Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-24
CHAPT Err /.
ALrFE eLoR1ousLY sTAKEpl

Oh A PT l. X i.
A LIFE GLoRIoUsLY sTAKED!
Towards the close of beautiful day j
June, 1867, man and woman, mounie
upon fleet horses, came gslloping over on
of the great plains Of the West, and Dire
rein in the shade of a clump Of cottoI
woods upon the bank OF a beautiful rive
They had ridden far and rapidly. Thei
steeds were painting, and covered wit
sweat and foam.
1--WE must give the horses breathin
SPELL" said the former, slipping TO th
ground; and his companion nodded
graceful assent, as she followed his ez
ample.
The couple we're evidently father an,
daughter.
The man was in the prime of life, hal
and hearty, with large frame, which wa
sinewy and athletic, without eessi3g to b
refined and progressing. He had tn,
keen, shrewd look peculiar TO the advance
guards of civilization, and there was al
honest, frank expression ON his sun
Drowned face that proclaimed hi5 integrity
and courage.
la her way, his daughter was equally
picturesque and attractive.
10 the early flush of womanhood, with 8
pure, sweet and tender face, with eye
darkiy glowing, with coral tinted lips, and
cheeks softly flushed with the hue of the
rose, with amber curls floating behind her
she was as graceful as a gazelle, as light
hearted az bird, as lovely as flower
I snd as spirited as an untsmed antelope.
The stream by which the couple had
halted was Wood river branch of the
Platte, in Nebraska, at point fifty mile;
northwest of Fort Kearny.
care you tired, Miriam" asked the
hunter, George Dane, with faiherly solici-
tude.
Tired, father?" rejoined the maiden,
with happy laugh. ooh, no. How
could | be tired after a day like this ?
Every minute hiss been filled with pleasure
aud excitement. / feel As fresh as Wonder
bird"
The father smiled understanding,y, with
q look Of the fondest affection.
81 can guess the cause of your lighiness
Of heart" said he, smilingly. "rhe re-
turn, now daily expected, of a certain Hu-
bert Earle, from the mines of Idaho, may
account, / suspect, for your present glad
mesa"
A heightened color appeared on Miriam )
face, for the name mentioned was that of
her lover. She answered the glances OF
her father, however, with a fraBkness that
attested his entire sympathy with her, add
said:
"True, father, my heart has been I'M
usually light for several days past How
could il be Otherwise, since / know that
Hubert is coming?'
Mr.. Dane did not reply. lie was looking,
with kindliug eyes, over the fair flower
dotted plain and his next remark showed
how widely his thoughts had strayed.
81 wonder what mother has been doing
without us all day, Miriam. She must be
lonely, with no one to speak TO or share
her meals. shouldn't wonder if We could
See her if we could see our home from this
point" and his face lighted up with
soulful glow. "Our cottage is not more
than seven miles distant; let me zee p
He drew from his coat pocket-glass,
adjusted it to his sight, pointing it in a
northerIy direction, and gszed through it
long and earnestly, towards his rancho
upon Carrey's Fork.
"Yes, see il" he said al last, with a
long, deep, and joyful inspiration, as if
the sight refreshed him in every nerve.
There is our cottage, as plain as day. i
can even see the vines you planted before
the windows, Miriam. And there, on the
grapevine bench, under the big elm, sits
your mother, busy at her sewing. Bless
her She does notimsgine We are looking
at her. Look, Miriam"
He yielded the instrument 10 his
daughter, who obeyed his injunction, her
levely face glowing with smiles as she re-
sarded the distant home scene.
Dear mother" she murmured. at is
a treat to her to be able to sit out under the
trees without fear of molestation. There
are no hostile Indians hereabouts now
are there, fdther?'
No. Red Knife, a. you have already
heard, was killed yesterday by a settler,
and his band has Tetreated towards the
mountains. | will confess, Miriam, that
during all the time we have been ia the
West, have not felt 80 light-hearted and
care~free as since We received news Of Red
Knife's death. You have Just seen how
this joy bubbles over in me. Red Knife
was demon, rather than 4 savage"
Miriam shuddered and her features even
paled at the memory OF the Indian mem
TONED.
He never spared pale face" she said,
striVipgto speak calmly. "Desolation and
cruelty marked his path. For more than
three years he has ragged to and fro upon
the plains like ravening wolf He was
the terror of the border"
"GOu have named him appropriately,
H., H. a
fendish hatred of the white race, aud his
victims have been many"
Mr.. Dsue held out his hand for the glass,
AID Miriam was 10 the act of restoring it,
when orange, gasping, painting sound
startled them both, and sent them quickly
~ their saddles.
The hunter wheeled his horse and look ed
down upon the river-bank, from which di-
II clion the sound had come, his manner
seif possessed, bat his countenance indica
tive Of alarm. The maiden followed his
example.
Her eyes were the first to discover the
cause Of the sound that had startled them,
detecting mans figure creeping along
through the underground Of bushes lining
the shore.
At the same moment, their presence 10
turn was detected, for the man dropped
suddenly among the protecting Dushe4, as
# he had been shot
"An Indian ~ whispered Miriam, draw
~ from her bosom revolver.
lhe hunter shook his head, continuing
10 watch the spot al which the man had
fallen, his hand on his rifle, his manner
ihai Cf ole ready for action.
Suddenly, ~ the man showed a haggarJ
face peeripg cautiously from his conceal
meni, Mr.. Danes anxious Counlenance
broke into a smile, and be cried out:
"IIsllO! l. that you, Thompson? ID,
YOU take us for Indians, that You skull
there in the bushes
The individual addressed was silent
full minute, AZ il seemed, from shee
Amusement; then he sprang out from hi
hiding-p place with q cry of relief, and al
vanced swiftly towards the father All,
daughter.
lie WAS a mau of middle age, of tn
ordinary type Of backWoodsmen, slron
and brown and stalwart, Of the rude roug
type that seems to belong TO the border
His face was haggard and white, although
covered with perspiration. His breat
came through his parted lips in quick
uneven gasPs. lie had run far and swiftly
and looked rs if about TO drop from +,
ugue.
What has happened, Thompson?
asked Dane, with keen anxiety, the man
y. singular appearance giving hun a sudde
y shock Of alarm.
"Iudlaus gasped Thompson, ecarce
able TO command his voice. They a
coming Red Knife and his band-d
vided-my wlie my children Help M
Help me
What talk is ihie2 cried Dane, 40
t.t-A In nr,itn nf L. n M Of LII CT "a