Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-03-17

his fevered brow and molstening his
parched lips and throat
In the course Of the first hour she
was once startled by the spectral Wis
ion through the driving sheets of dust
of horse that plodded up the arroyo,
bearing two riders on its back.
Weary with the weight of its double
burden, 1t went slowly and passed so
near to Judith that she was able to
recognize the features of her sister
end Tom Barcus.
BE sure she made never a sign to
catch their attention.
Within the next succeeding hour
the coppery light lost something of
it's hot brillance, took on a darker
shade. aud then one darker still. Twi-
tight stole athwart the desert, turning
its heat to chill, its light to violet
Growing more intense. the cold
eventually reused the sleeping man.
And hardly had his eyes Enclosed
and looked up into the eyes of Judith
bending over him than he started up
and out of her embrace. got INSTEAD
lily upon his feet and after g moment
of pause, watching her rise in turn,
strobe away or, rather, staggered
with the gesture of exorcism.
Uncomp planning, hugging her new
born humility to her with the ecstasy
of the anchorite his horse-hair shirt,
Judith followed him patiently. at a
little distance.
Not far from where he had rested
there was break in the overhanging
wall of the arroyo. Through this he
scrambled painfully, reaching the level
of the desert only after cruel effort,
the unheeded woman at his heels.
A brief pause there afforded both
time to regain aheir breath and survey
the desert for signs OF assistance: it
offered none, other than what they
might accomplish through their own
exertions. For leagues in any quarter
it stretched without a break other than
the black cleft Of the arroyo, cleaning
a bleached and deathly white in the
moonshine--like the face of frozen
world.
With tacit consent both turned that
way, Alan leading, Judith his pertina-
cious shadow, with never a word or
sign between them to prove that either
was aware of the others company.
But this was a state uf affairs thu.
could not long endure. Judith had the
price to pay for her own trials, suf-
fering and privation: the strain began
TO tell sorely upon her. She reeled
slightly as she walked weaving a
winding trail across and across the
straighter line Of footprints that
marked Alan's course through the or
dered pattern Of the powdered sage
brush.
And OF a sudden she collapsed
Instinct alone made Alan glance
over-shoulder: for she had made no
sound whatever
He turned and came directly back
to her. knelt beside her, lifted her
head, pillowed It gently on his arm
and piled her In turn with the dregs
Of the canteen.
With a sigh. a stiied moan and a
little SILVER. she revived.
He helped her gently to regain her
feet, passed an arm round her.
In this fashion they struggled on in
strange, dumb companionship OF mis-
cry and wonder
Thus an hour passed; and for all
their desperate struggles neither could
see that the light on the mountainside
was a yard the nearer.
Behind them other lights appeared,
two staring yellow eyes that peered
up o. sr the horizon, seemed to pause
a tiue ia search Of the two. then
leaped out directly toward them.
OF this they we're altogether ignor-
ant; end when a deep, droning sound
dist4r ed the desert silence. like the
purring Of some gigantic cat, both as
eribed It TO the drumming OF their
laboring pulses.
The two lights were not a mile be-
hind them when. silently. without a