Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-01-15

VI ASu6Su oANAonsu "hNA ShVoA pNoSV"S3
who had sought to win his love from
him. Jennie would ride back with him
alone
They came at last to the narrow cause
way Of the pass. Room for but one
abreast here, and jerome rode ahead,
the girl next, and Condo behind. In
this order they crept along the dizzy
face of the mountain.
When they reached the summit, Jen-
ME called halt, and turned to view the
outspread panorama before them, the
glory Of the scene Frightening her beau
tiful eyes. asat i,gqe5, f,,s
",See," cried she, with cheeks aglow-
"see, Ralph There is our home,"' and
she pointed toward the valley beneath. 4
"Her lovers heart gave great bound.
"Our home, Jennie" said he, in low,
rapturous voice, forgetting oil else, and
leaning toward his companion-"our
home Do you mean it' Yours and-Ah,
my God, the Indiansp
It was cry Of sudden agony, and as
the man reeled in his saddle, and bright
blood burst from his shoulder and ran
in trucking stream down the yet quiv-
ering arrow-shaft deeply buried in his
flesh The Indians were in the pass!
The girl shuddered, while great love
and terror mingled in her white face;
then, with the courage of her race, she
sprang nimbly to the ground and caught
Jerome in her arms, as he sank heavily
from his seat.
"Oh, my darling! have they killed
your And, with strength almost
superhuman, she tore the cruel barb
from his body and flung it from her.
''Live, Ralph-live! For love you!
Quick up and fight for mep'
She snatched pistol from her bosom
at the same moment, and fired it full in
the face Of savage, who suddenly ap-
peared before them. With wild yell
he threw both hands to his head, reeled
and fell headloRg over the ledge.
The sound revived the half-fainting
mouutaineer. With new born strength
he sprang upright, seized his rife and
leveled it.
Thirty yards away, at the turn Of the
path before them, were the eneny-a
scouting party Of half score Of indians
who had come to view the valley from
the pass.
At sight Of the man with weapon
! ready, they uttered a chorus Of fendish
| cries, and filled the air with flying ar
rows.
The two horses were struck, but the
ring Of Ralph's rifle was answered with
a groan, and q second redskin bit the
dust. The others retreated behind the
protecting wall Of rock.
"Where is Condo"
The girl turned. They were alene in
the pass, but the distant chatter of hoofs,
| ringing fainter and fainter from the
lakewood trail, answered her lovers
question. She turned to him again,
filled with rage and disgust.
a"He has deserted u.s."
"But," said Jerome, family, and his
wound panied him to the very heart
"but he was your lover-you must 60
with him."
! Never, neverw cried the girl, in a
sudden frenzy-"never my lover There
! is, there has been, but one-and not he !
! Oh, Ralph, forgive! Do not send me
away. If You cannot, will stay with
yon! Better to die here than to live
without you! My darling, my one love,
do MOI send me away"
Could mortal man resist such plead
ing! Ralph Jerome could not.
She bound his bleeding shoulder with
bands torn from her dress, and through
the long, dull November afternoon,
these two kept watch and guard behind
the dead horses, he with rifle ever ready,
she with pistol in either hand, both with
love that was beyond death in their
hearts; and the cruel, cowardly Indians
lay hidden and dared not expose them
selves to the deadly aim of these chill
dren of the mountains.
And when at last, just as the light
was fading from the distant peak, and
the shadows, dark and chill, were climb
ing mp from the valley beneath, old
Dave, with five others, crept silently
by, and fell with terrible fury upon the
little band of redskins, literally sweep
ing them from the face of the cliff, the
wounded man turned to Jennie, and
laying his head upon her shoulder, said