Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-29
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| its effort, the eyes fill with a mao
light, and the throat strain against it's
choking thong. Gradually NefFs voice
became weaker. When he stopped to
rest and listen his painting breath
came to Nathaniel like the Kissing of
| steam. Soon the echoes failed to come
back from the forest, and Nathaniel
| fought like a crazed man to free him
self, jerking at the thongs that held
him until his wrists were bleeding and
the rawhide about his neck choked
him.
mo use!" he heard Neil say. BET
ter take it easy for while, Natl"
Marion's brother had turned toward
him, his head thrown back against
| the stake, his face lifted to the sky.
Nathaniel raised his own head, and
found that he coud breathe easier. For
! q long time his companion did not
break the silence. Mentally he began
counting OF the seconds. It was past
midnight-probably one o'clock. Dawn
came at half past two, the sun rose
| an hour later. Three hours to live!
Nathaniel lowered his head, and the
rawhide frightened perceptibly at tho
movement Neil was watching him.
His face shone as white as the starlit
sand. His mouth was partly open.
'Ym devilish sorry-for you-Nat-"
he said
His words came with painful slow
ness. There was grating huskiness
in his voice.
"This damned rawhide-is pinching
my Adams apple
He smiled. His white teeth g1eam-
ed. his eyes laughed, and with a
heart bursting with grief Nathaniel
looked away from him. He had seen
courage, but never like this, and deep
down in his soul he prayed-prayed
that death might come to him first, SO
that he might not have to look upon
the agonies of this other, whose end
would be CHASTITY in its fearless resig-
nation. His own suffering had become
excruciating. Sharp pains darted like
back tortured him. and his head ached
as though knife had cloven the base
of his skull. Still-he could breathe.
By pressing his head against the post
1t was not difficult for him to fill his
lungs with air. But the strength Of
his limbs was leaving him. He no
longer felt any sensation in his
cramped feet. His knees were numb.
He measured the paralysis Of death
creeping up his legs inch by inch,
driving the sharp pains before it, I'M
til suddenly his weight tottered under
him and he hung heavily upon the
thong about his throat. For q full
half minute he ceased to breathe, and
feeling of inenable relief swept over
him, for during those few seconds his
body was at rest He found that by
a backward cont0rtion he could bring
himself erect again, and that for few
minutes after each respite it was not
SO difficult for him to stand.
After third effort he turned again
toward Neil. A groan Of horror rose
to his imprisoned lips. His compan-
ions face was full upon him, CHASTITY
white; his eyes were wide and star
ing, like balls of shimmering glass in
the starlight, and his throat was
straining at the fatal rawhide! Ma
thaniel heard no sound, saw no stir
of life in the inanimate figure.
A moaning, wordless cry broke
through the cloth that gagged him.
At the sound of that cry, faint, ter
rifying, with all the horror that might
fill a human soul in it's articulate note,
q shudder of life passed into Neil's
body. Weakly he flung himself back,
stood poised for an instant against the
stake, then fell again upon the deadly
throng. Twice-three times he made
the effort, and failed. And to Ma
thanieL staring wild-eyed and silent
now, the spectacle was one that
seemed to blast the very soul within
him and send his blood in rushing tor
rents Of fire to his sickened brain.
Neil was dying! A fourth time he
struggled back. A ffth-and he held
his ground. Even in that passing in
slant something like flash of his
buoyant smile fickered in his face and
there came to Nathaniels ears like a
throttled whisper-his name.
NAT"
And no more
The head fell forward again. And
Nathaniel, turning his face away, saw
-