River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-09-28

horses had slowed down to a walk,
the heavy sand retarding progress. 1t
was a gloomy, depressing scene in the
spectral gray light. a wide circle OF
intense loneliness, unbroken by either
dwarfed shrub or bunch Of grass.
barren expanse stretching to the sky.
Vague cloud shadows seemed to fit
across the level surface, assuming fan
tastic shapes. but all Of the same dull
coloring. imperfect and unfinished.
Nothing seemed tangible or real. but
rather some grotesque picture of de-
lirium, ever merging into another yet
more hideous. The very silence of
those surrounding wastes seemed bur-
densome, adding UNNECESSARILY to the
horror They were but specks crawl
ing underneath the sky-the only liv-
ing, moving objects in all that i'm
mense circle of desolation and death.
Keith turned in his saddle. looking
back past Neb--who swayed in his
seat, with head lolling on his breast
as though asleep. his horse plodding
after the others-along the slight trail
they had made aCross the desert. So
far as eye could reach nothing moved.
nothing apparently existed Fronting
again to the north he looked upon the
same grim barrenness. only that far
of. against the lighter background OF
distant sky, there was visible a faint
| blur, a blush haze, which he believed
! to be the distant sand dunes border
| ing the Arkansas. The intense dreari-
ness of 1t all left feeling ofdepresslon.
His eyes turned and regarded the girl
riding silently beside him. The same
| look of depression was visible upon
her face, and she was gazing off into
! the dull distance with lack luster eyes.
her slender form leaning forward. her
hands clasped across the pommel.
| The long WEAKNESS of the night had
left traces on her young face. robbing
it of some of it's freshness. yet Keith
found it more attractive in the grow
ing daylight than amid the lamp shad-
ows OF the evening before. He had
not previously realized the peculiar
clearness of her complexion. the rose
| tint showing through the olive skin.
or the soft and silky fineness OF her
hair, which. disarranged, was strange
| ly becoming under the broad brim OF
the hat she wore. drawn low until 1t
Swallowed her eyes. 1t was not face
to be easily associated with frontier
concert halls, or any surrender to
evil; the chin round and firm. the lips
full. yet sufficiently compressed: the
whole expression that of pure and
dignifled womanhood. She puzzled
him. and he scarcely knew what to
believe. or exactly how to act toward
her.
Our friends back yonder should be
turning out from the corral by now"
he said finally. anxious to break the
silence, for she had not spoken since
he ended his tale. 1T will not be
long until they discover Hawley's
predicament. and perhaps the welkin
already rings with profanity. That
may even account for the blue haze
out yonder."
She turned her eyes toward him.
and the slightest trace of 3 smile ap-
peared from out of the depths of their
WEAKNESS.
IF they would only remain satisfied
| Win lHdl. VIII luSy AOllo" U.s. w
you think? And are we far enough
away by this time to be safer"
1T is hardly likely they will let us
escape without a chase" he answered
slowly. I'VE possess too much infor-
nation now that we have their rem
devious located. and Black Bart will
have a private grudge to revenge. l
| wonder If he suspects who attacked
him! But don't worry. Miss Hope:
we have miles the start. and the wind
has been strong enough TO cover our
trail Do you see that dark irregular
fty ahead?'
Yes: is 1t a cioud?"