The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-04-09
ny LION LEWIS
CHAPTER /.
LIVE oLoRiousLY srAKEDi

~
upon fleet horses, came galloping over one
of the great plains OF the west anu ure"
rein I'm the shade OF clump OF cotton
woods upon the bank OF beautiful river.
They had ridden far and rapidly. Their
stceds were painting, and covered with
sweat and foam.
we must give the horses n breathing
spell, said the former, slipping to the
ground; and his companion nodded
graceful assent, ~ she followed his exam
pie. ,, .,,,.. ,a
daughter ,.
The man was In the prime Of life, hale
and hearty, with large frame, which was
slnewy and athletic, without ceaslng To be
refined and prepOssesslng. He had the
Keen. shrewd look peculiar TO the advance
guards OF civilization, and there was an
honest. frank expression on his sun
Drowned face that proclaimed his integrity
and courage.
In her way. his daughter was equally
picturesque and attractive.
In the early flush of womanhood, with
n pure, sweet. and tender face, with eyes
darkly glowing, with coral.tlnted lips,and
cheeks softly flushed with the hue of the
rose, with amber curls floating behind
her, she was as graceful as gazelle,
as light-hearted rs bird, rs lovely rs a
flower, and Us spirited as an untamed an
telope.
The stream by which the couple had
halted was Wood river, branch OF the
Platte, in Nebraska, ut point Hity mics
northwest Of Fort kearncy.
Are YOU tired, Miriam? asked the hunt
or, George Dane, with tatherly solicltudc.
Tired, fatherr rcjoined the maiden;
with happy laugh. oh, no. How conld
minute has been filed with pleasure ana
excitement. feel rs fresh as yondcr
bril- -.
The father smiled undcrstandingly,w with
a look full Of the fondest affection.
I can guess the cause of your lightness
of heart. said he. smilingly. The return,
now daily expected, of "a certain Hubert
Earle. from the mines OF Idaho, may ac-
count, / suspect, for your present glad-
ness. 40,
A heightened color appeared on Mirl-
Jams face, for the name mentioneu was
that Of her lover. She answered the
"lanccs of her father, however, with
fraukncss that attcsted his entire sympa-
thy with her and said:
True. father, my heart has been unusu-
ally light for several days past. HOW
could Il he otherwise, since L know that
llubcrtis coming?
Mr.. Dane did not reply. He was look
ing with kindling eyes, over the Hover
dotted plain: and his next remark showed
how widely his thoughts had strayed.
Iwondcr what mother has been doing
without us all day, Miriam? She must be
lonely, with no one to speak to or share
her meals. I shouldn't wonder IL 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 see:
lie drew from his coat pocket-glass,
adjusted il To his sight, pointing It In a
nOrthcrly direction, and gazcd through IL
long and earnestly, towards his rancho up
OF Carry's Fork.
Yes, [ see il, he said ut last, with n long
deep aud joyful inspiration, rs II the siSht
refreshed him in every nerve. There Is
our cottage, a. plain rs day. can even
see the vines you planted before the win
dows, Miriam. And there, on the grape
vine bench, under the big elm. sits your
mother, busy ut her sewing. Bless her!
she does no. imagine we are looking M
her. Look, Miriam!
lie Welded the instrument to his daugh-
ter, who obeyed his injunction, her lovely
face glOwed with smiles rs she regarded
the distant homcscene.
Dear mOthern she murinured. III II
treat 10 her To be able to sit out under the
trees without fear of molestation. There
are no hostile Indians hereabOutS now
are there, father!
No. Red Knife, rs you have already
heard, was killed yesterday by settler,
and his band has retreated towards the
mountains. | will confess, Miriam, that
,luri /. all the time we have been In the
west. | have not felt SO llght-hearted anu
care-free as since we received news oil Red
Knire's death. You have just seen how
this 10Y bubbles over in me. Red hnlie
was n demon rather than n savage.
Miriam shuddered. and her features
even paled at the memory OF the Indian
mentioned.
lie never spared pale face she said,
striving To speak calmly. 'Desolation ana
cruelty marked his path. For more thah
three years he has ragged To and fro upon
the plains like rayening wolf. lie was
the terror of the border.
You have named him appropriately,
Miriam said the hunter. lie had iend-
ish hatred of the white race, and his VIC
Tins have been many.
Mr.. Dane held ont his hand for the glass
and Miriam was In the act of restoring IL,
when gasping, painting sound startled
them both, and sent them quickly 10 their
saddles.
The hunter wheeled his horse and look
cd down upon the river bank, from which
direction the sound had come, his manner
sclf-posscssed, but his cOuntenancc indie
atiye Of alarm. The maiden followed his
example.
Her eyes were the first to discover the
cause of the sound that had started them,
detecting mans figure creeping along
through the underground OF bushes lining
the shore.
At the same moment, their presence In
turn was detected, for the man dropped
suddenly among the protecting bushes, rs
ii he had been shot.
An Indlang whispered Miriam, draw
ing from her bosom revolver.
The huater shook his head, continuing
to watch the spot at which the man had
fallen, his hand on his rifle, his manner
that of one steady for action.
Suddenly Us the man showed haggard
face pecring from his concealment, Mr..
Danes anxious countenSnee broke into
smile, and nc cried out:
Halo, Is that you, Ihompson' 10 you
take us for Indians, that you skulk there
among the bushcsg
The individual addressed was silent a
moment, rs IL seemed, nom sheer amaze
ment; then he sprang out from his hiding
place with n cry OF relief, advanced swift
~ towards the father and daughter.
He was n man of middle age, of the or
binary type of backwoodsmen, strong and
brown and stalwart, of the rude, rough
type that seems To belong TO the border.
Ills face was haggard and white. His
breath came through his lips In quick, UNI
even gasps.
What has happened, TnOmpsous asked
Dane, with anxiety.
The Indians, said Thompson, not able to
command his voice. They are coming
FED Knife and his band-diyided-my
wife-my children!