The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-04-09

useless pegs in the house down in Rogue
river valley. But what she said pulled
up my wandering thoughts and turned
them to present things Shall you be
surprised to hear that ! came to do YOU
real serviceP she asked. And she went
on to relate that, having had to pass the
previous night at a place not many miles
away, in "a house where the partitions
were thin, she had CHANGED to overhear
plan for numbering and robbing me-
the villain-in- of the plot being the
starved and naked wretch whom had
sheltered and sent away rejoicing not
many days previously. All in a mo-
ment, while ! was pondering on the
doubtful problem of gratitude, fancy
came over me that she might.not be tell
ing the truth; that it might be just an
excuse got up to Justify her own visit;
and ! playfully hinted as much. A
woman does not trife with subjects like
these, nor does she deceive when she
goes out of her way to do service" f." she
answered. . | rode off from that house
the other way this morning, made q long
detour, and came here to. warn you.
And now that ] have done it, if YOU will
please to get my horse, | will ride away
again All fair, that. /, full of thanks
and repentance, asked her to stay longer
if she was not perfectly rested; but she
declined, and ! brought the steed round
and helped her to mount him. Once in
the saddle her humor changed; she
smiled and reminded me that | had not
been polite enough to invite her to re-
turn. A week of reading, talking, rid
ing, trout-fishing and romancing up in
those splendid mountains would be very
charming; perhaps she would come if !
asked her"
:" And did you ask her?"
" / did not A young man with repu-
tation to sustain up there in the mount
aims couldn't invite young lady to stay
a week with him; could he now?' cried
Joseph quantity; which set us both
laughing.
" So ] parried tn e question as easily
as could, and she rode away. In
going slowly down the trail she turned
and kissed her hand TO me with gracious
sweetness. ! assure you the struggle
within my own mind was great at that
moment; and | don't know whether |
have forgiven myself even yet for what
happened afterward."
what did happenP"
"She came back again. She came back
again and / droUe her 6lUGy. That is, |
made the best excuses | could for not re-
admitting her, saying we should pee
haps have fighting and murder and what
not in my fort that night, and it would
he no place for delicately-bred woman.
The pretty and modest girl who was to
come from the Wallamet valley and hang
up her pink garments on my pegs had
rushed into my mind, you see. But |
never like to confess to this part of the
story, because ] get laughed at. But
don't you think l did right, having my
reputation to keep upP"
While we had our laugh out Joseph
was pushing his soft, fine hair off his brow
with those slender fingers that looked as
if no rough work had ever come near
him; and what must they have been be-
fore it did come?
He went on thoughtfully "She final
ly rode away, not having been invited to
get off her horse; leaving me in anything
but pleasant frame of mind. From tell
ing myself | was bear | turned to the
other subject, the contemplated murder
and robbery of myself Had she simply
invented that little fable? or was it q
true bill? | felt inclined to believe it to
he the latter. Anyway, deemed it well
to be prepared for all contingencies, bar
ring and bolting my fort against intruders
and sitting up late over the FIRE. This
was Sunday night. On Tuesday morn
ing three or four men rode up, one OF
whom was the traitor, my former naked
and hungry protege. He no longer at
tempted to conceal his true character
from me, but said he and his comrades
were determine to clean out the Chinese
| camp, and he asked me to Join them in
the raid. | was on my guard in answer
ing him, simply saying that | would have
nothing to do with robbing the Chinese
that they were my friends and customers
and | thought they had best be let alone
| With that he went off. That same after.
noon Edwards came in, having recaptur'
! ed some of the horses. He was very
| tired, and asked leave to stay with til,
! horses at my place till next day. | sale
nothing to Edwards of the gang lust gon,
away, or that Gas | suspected) they haC
! talked of making raid on the Chimes,
! only to throw me off my guard; for i
! was my fort on which the attack was un
dOubtedly to be made.
dusk came on. ! sent Edwards, deaC
| tired, ito bed, made n great fire in the ten
and sat by it, facing the window. NJ,
| expected visitor came, the villain! III
made believe to have been drinking, anC
! put that forward as plea for askin,
! shelter until the morning. The instan
] li' as litoidS llidtlC tllt Bttt ltSl, uIlN
! ing the big wooden pins home with al
axe. | caught gleam from his eyes as
was doing this which -
" But why not have made the gate fas
before he entered?"
" Because he was safer inside than out
A conviction had come over me that thi
man was some most desperate character
/ His comrades were no doubt waitin
near, and his plan had been quietly t,
open the gate to them
" Had you no arms but your rife?"
4" j wanted none; for we understood
each other, my rifle and l. This villail
understood us too. | don't think, either
that he liked to see Edwards sleeping il
the tent. The lad was not good for mucl
but still he was somebody. 1t would nov
be a contest of skill between the fellow
and me. He was waiting his opportuni
ty, and so was l. OF all villainous-look
ing men he was the worst looking Tai