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