The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-06-15

ment. motionless. speechless. staring
toward each others dim shadow
through the darkness
Come" ! said nj last. holding out
my hand. Every moment OF delay
only serves to increase FOUR suffer
Ing"
She shrank back as though to avoid
my touch. aud. reckless Of all conse
quences. | lifted her slight form in my
arms. To my intense surprise she
made no resistance. no struggle. Her
head rested against my arm. with face
averted. but ! could feel a shudder run
through her body
You will be compelled TO ride man
fashion" I announced quietly Il
doubt II you could sit the saddle 10
any other way"
Whether IL was my calm insistence
or merely her own sense of inability
to resist longer | do not know. but for
a single instant ! felt the weight of
her hand upon my shoulder. and then
she had found seat in the saddle. her
head bowed forward. her hands clasp
ing the pommeI. as II the pain and ex
ertion had left her faint. Somewhere
In the passage. the uplifting. the re-
volver had slipped from her fingers
and fallen unnoticed into the black
ness of the road. Without uttering a
word ! shortened the stirrup leather
to meet her requirements. fastening
the one opposite back 50 II could not
dangle against BIER injured ankle.
Then I wet a silk neckerchief dlscov-
cred in the pocket of the jacket
wore. sousing the cloth with water
from the canteen. and bound It Sc
curely about the aching. swollen foot
Had ] better bind you into the sad
der
mo" the voice barely audible. II
shall not fall. Are-are you going to
waik-alI the wayT"
"Certainly."
1 could plainly distinguish the sob
Of her rapid breathing.
IL thank you"
That was all. yet ] cannot fitly ex-
press the comforf. the encouragement.
these few falteringly spoken words
brought to me. They were so unex
4 D6JItu. 81 oiEui1(dtt VI lnC nhtut
awakening of her more womanly ma
ture. as to yield me instantly q fresh
vision OF the girl. She had recognized
kindness. even In an enemy. and had
proved fair minded enough to respond
generously. Whatever might occur
bet ween us hereafter. she would never
be able TO remember me as before.
Yet | did not 1atter myself that this
slight outburst OF gratitude would
long endure. But I wondered vague
ly II she was not secretly glad to be
saved from Calvert Dunn even at SO
great a cost.
The return journey proved exceed
ingly slow. for the. intense pain she
suffered left her weak. Steady piod-
ding brought US to the cleft in the
rocks.
'gThis Is the road. is 1t not?"
"Yes; it is not far 10Y to Fairv1ew."
The path led downward. but not
steeply. winding somewhat crafty
among rocks and trees. until we finally
emerged upon the smooth grass land
of the lower valley. The silence here
was profound. the brooding night seem
ing even more dense and lonely than
upon the open ridge above. I felt my
uncertain way forward until the mar
row road suddenly ended before a high
gate. This | succeeded in opening
without much difficulty. and We fol-
lowed a graveled driveway that led
circIing to the front Of what appeared
in the gloom to be a house of consider.
able size. Ii was wrapped in dark
ness. AS I hesitated at the foot Of the
steps leading upward to the front door
l felt her extended hand touch my
shoulder.
what are you going to say-how
explain my being here alone with
you?"
1 glanced back toward her. wishing
1 could read the meaning Of her eyes.
the expression of her face.
81 was merely intending to name
myself as a Confederate officer. a
friend Of Lieutenant Dunn. intrusted
by him to bring you here for safety.
owing to his having been suddenly or.
dered out on special duty"
"And-and my accidents"
"Your horse stumbled in the dark
ness and fell, in consequence Of which
l was compelled to convey you on my
own"
She drew a deep breath of relief.
"Yes. that will do-that will be best
now: they need never know the whole
truth"
The expression of her face could not
be seen. yet | NEW she was leaning
slightly forward. as though seeking
vainly to decipher my features in the
gloom
81 feel that you have sufficient rea-
son to dislike me-" l began. anxious to
uncover. If possible. her true feeling.
Il know | have. and vet ] do not"
she exclaimed impulsively and as