The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-01-14
CHAPTER XvII.-(contiuued., ,

strange disorder now. Negley should have
made an effort ere this TO reach him. The
power that devastated the city and witt
unspent violence swept the morne NIGH
have reached three leagues at sea Save
that the gray was Interchangeable in The
roof of the world, he could not believe
that all this was one day. Lara
would never forgive him for being whole
at the price of her mothers eyes There
seemed no adjustment possible for this
cruel play Of his service. He
called the mothers name softly, but his
words made no impress in frenzy
at last, and felt her shudder in his arms
''Boyr
yes, yes"
''Iell Lara, that there was no yesterday
no last night! And leave me herein
! the dark %
How long afterwards he never knew.
but he awoke to find himself uttering 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
It a 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 q CRY
from Lara, and deemed it the encroach-
ment Of personal madness. Scornfully he
answered. Again the voice Of the WON
an He arose and called her name. A
shadow darkened the oriice, and he 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
yalor and tenderness--it may be that sf
ter the most exalted passage Of agony and
terror, two of Earth's people were return
ed to each other in the strsngeness Of
these. One swOoning at the curb of an
ancient cistern, under the hot leaden sky.
the falling sea before, and Peles, with
his tens of thousands slain, on her RICH.
hand the other in the pit below, standing
in the cooling water. and calling upon her
to forgive him for failing in that which
only the gods could do. 1t may be tina,
in the collection Of EaFths tableauI an
other such film 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 had brought imperious conscious
ness, man-wise, instead Of collapse. 9Th |
FAINT Is nothin' IT'S fortune fur thin |
as can faint fur joy, an no HURT in Vi, |
SORT. Have you tn strent' I do til over |
hand up tn chain, wit tn fairest aT tin /
tousand at tn top, sorr?"
Constable placed his burden upon the /
stone slabs, caught the chain, and pulled /
himself free from the water. His weight 1
was a mountain. The five days had done
what four had not-played havoc with i
he one hundred and ninety pounds Of
manhood which struggled upward under
SIacready's cheers, and fell across the rim
If the cistern into Mscready's arms.
Lara awoke and found Constable bend
ng over her. Her eyes rested upon his
acerated hand, upon the swollen veins in
lis throat and temples. She saw blood
lpou his clothing. blisters upon his neck,
weat and mire upon his face.
The reality came that he was praying for
Ter to forgive him-because her mother
lad died in his arms.
Peter. my beloved ~ she muruured.
You say-that mother"
She halted. for the grief uprose in
IS fulIness in her mind. The day had
ut a look of horror in her eyes that
months would not efface. But
here was no mortal hurt upon her. Her
ostrils. lips, hands-all moved in their
-ay Of dear perfection. Some time she
-ould see that he had done his best.
Though he had failed in all else,
e had saved this masterpiece from harm.
But if | had not come back, she never
-ould have known" he pleaded. And
he forgave me-pm quite sure-as you'll !
,rgiye me"
What are you saying?" she cried sud I
emily. What do you mean? 1t is hor S
BILE, but came thinking to find you all ,
ing here-as they are in the city-all '
Fad and down-and | have found my z
yer living!" j
Macready and Ernst, sfsr of, watched q
lie pufs of smoke and steam rise like
.ay-white birds from the ruins.
Ernst, lad, said the other. 9TH boss U
/ tn radin lady are havin' an intel g
chooal repasht in tn cinter az tn y
a-age, be tn ould well. Bear in moind
,u're chorus gurrl, an conduct your a
If in accord"