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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1887)
THK WKST SHOUE. They daahed down the mountain trail of bis meeting with Wong Keo, his fore st a break-neok apeed, and faM m they ing the truth from him, and his final es would go, Hepworth still ahouted " fast- cap'. er! " When they had crowd the valley " And you didn't believe I deserted tod were climbiDg the accent on the you of my own free will? " By the tone other i.ie, th i..me of fciiaaU re lo of her voice, he kne how bhe fenrwi iU stupendous height just in front of answer and entreated his forbearance, them, and at iU l-u glimmered the lone He looked at her with eyes full of re. atar. With wild, guttural yell, that proach awoke alumUring echo.-, the cleatial " Never, Keith! I knew there was renegade now Ux from the mule's vile treachery somewhere." lack and disappeared in the depths of She glanced up at him, gravely sweet, th forest, followed by a volley of oaths gravely glad, in the old way he reinem and the cunU-nt of Hepworth's six- lered so well. "Dear old Ben!" she shooter. Whether he waa hit or not said, with tremulous lips, then broke will never le revealed till the judgment down and sobbed out her heart-break, day, for he never m the face again. " He made me believe that he was a II underntoud enough of mining pAr- friend, whom you had sent to take charge lane to craitp the meaning of Hej- of me, as you were detained by business; worth'a threat, and tnade a dash for his that his mother lived in the town, and life. that he would take me there, and the leaving the coolie in charge of the next morning we would go dowu to the mub, Hepworth walked swiftly to the city. He ordered a close carriage, and dour of the rude cabin, and rapping after w e had entered it, he gave me some gently, said - thing which partly took away both cou- " Keith; don't be frightened; it's Hen." sciousuehs and will power. I have a She flew to thedor and let him in dim remembrance of going into an of his Keith, left aloue iu the wilderness fice, of hearing the marriage service of altitude - then crept to the safe hhel- nad and my own name connected with ter of hia faithful breast and lay there it, but I had no power to resist Then like a tired child, apeut with loug play. I knew nothing more till I awoke in this All a father's protecting love, a mother's place." infinite tenderncs. a lover's mighty pas- Hepworth shuddered as this second aion were cnc ntratM in the gaze that verification of his dream came home to rioted on the thin, colorl.- fa and him. She looked at him wonderingly. sunken eye., that read, with unerring "The night air is chilly at this alti btuition, the terrible abuse, the long tude," he said, evasively. Then, with heart-break. At length, very gently, he vehement paxsion, cried: " By the ho laid hia hand, in the old way, on her ly Mary! That villain shall die like a bewd, and hia voice Tibrated with pa, dog, by tliis right hand." sionate pain, a he aaid Keith started up with a cry and caught " My pur, mountain row! Kor the hia hand: " B n! Dear Ben! Prom ise jera at the m,rcy of fien.U, and l ve me that you will shed no blood for my eaxrhM for ,a night and day." aake. It i a last nue.t-a dying re- hU UkM up at him no. with a ,,a-t," she said, solemnly, pressing her q. up !TU'f YoU,k?" k beart I M tbat I Uve All. he auL al Ue.ulUl fur. not long to live. I wanted to see the IhertvbyMhrinafewwurda, old home again, to tell you the truth