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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1888)
THE WEST SHORE. 01) pursue a more gentlemanly canine, for mv sake. I am sure of one thing, though' she added, with risincr - r O color, " whatever it was, it was honest and honorable; for he would not do anything dishonorable." This conversation took place while Miss Murray was eating the dainty meal which Mrs. Burt had pre pared for her. The wind was still blowing strongly from the north, and there were occasional gusts that brought snow and a sort of frozen rain, that rattled fiercely on the windows. Miss Murray decided to stay over an other day. She found the Burts pleasant, compan ionable people, and spent the evening reading aloud and playing social games. Next morning the sun rose brightly, and it was as calm and peaceful as though the wind had never raged like a devouring fiend. Miss Murray decided to continue her journey that night. She walked about the ranch in company with Mrs. Burt in the af ternoon, and went across the toll bridge to get a view of a towering cliff at the head of the bridge. She greatly admired the picturesque views on every hand, and in conversation with Mr. Burt, on her return, ex claimed " That cliff at the head of the bridge is charming! It is so picturesque! But I should think it would re quire careful driving to make that turn safely; one might easily drive straight on off the high bank, into the river." " Yes, indeed; and only last summer a dreadful accident did happen there." " Ah! " exclaimed Miss Murray in a tone of inter est " Tell me about it, please." " Well," began Mr. Burt, clearing his throat, "it was one very dark, cloudy night last July latter part, I think-and the stage came up at midnight, just as it did the night you came. The driver changed horfiea. and the fresh ones were very whU They started before the driver got hold of the lines, and I snnnose he never cot them. The horses set off on a dead run, and, as you said could be easily done, they nff thobank into the river, instead of turning onto the bridge. The horses got loose some way, and were saved. The stage was turned up on its tongue end, and " " The passengers? " asked Miss Murray, breath . " There were none, for a wonder. There had been a coach full every night for a long time, until that night, and-" t, aa) intermitted the eager listener, XUU UlllVt " , T oa n; n that. Ho was never seen alive, but his body waa discovered two months later, down the river, and he was buried there. " How sad!" exclaimed the girl, sympathetically " Where did his friends live? Wero they informed of his death?" " No. I think not," replied Mr. Burt " No ono knew where his home and friends were. Ho was a bright cheery fellow, and very smart, and although he was a favorite, ho was very reserved about him self. Ho never seemed like the rest; ho was always a gentleman; never drank, gambled, or used tobacco. Ho was handsome, too; he had the most beautiful hazel eyes I ever saw in a man'B head. Ho" " What was his name?" demanded Mibs Murray. " Well now, I declare! Let mo so wo always called the drivers by their first names. His was-oh, yes! he was always called ' Gentleman Ben.' " " But his last name?" breathlessly asked tho girl. "His last namo " repeated Mr. Burt, "Ihavo heard it-it was why, bless my soul! " ho added sud denly, with an appreheusivo glanco at tho agitated girl, " it was " ho stopped as if choked, and loos- encd his necktie. " Was it Murray?" demanded tho girl, standing up and clutching his sleeve. Mr. Burt could not speak. Ho bowed his head in affirmation, and sprang up to catch tho fainting form that fell at his side. "Nell! Nell!" ho called, in desperation, and Mrs. Burt camo hurrying in with both hands full of dishes. Sho hastily set them on tho tablo and ran to her husband's side. "What is it?" sho asked. " Oh, liko a great idiot, I told her about tho stage accident aud Ben's death, and-" " Ho was her brother," supplemented Mrs. Burt, as sho helped lay tho unconscious girl on tho lounge. " Just so," muttered Mr. Burt, with a groan. " Get some water, quick! " commanded his wife. Presently Miss Murray revived, and at firnt seemed unablo to recollect whero sho was; but a glance at Mr. Burt recalled his story, and, coveriug her faeo with her hands, sho sobbed out " My Bennie!" Mr. and Mrs. Burt could not restrain their own tears, and for a time they olx?yed tho bible injunction most literally, and wept with her. But Mis Murray, by a great effort, calmed herself sunjciently to auk ouestions, and draw from Mr. Burt all ho know of her brother. It was not much. Ho had never had but ono con- i fil ffs Lnnw il.n tswrir nn U'ftit verBauon wuu miu. iiu ucn jwuub utau "' not intending to drive tho stage long, that ho was sav. ing money for some purpose, and that ho waa an edu- cated man. Mr. Burt had shrewdly guessed thai no would enter some profession in Helena or Batte. "It is strange," ho remarked, "that I never thought of Ben's last camo when you spoke of your