The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1872-11-29


went away muttering something which
she could not understand"
ellis visit 70 the fort at this time mean
mischief" said Roger" "and he il not th,
fellow to give up our Lone Dove thu
tamely. lie will make a desporat,
struggle for her."
"lndeod, he will, Roger" returned
Mark, glancing at the suspected man.
"Will you be at the gate tonight"
"Yes."
Then, for Gods sskc keep your eyes
openr
"Never fear. If that rascal come.
sncaking up to me in the dark, III drop
him"
To the pioneer twain Christopher Chi.
dcster had long been a suspected charac.
ter. He encountered Logan's party in
the wilderness, and had guided the en-
igrants to the spot where the fort had
been erected. lie seemed on familiar
terms with the Indians, for he brought n
number of prominent chief TO the sta
ton, and aided in the clearing Of the
grounds. The bcautyof Beatrice Lind
say at once attracted his attention, and
he tried to ingratiate himself into her
favor. Seemingly, 10 some extent, he
succeeded, for the girl did not wish TO
transform into an enemy him who had
lent so willing hand in contributing to
their comfort. She knew that he would
ask her 20 become his bride, aud at last
the time came.
A. Mark Kingham said, she refused
bin in plain lapguage and be lef) her
alone in the forest. much chagrined at
his defeat.
The Lone Dove Of Kentucky, as the
Indians called Beatrice, already loved,
and she did not prefer the repulsive back
woodsman 20 handsome Mark Kingham.
"Ill possess you yet" murmured Chi
dester, as he left the scene Of his defeat.
"rm not going to be put Off thus by the
prettiest girl IN Kentucky. No, no! I'm
too much Of a man for that Through
your brother, Beatrice Lindsay, III drag
you t. tie alt,r--to my tirchen lodge in
Chillicoiche. I'll DO all of this in spite
of Hoavonp
As the golden god of the skies crept
behind the Western horizon upon the
day of Backwoods Kits visit to Logan's
Fort, the stronggate opened topermit the
egrcs- OF Mark bingham.
Since the opening Of hosiilities, it had
been the custom of Benjamine Logan to
throw several scouts into fie forest every
night, fer tie purpose Of spying the vi
cinity of the fort, and to warn its inmates
OF the approach of any foes,
The young scout in question, upon this
particular night, bent his steps. North
ward towards the Kentucky. 1t was a
chilly night in the latter part Of Febru-
AIRY, 1875, and the buds were beginning
10 hail the approach OF spring, The win
ter now almost al an end, had brought
auch suffering to Logan's Fort; game
had been unusually scarce, and the buf.
falo and deer hunter always had the re-
lentless savage upon his trail. The wolf
and panther roamed the forest in half
famishcd conli ION, and in attacking the
Wei armed settler or Indian brave.
"Ilarkl" muttered Mark Kingham,
as the long howl Of the halfstaryed wolf
caused him to haul. on the bank of
stream that delouchod into the historic
Kentucky. "The wolf il after somebody,
and, by my soul, he's briging EN- this
way! If an Indian, III drop him; if Il
white-no, it can't be white man, for
he'd run another way-towards Logan's
Fort"
As he muttercd the last word, be
walked some distance from the stream,
and stationed himself behind giant
tree.
He was in the edge ofthe forest, and
the moon sailing zenithward, flooded his
surroundings in a mellow light.
The wells of the wolves increased in
number and distictness, and at length
the scout Leard the rapid tread of their
victim. He seemed to have bent all his
energies to the task of reaching a certain
point, and heran like one not in the least
fatigued.
"lHa here he comes - exclaimed Mark
Kingham, as a giant form doomed up be-
tween him and the light horizon, leyond
the edge of the timber. 1T isn't an In
dim, and who can il be? Faster, faster
fellow, or the wild dogs viii catch you"
The scout camly cooked his rifle, and
kept his eye fastened upon the hunted
man. who came directly towards him.
All at once Mark perceived that the
giant bore boy in his arms, and min
ute after this discovery, he stepped from
his shelter, and presented his weapon ii
the wolf-pursued man.
"Halt, Kit Chidester!"
The Titan uttered cry Of horror, and
the youth dropped from his neryelasa
grip, and hid himself behind a tree.
"Kit Chidestcr,' continued the scout,
"you're engaged in pretty work, and,
were to follow the promptings of my
heart, I'd drive bullet through your
brain. So you were stealing Charlie, in