Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-06-20

They were still in the midst of the
yellow festureless plain. but the weary
horses had slowed down to a walk,
the heavy sand retarding progress II
was gloomy, depressing scene in the
spectral gray light. a wide circle Of
Intense loneliness. unbroken by either
dwarfed shrub CT bunch OF grass, a
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 spscks 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 horae 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
off. against the lighter background Of
distant sky, there was visible a faint
blur, blush haze. which he believed
to be the distant sand dunes border
Ing the Arkansas. The intense dreari-
ness Of 1t all left feeling ofdepression.
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 of 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
1t OF some of its 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
ciearness Of her complexion, the rose
tint showing through the olive skin,
or the soft and silky hneness of her
hair, which, disarranged, was strange
~ becoming under the broad brim OF
| the hat she wore, drawn low until Il
I Swallowed her eyes. 1t was not a 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
| dignifed 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 4"
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 a smile ap-
peared from out Of the depths of their
WEAKNESS.
- NANJ "O0AQ OAig bdNlSlltN
with that. VIII they follow US, do
you think? And are we far enough
away by this time to be safe?"
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 private grudse to revenge. |
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
fly ahead?"
Yes; is it a cloud?"
NO; the Arkansas sand dunes. |
, am going to try to keep the horses
moving until we arrive there. Then
We will halt and eat whatever Neb
has packed behind him, and rest for
an hour or two. You look very tired,
but / hope you can keep up for that
distance. We shall be safely out OF
sight then"
Indeed, l am tired: the strain OF
waiting alone in that cabin, and ali
that happened last night. have tried
me severely. But-but can so
! through"
Her voice proved her weakness, al
though It was determined enough. and
Keith. yielding to sudden impulse, put
out his hand, and permitted it to rest
upon hers, clasped across the pommel.
Her eyes dropped, but there was no
change of posture.
Your nerve is all right" he said,
admiringly. you have shown yourself
brave girl"
Il could not be coward, and be
my fathers daughter" she replied.
with an odd accent of pride in her
choking voice. but have been afraid,
and-and | am still"
"Of what? Surely, not that those
fellows will ever catch up with us?"
No. hardly know What, only there
is dread | cannot seem to shake of,
! as If some evil impended, the coming
OF which / can feel, but not see. Have
you ever experienced any such pre-
mOnition ?"