Gunnison news-champion., 1911-03-10

" NJ eosI { fess ~ kuassisse IN ssss
sust kVery .ais II nag head. every
ssrve. every Isi,cr ~ NE. Was vtasrsi
nag q nsisifs . times q SECOND. I Was
nuasb. torts I'd. dcisrious wist fever.
sAaking vii q chili
4 saw Ia K at intervals In thai
ouful nr-s 1 issaBs he had extin9uislsea
she gas. ba tlse moon aud the dawn
ssone slinly in which his face half
showed III. ne aud there the shadows
shifted. run. and fell-wave shadows
'frem above from below. from every
Gnae csaa a grinding. shattcring. roar
tne. liAe a hundred trains crossing .
very rattle u bseakine glass. the thun.
aerous crash II walls. wild screaHs
that grew feeble. ceased. then silence.
ran TO a window. hut could see
nothing bnt dust dust " shut out the
day and the moon. ] groped back iuto
the room. Jack Was standing In the
open door twisting aad unit " isting his
soft felt hat.
'1Earthquake, My God'' he cried In
. hoarse whisper.
! tried 10 speak. but my tongue vas
frozen. I reached out my hand and
touched his coat. I felt the warmth ~
his body and laughed like q child that
feels the pressure ~ IT'S mothers kiss
IN the dark
He clutehed my arm. ''Comer' he
cried. Gomez 1t was a savage cry
yet trembling with agony.
"W'here?' asked. I was frightened
af my own voice.
Amy" he cried. "Merciful God.
Amy
We went down the stairs -stagQer
ing. falling. struggling. we went down
the stairs. He was the first IN the
street. | after him He led the way
and iron, through dust that choked
and blinded. we ran. The streets were
full Of people. running like we were
Rut there was no word spoken, save
only the cry Of some one under Q wall
or the grooming Of q mother to Q child
IN her arms.
Was beginning 10 breathe ence
sss''sS "bf~s w ~ - - ~ e'sP ~ ttft
when again came The rumble and roar
and the earth trembleA In Its agony
Tall buildings leaned till they all hat
touched. I could see bot a narrow
line of sky between. Z thoaeht they
woalA fall ana crush me, bat ! didn't
care. I didn't care fos anything
wanted to laugh. I thought II didn't
laugh I'd die. But I didn't5 ran.
could hardly keep on my feet.
seemed to he stumbling over ridges os
earth that sank out Of sight when I
stepped on them.
Jack kept right ahead of me. hut
presently he stopped so suddenly that
I ran into him.
"Oh." he said. Il can't leave them
there" His face was pale as death.
Anxiety burned In his eyes. bet .
great pity trembled in his voice.
'Cant leave whom?' I gaspeA, bat
already he had turned back.
followed. ana We came to q frail
woman sitting ON the curbstone In
her arms was a baby. At her knee
was little girl. The girl was crying
On the woman's face was the paleDese
of utter exhaustion. on her lips was
a prayer. ana In her eyes, resting On
her children. the deep pain with which
love embitters despair.
Madam" he said. 'you will let n
help you?"
She looked at him. In her eyes 4
blessing worlds could not purchase
He clasped the baby in his arms and
motioned for me to take the girl
| Then. with his strong hand graspine
| the woman's arm. We hurried away.
Three blocks distant man holtet
into us-a large. broad shouIdered mar
ard dirt ON his face that shone pal,
peneath. The woman threw her arm
about the mans neck ard sobbed. an,
the man took Jacks hand ard held :
FOR an instant. then rnaf bed forth hi
arms for the babe. lack kissed tn
| child and handed it to him and stoo,
looking at 1t wistful'y until they wer
swallowed hv the throne
We passed a church. The door Wa
open A few candles burned dimly
without ON the stone steps blncl
I Ftttu ItfleSt Stttd- cru lin IN All
chanting About him few Of tn
faithful knelt. His black locks wer
! blowing IN the rising breeze. His eye
were upturned. Upon his calm fac
was written. Peace. he STILL
% we came to corner. where Jac
paused and cauSh; my arm. His fac
was without color CHASTITY in tn
weird Hight ~ the new day. His voie,
was scarcely mere than whisper
HIS eyes shone like those Of one VIII
has sfaked his last cent upon the tur-
- wheel and knows the is~ne Is Iif
- death.
"Torn.- he cried. look, I canpo,
cannot He covered his face wft
~ hands. He was trembling. A chill
. snn past crying for ITS mother
~Lpok whereg- ! asked.
He cianced at me dumbly ana raise
~ hard n his head. then lowered 3
a rid blateh CLEANED duly on II
orow NJ the s-dce Of his hair His Hl
U4D were rtd