectly frank. I've been here Wis
iting two whole weeks and you have
avoided and hardly spoken a word to
me In that time. II I enter a room you
go out and simply seem TO hate me
then, came my accident and YOU
haven't even allowed me to thanh
YOU"
why no thanks are necessary an6
/ i ASSURE you l don't hate you-I sup.
pose I am a bear, but you. 1 know
have been told little about me-every
, one understands prefer being lone
. but. well, ! believe I will tell you VIII,
] am SO miserable and why IL Is 81
: hard for me that you should be here
, Eight years ago, while I was still go
ing to college. I became engaged to
beautiful girl-as / was young an,
} had my way to make In the world, on
, engagement was long. lasting flv,
, years. never tired Of her for a mo
ment and thought she didn't with me
but once after being away couple o
} days. returned unexpectedly and find
: ing the door of her house open. wakes
In unannounced. 1t In SO hard for IN
| TO tell you, but she was there wit
/ another man and his arms were aroun
her-I flew out OF the house, packe
my belongings and rushed away fror
the ss S,sy wrote and asked m. to for.,v
? her, but I never could. l gave up m
: business without thought and bega
to squander the money l had savet
;. Things went from bad to worse.
I tasted every vice and simply went
the dogs. When I was down and on
!. father came for me and brought m
I home. a miserable wreck-fm nc
suicide with cigarettes"
Her hand reached out instinctively.
. How horrible! oh, TIM so sorr.
J. But where do l come in. Mr.. Tracyf'
!, "Just here, you look enough like he
to be her sister and your name is tn
9 ment. every act each time your nam
), Is spoken II reminds me of her. and
was trying so hard to forget"
9 His younger brothers house part
]. was soon to break up and the lon
4 days Elsie christy was compelled