The Washington times., 1911-11-05
CHAPTER XIX {continued).
? EFT because II is easier to do
Z something than to do nothing,
we kept on aimlessly. namely.

we kept on 61mles1iys tnhneiy,
our feet blowing shuffngly
vacuous way through the ankle
deep ashes. For how long time
we continued this futile Journey or
whether up or down hill could not tell
Billy alone was gay at heart. chuckling
ever to himself or breaking now and
then into muttered comments on the
completeness and cleverness Of the af-
fair.
Seems like Christmas at tn old farm.
with the property snowstorm ragin.
dent it?" he observed. shaking the
ashes from his shoulders.
To one who has watched the solemn,
women OF Bllly's class go through tun-
nels of pitlikc darkness and down APP
parently homicidal scenic railways and
loop-the-loop machines at Ccney Island.
The Bowery boy who takes a trip
down the Luna Park chutes does not
know why he Is not dashed at once to
death. But he has sublime faith that
he will not be. 30 now had Billy
A sudden thought pierced through the
general volume Of feEr that encom-
pas passed me. We were herrying on with
lava streams that by this time were
doubtless stTging DOWNWARD from. the
iip Of the crater. or even possibly
toward that very crater itself. ! opened
at once l felt Doris. slender form grow
heavy on my arm.
I'll I'm az sfraid.I.I-can't It go any far
The only wonder was that SO fragile
q woman had been able for such a long
time to keep up our rapid pace through
the clogging drifts Of volcanic dust and
under the fury OF that ash storm. We
all three came to "A stOrl.
Letting go Of Billy ! supported the
painting girl with both my arms.
tent,v am 50 Ga sorry she ssl Sallsd peni sd
didn't want to be a hindrance to you.
But I can't go on
Then let US stay here" replied.
at sis down and rest .BI,sr Billy and .b will
coats and try to keep the ash drifts
from covering you.'
And stay here to be overwhelmed
broke in. .SS iYou two u would throw throw away way
your lives because ! am too weak to go.
with you in safety? No, no! you are
both strong. You have chance to es-
ali three die. You must"
''Say, MISS" explained Billy, you're
scared over nothin.' There amt any
more danger here than If you was
watchin' the snow In a theater.
Walt a moment" she Interrupted.
Before I could divine her intention she
had summoned what atom Of strength
remained In her exhausted body and
had darted away from my side into the
engulfing darkness. ,,.
started up amazed. Then in a fash
the meaning of her strange action
dawned on me.
II she remained with US she knew we
would not stir from the perilous place
until she should be able to accompany
us, and that to linger long in one SPOT
was to court certain destruction from
the fall Of ashes. She would thus rob
us Of our one chance of life.
n. on the other hand. we were re-
lieved OF ner presence, she knew We
could go on and that we might in time
was one chance in a hundred and she
thought that by Kidding us of the bur-
den OF remaining to protect her she
was giving us that one chance.
The poor child had slipped away into
the impenetrable darkness-she might
miles, for all the hope we had of find
ing her. once she was beyond arms
reach--to sacrifice her own life that we
might perhaps live .......
II was insane, but II was glorious,
that last desperate self-sacrificc of the
woman ! loved and had tried SO hard
l shouted; and again and again I
shouted, my voice muffied by the ash
storm. as I alternately begged, COM
manded and implored her to come back
to give us a sign OF her whereabouts.
ears. nor was there sound of football.
In that dep carpet OF ashes the tramp
NJ troop Of horses would have been
noiseless.
She was gone beyond recall. Oh, my
brave, brave love! I