The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-08-24
EVEN UNTO THE
VALLEY OF SHADOWS.
By Mrs. Mary Louise Buzzell.


The song died away under the clat-
ter Of dishes in the rough hostelry OF
the mining town. But into the throat
Of the boy outside, it had brought a
gripping ache; al irrepressible long
Ing to go to the lonely woman in the
solitary cabin up among the frowning
hills.
A week ago, while searching the
woods for a strayed heifer, he had
been suddenly confronted by a stran-
ger, who, tossing him the bride Of a
painting horse, had thrust a pistol
into his face with a savage Injunction
to take the animal and "clear OUT"
before disappearing. Too frightened
to refuse, he had barely slipped the
+, bride over his arm when a bowling
mob appeared over a distant ridge
and their enraged yells Of: There he
is! Shoot the thief" told him all.
The horse had been stolen and these
men took him for the thief! And in
aoidfeld horse thieves were given
short shrift.
For an instant he stood staring
paralyzed by remembrance Of the aw-
full sight he. had once stumbled upon
In the silent forest, where ~self-consti-
tuted dispensers Of justice had left
their victim dangling in gruesome in
ertness from a creaking branch!
IA bullet whistled overhead - he
ducked, and with a singing blow sent
the horse snorting into the brush,
then darted away in an opposite di-
%rection. But now, after a week of
starving days and hideous nights, and
with only the darkness to shield him
from his pursuerS. he was going to
risk almost inevitable capture by 60
Ing home.
And so, as the night shadows fed
before the flushing dawn, the watcher
In her mountain home heard a faint
ly breathed: Mother"
Her heart leaped to the call, her
fingers few to the fastenings Of the
door; then her arms held her boy
half starved and shaking with cold.
He painted out his story, clinging
to her piteously. Choking back her
tears she half led, half carried him to
the Soft above, coaxing him to rest on
the rude bed. She fed him-bathed
his drawn face, his swollen feet,
quieting his fears with comforting
words, and soon, under her soothing
voice he fell into the deep sleep Of
utter exhaustion. Kneeling, she
rained kisses on his pale face; held
her cheek to his for one lingering
moment, then CROPPED her tear-blind-
ed way to the room below.
But here her movements became
decisive, for with the quick mind Of
one early thrown upon her own re-
sources, she had already decided what
to do. Throwing off her dress she
put on a suit belonging to the sleep
ing boy, thrust her feet into a pair of
his boots, pulled his wide brimmed
hat low over her eyes, and went out.
She struck into the trail leading to
the town, assuming a boyish stride.
Save for the scurrying rabbits and
cawing crows she was apparently
alone in the forest, although several
times she thought she saw watching
eyes peering from behind the gray
boulders. But-unmolested, she kept
on her way and at dusk came in sight
Of the scattered houses of the town.
Here she dropped down beside the
dusty ribbon of road-wondering if
her plan had worked. She feared she
had, failed, everything seemed so
quiet-cven the Red Lion being to all
appearances without it's usual even
ing patrons. Perhaps after all
A heavy hand on her shoulders
brought her to her feet. The silence
was broken by angry mutterings-
the stretch Of waste peopled with
shadowy forms pressing aggressively
about her. She swallowed convul-
sively, and her captor, mistaking the
motion for an effort to speak, growled
brutally:
mo palaver, boy! You're guilty
all right! Clancy, here, saw you run
ming his horse off! Amt that right,
C~lancy?"
Clancy muttered a gruff confrma-
ton.
you hear-that settles it! Come
along-we make short work of horse
thieves out here!"
She "a hustled under a tree-her
hands tied-a rope slip-noosed around
her neck. AS the ropes e~ndaswished
upward to encircle a stout branch a
quivering shudder shook her; then
she set her teeth determinedly-no
weakness on her part should show
them their mistake. 1t would soon
be over and-well, her feet were al
ready treading the thither slope, but
for her boy life was just beginning.
So
A 1.-the form shot out of the dark
ness, a boys shrill voice screamed:
"Stop-you towards! You are hang
Ing a woman! Oh, mother!"
He threw aside the man holding
the rope, catching her as she fell
{ainting.
"She left me asleep" he painted
land drew you away from the noun
tain to save me! Shed have died for
me, too-if 1 hadn't got here just as
I did! But remember--if this kills
her every Il of you look out, you