Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-21

few moments It seemed to grow faint
er and fainter, and choking lump
rose in his throat as he watched the
pallor Of death nxing itself on the
councillors shrtveled face. What
strange chord Of sympathy was It that
bound him to this old man? Was It
the same mysterious influence that
| had attracted Marion to him? He
| dropped upon his knees and called
the girls name softly but 1t awakened
no response in the sightless eyes. no
| tremor in the parted, unquivering
lips. Very slowly as the minutes
passed there came reaction. The
pulsations of the weakened heart be-
came little stronger. he could catch
| family the sound Of breath coming
from between the old mans lips.
With a gasp Of relief Nathaniel rose
to his feet Through the door he saw
| the red glare In the northern sky and
heard the great bell at st. James ring
q wilder and more excited alarm. For
| few moments he stood in silent
listening inacuon, his nerves tingling
with strange sensation Of impending
ferrous trembling Of the earth beneath
his feet. the volcano of IRE, the clang-
ing of the bell and the councillors
| insane rejoicing had all come so sud
denly that he was dazed. What great
calamity, what fearful vengeance, was
about to come upon the Mormon king
dom? Was it possible that the fish
ermen and settlers of the mainland
had risen, as Obadiah had said, and
we're already at hand to destroy Strang
and his people? The thought spurred
like fire through his veins. What
would it mean to Marion-to Neil?
In his excitement he started down
the path that led to the lilac hidden
home beyond the forest. Then he
| thought again of Obadiah and his last
choking utterance Of Marions name.
| He had tried to speak Of her, even
with that death-like rafting of the
breath in his throat; and the memory
for words brought Nathaniel quickly
back to the cabin. He bent over Oba-
diah's shriveled form and spoke the
| girls name again and again in his
ears. There came no response, no
CULVER of life to show that the old
man was conscious Of his presence.
AS he worked over him, bathing his
| face and chest In cool water, the feel
| ing became strong in him that he was
| fighting death in this gloomy room for
Marion's sake. It was like the whis-
| - tell ~ tv, hsr
ears-something more than PRESENT.
ment. something that made his own
heart grown faint when death seemed
winning in the struggle. His watch
fulness was acute, intense. desperate.
When, after q time, he Strengthened
himself again, rewarded by Obadiah's
more regular breathing, the sweat
stood in beads upon his face He knew
that he had triumphed. Obadiah
would live, and Marian-
He placed his mouth close to the
councillors ear.
TELL me about Marion" he said
again. "Marion-Marion-M
He waited, sitting his own breath
to catch the sound of a whisper. None
came. AS he bent over him he saw
through the open door that the red
glare Of fire had faded to a burnt
out glow in the sky. In the deep ST.
lence the sullen beating of the bell
seemed nearer, and he could hear the
excited barking Of dogs in st. James.
Slowly the hope that Obadiah might
speak to him died away and he re-
turned to the door. It still lacked an
hour OF midnight, when Marion had
promised to come to him. He was
wildly impatient and to his Impotence
was added the fear that had filled him
as he lowered over Obadiah, a name
less, intangible fear-something which
he could not have analysed and
which olutched at his heart and urged
him to follow the path that led to
Marion's. For q time he resisted the
impulse, What II she should come by
another path while he was gone? He
waited nefvously in the edge of the
forest, watching, and listening for
foostepa- Each minute seemed like an
hour marked into seconds by the sol
emn, steady tolling of the bell, and
after a little he found himself I'M
COAC(AOuDAy A4CoouA MIG SAAS Wy SOAAI-
ing the strokes. Then he went out
into the path, He followed it, step
by step. untn he could no longer see
the light in the cabin; his pulse beat
q little faster; he stared ahead into
the deep gloom between the walls of
forest-and quickened his pace If
Marion was coming to him he would
meet her. If she was not coming
IN his old fearless way he promptly
made up hts mind. He would 60 bold
~ to the cabin and tell that Neil was
waiting. He felt sure that the alaym
sounding from st. James had drawn
away the guards and that there would
be nothing to interfere with his plan.
II she had already left the cabin he
would return quickly to Obadiah's. In
his eagerness he began to run. Once
q sound stopped him-the distant beat
ing Of gallopfng hoofs. He heard the
shout Of man, a reply farther away,
the quick, excited yelping Of dog.
His blood danced as he thought of
the gathering of the Mormon fighters.
the men and boys racing down the
black trails from the inland forests.
the excitement IN st. James. AS he
ran On again he thought. Of Arbor