Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-20

The big black picking his way heavily across the
uneven ground, lodging to the right now to the
left to avoid the trees huge ghosty shapes that swept
Steele across the face with singing hngerstat tore
at clothing and flesh.
He must have gone mile now-perhaps more-he
could not tell for nothing passed but blackness-op-
pressing terrible blac<ness He powerless to tell
where he was where lay the ravine. 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 ravne He might strike it the far
side if So he could stand its edge and by shouting
from time to time warn her of her danger But he
get there frst
Stumbling, the black crowded against tree, and
Steees leg was caught between horse and trunk. Still,
he did not check his mount though his leg scraped
from ankle to thigh
AS his horse stopped to sniff the ground before him,
the darkness bore Steeles eager the sound of
hoofbeats 1t must be she And in another instant she
would lie crushed and bleeding the foot of the Leap
for she was still distance away and the hel-trap
must lie somewhere in the Dense livid blacness that
separated them.
He did not hesitate. But with warning cry Of
Barbara Barbara" he plunged red spurs into the
black body beneath him.
He felt the tense, spaSmodc contraction of mighty
muscles. Then, like bolt from cross-bow the great
animal sprang straight at the black wall of darkness.
The girl on the chestnut cantering swiftly along
through the night reined her to its launches
she heard the cry. For instant nothing greeted her
strainng but silence And then there almost
from under the very head of her dull crashing
noise and horrid sounds like the swapping OF dry tgs.
and the blood-chiing scream of horse. And then
silence again
She leaped from the back of the shivering 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 brdgeless chasm and from beneath
her the sound of groans
Not for an instant did she hesitate One little foot,
in its pateneather rding-boot, swung the rough
edge of the ravine 1t felt about in the utter darkness,
and at last found projecting point of rock, and from
that foohod she again groped downward and at length
reached the bottom of the chasm. Then, with hands
outstretched she went slowly onward led by the gasp
ngs growing fainter, of the dying horse. The
groanngs of the man had ceased and her heart stood
still
She found him lying there beside the horse. And for
a fraction of instant she stood in 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
iumned his white set face. And then, suddenly with
a cry she fell forward, her lips his
- g.
the body beneath her stir and groan from the
lips Startled, she leaped quickly backward In the
dense darkness she could hear him moving.
al must get there first" he muttered, and his voice,
though weak, was tense with purpose He struggled to
his knees and at length gained his feet and stood sway
ing unseadily in H. darkness, while she silent,
helpless, for she had fhought him dead
And then the girl awole from her dream of despair
and called to him softly.
"Her voice he cried unsteadly "S She'll be killed
must get there frst" and he shouted again. tremu
lously the warning that she had heard he and the
big black had taken that desperate plunge from Lovers
Leap.
But even as he called she before him and
The little chestnut whinnied, long, mpatiently.
"Hallo-o-o-o-o-o-o!" came from the brink of the
chasm and the bright little eye of lantern peered
inqusitvey The voice Gendinnings
Are you there?" the voice again, anxious
fearing, eager
"Yes," answered Steele. Here"
Both of you2" came chorus of tense queries.
Both of u.s., was the reply; and the mans voice
not alone
Oh, then you aren't dead +" came in tones of great
relief and abiding joy from the brink.
On the contrary" the reply, this time in the
voice of the man. " l am just beginning to live"
And what then happened saw; for it was dark,
very dark to some; and yet brighter than Gods own
to others.