Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-11-25
Ell TERREMOTO.
A Love Affair That Reached
Its Climax With a Shock.
BY HoNoRE wILLsIE.


been ON the desert edge fighting for her
brothers health. At first the despera-
ton OF the struggle had kept her
thoughts from straying eastward; had
crammed with anxiety each moment
that otherwise would have been wretch
ed with Inconsistencies.
But now, with the leisure that came
with Jacks returning health. homesick-
ness was beginning its inroads upon
her. This made doubly. hard to bear
the fact that Jack was developing the
righteousness of the convalescent and
that an ordinary pacific disposition was
becoming so irritable that 1t taxed even
the devotion of this most devoted sis
ter. On this particular afternoon he
had expressed an inordinate desire for
a certain brand OF cigars.
But, Jack, DEAR" objected Eleanor,
"the doctor says that you must not
smoke"
"who says want to smoker" growl
ed Jack. II just want to look at them
and snifr Of them and feel them. And
] want them today"
Eleanor sighed patiently. TITS five
miles to town. Jacky. And though It's
o'clock, it's frightfully hot. Don't
you want to wait until tomorrow
"Oh, OF course II you don't want to
do the favor for me-" replied the in
valid. walking feebly across the tent to
pick up fan.
"Why, certainly I'm going, Jacky,"
she cried. 1.-THE heat won't last much
longer" and she disappeared toward
her own tent. leaving her brother look
ing bit sheepish.
SO nowS Eleanor was riding slowly
along the blistering trail toward the
sleepy little adobe village which boast
ed a single Yankee store. at which she
thought she could get the Cigars. She
was a beautiful girl, slender of body
and lovely of face, with the refine
ment of good blood through many gen.
erations showing In every lineament.
Her dark blue eyes, Swallowed by the
heavy lashes, looked tired. and her
figure dropped "a little as II in utter
weariness.
TITS getting pretty hard" she
thought. "It's spring up there, with
the snow melting into little rivulets
and the pussy willows out and the
wild flowers coming. Only the thought
of Jacks getting well keeps me from
going mad"
She started little as a CHEEKY hal
loo greeted her and she saw riding
down the trail toward her a broad
shouldered, jolly chap in cowboy at
tire. He wheeled his mustang and
rode beside her.
II was taking jaunt out to tell you
that I have almost finished my work
and must fly eastward again."
'tOh, that is too badv' cried Eleanor.
The mans fine brown eyes beamed.
1--WE only known you week." he an
swered, "but it's been a mighty pleas
ant week"
"Jack will miss you," said the girl.
The man eyed her silently. "She's
wearing herself out" he thought. II
wish i could take her away from
here. Burwells nearly strong enough
to go It alone now. By Jove. she's a
beautyw
Eleanor wiped the alkali dust from
her face ana told him the reason for
her trip to town.
Rather hard on you" commented
Hartley.
Eleanor smiled. but said nothing, and
they rode for some distance in silence.
Hartley's gaze scarcely leaving for an
instant the dropping profile beside him.
81 wonder" he thought. IF she real
ICES that she's never told me word of
herself, who she is or-by the Lord
Harry, IL she'd have me I'd marry her
tomorrow even IL they both came from
a founding asylum"
BY this time they were riding up the
street OF the dirty little Mexican vii
lage, whose Inhabitants were too alb
sorbed In the sight Of the Amertcanos
to move from beneath the horses feet
until urged to do so by Hartley In a
patois that made up in vigor what It
lacked in lucidity.
The Yankee store was the only frame
building for miles around. 1t was
owned by an enterprising vermonter.
who was making small fortune in the
lazy little town, where money went
faster than 1t came.
Hartley tied the horses, and they en-
tered the store. Just as they stepped
within the door 1t slammed shut vio-,
lently behind them, and the tremor of
its impact shook the entire. building
The storekeeper, the only other person
In the dusky room, looked up in sur
prise that quickly changed to alarm.
The tremor, instead of ceasing. in
creased. /.
whats the matter?" he cried, run
ming to the front Of the store.
II don't know" replied Hartley. "If
l were up north I'd think 1t was dy-
Mantle blast. but
Here the crockery in the window clat-
tered and roll Of turkey red fell to
the floor.
ITS an earthquakeH cried the Yer
monter. Come on. Get out of here
quickw And he made dash for the
knob. But the door was fast. and i'm
mediately the floor was rocking so VIC
lently that the whole room seemed fll-
ed with dying articles from the store
shelves. Hartley suddenly pulled Flea
nor toward him, as IL trying to shield
her with his body. Then a great rum
BILE. with continuous shocks like explo-
sions. a fearful crash nnd darkness!
1t had all happened in SO short
space of time that Eleanor had scarce
ly realized that she was actually en-