Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1882-01-19
NICHOLAS B. KLAINE. EDITOR
THE RIDE OF PAUL TEN1REZ.

4 M MIR OE Il l. EAihE n.
Paul Venarez heard them saw. in the frontie,
town. that day.
That band of Red Plume's warriors wa.
upon the trail Of death:
Heard them tell Of murder done: Three men
killed al Rocky Run.
''They're In danger up at Crawfori's," said
NcnaTeZ, under breath.
"Crawfori's"-thirty miles away-was a set
Element, that lay
In Il green and pleasant valley of the mighty
wilderness:
Half scorg of homes were there, and in one
maiden fair
Eeld the heart Of Paul venarez-" Paul We
narez little Bess.' .. -'lA--. u
So no wonder he grew pale when he heard the
settlers tale
OF the men he had seen murdered yesterday
at Rocky Run
'Not soul win Dream he said, ''of the dan
ger that's ahead.
~ my love for little Bessie, must see that
something's done.
Not moment he delayed, when his brave re-
solve was made.
"why. my man." his comrades told him,
when they knew his daring plan.
You are going straight 10 death. But he
answered: "Savc your breath.
may fail 10 get 10 Crawford's, but I'll do
the best | can
Ger the forest trail he sped, and his thoughts
flew on ahead
To the little band AT Crawfurd's thinking not
Of danger near.
"Oh! God help me save" cried he. little
Bess. And fast and free
Trusty Nell bore on this hero of the far-away
frontier.
Low and lower sank ,ae sun. He drew rein at
Rocky Run.
" Here these men met death. my Nellie" and
he strOked his horses name:
so Will they We go 10 warn, ere the breaking
of the morn.
If we fail. God help us. Nellie-' Then he
gave his horse the rein.
Sharp and keen a rifle-shot woke the echoes of
the spot.
"Omy Nellie. am wounded.' cried venar-
ez. with II moan,
And the warm blood from his side spurted out
in red tide.
And he trembled in the saddle, and his face
had ashy grown-
81 will save them yet he cried. Bessie
Lee shall know died
For her sake" And then he halted in the
shelter of hill;
From his buckskin shirt he took, with weak
hands, Il little book;
And he tore blank leaf from it. This"
said he, shall be my WILL
From branch a twiy he broke, and he dipped
his pen of oak
In the red blood that was dripping from the
"ROuse." he wrote, before too late. Red
Piumes warriors lie in wait.
GOod-by. Bessi God bless you always Then
he felt the warm tears start
Then he made his message fast. loves first let
ter. and its last;
To his saddle-bow he tied ii, while his lips
were white with pain.
Bear my message. il not me, safe to little
Bess.' said he,
Then he leaned down in the saddle, and
clutched hard the sweaty name.
foam. came painting down ~aH 3 e. r7
To the settlement ut Crawford's, and she
stopped at Bessies door.
But her rider seemed asleep All, his slumber
was 90 deep .rHs. Cd Fff
Bessie's voice could never wake him, IL she
called foreyermore.
You will hear the story told by the young and
by the old.
In the settlement at Crawfords, of the night
when Red Plume came:
or the sharp and bloody fight; how the chief
fell. and the flight
OF the panic-stricken warriors. Then they
speak VenareZ' name,
in an awed and reverent way, as men utter:
Let us pray.
As we speak the name of heroes, thinking
how they lived and died:
60 his memory is kept green. while his face
and Heaven between,
Grow the flowers Bessie planted, ere they
laid her by his side.
-Ebcn f.. ReIford, in Youths Companion.