El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-10
The HeraId's
Daily Short Stery

pushed it over, and with great salts
faction he saw the body rolling down
faster and faster Without another
glance at his still unconscious adyer-
sary, he climbed down after the otar.
The sun was about to set when con-
sciousness returned to Asager. Press
ing his hands against his aching head,
he got up and sneaked away.
Weeks had passed. When his wife
had told him what had happened dur
ing his absence, Grub had cleared the
underground away from the mouth Of
the cave that il might be easier to
catch sight Of an approaching enemy
in time to get into safety inside. When
he had finished he found that big
tree was still in the way, and today
he had started to get rid Of this last
obstruction Of his view. Gnub was
assisted by his boy. whose foot had
now healed. The baby was playing on
the ground near its mother.
None of the family had any idea that.
hidden behind a rock, man was
watching them with eyes full of dead
~ hatred. It was Asager, who had
accidentally come near. the cave and
who had recognized Gnub at first
glance.
Now he was watching for chafce
to get revenge. Suddenly Asager Was
startled The mother had picked up
her baby to find a safe place to leave
it while she worked. She put it down
in front of the rock behind which Asa
ger was hiding and went to her work.
With wicked grin. Asager saw that
chance had come TO his assistance. To
strangle the baby, crush its head
against the ROCK and throw the bloody
body at the feet of the parents was
the plan that formed in his brain.
Without making the slightest noise,
he crept nearer TO the baby. Then
rolling stone betrayed him. The baby
turned around.
Asager hesitated moment Then he
rushed at the baby and caught its
throat in his powerful hand. slight
pressure and its life would be gone.
But Asager's fingers. did not move
The baby was not scared at all, but
looked at Asager with a strange ex-
prtssion in its big blue eyes and he
felt q sensation he had never expert
enced before. He stared at the baby,
that suddenly smiled and began 70 play
with his big beard
\The hatred left Asager's heart. Care
fully he laid, down the baby on the
ground and looked at it timfdly. Then
he ran away as if chased by demons.
Asager did not stop until he was
quite out of breath. Painting, he threw
himself on the ground He felt that he
could not run away from his own self.
The unknown feeling that had over
come him when the baby looked at
him still held him in its grip. He
stared confusedly around, unable to
understand what had happened within
him.
He had held his enemy's most pre-
cious treasure in his hand and still he
had not killed it. Terrified, he jumped
up. He could find only one explana-
ton: His strength must suddenly have
left him. The baby had been stronger
than he. a terrible thought If he
was no longer as strong as a child,
how was he to take up the terrible
struggle for life?
His eyes caught sight of a young
tree. He took hold of its slender trunk
and tore it out of the ground, roots
and ALL
Triumphantly he looked at 1t. If the
baby were only here now, he would no
longer be weak
Suddenly he trembled. 1t was as If
he saw once more the blue eyes of the
baby looking at him. and az the same
moment ne knew that EVEN now he
would not be able to kill the baby
He looked about afraid Of himself
The moon was high in the sky. Asa
ger had made his resting place for the
night among the branches of a big
tree. He stared at the countless stars
above, all unconscious of the mighty
bound forward which the hands of the
clock Of human evolution had made.
Poor primeval Asager did not sus-
pect that in him had first begun the
final separation between man and
beast, that in him pity had first been
born.