The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-02-08
The Ride of Paul Venarez.

Paul venarez heard them say in the frontier
town, that day,
That band Of Red Pmme's warriors was
upon the trail of death;
Heard them tell of murder done: Three men
killed at Rocky Run.
"They're In danger up at Crawford's," said
Venarez, under breath
'Crawford's'- thirty miles away-was settle
ment, that lay
In green and pleasant valley of the mighty
wilderness;
Half score of homes was there, and In one q
maiden fair
Held the heart of Paul venarez -"Paul Ven
arez's little Bess"
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 viii DREAM" he said, "of the dan
ger that's ahead.
BY my love for little Bessie, l 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 the knew his daring plan,
"You are going straight to DEATH" But be an
swered "Save your breath,
Imay fail TO get 10 Crawford s, but I'll do the
best can"
Ger sse forest trail he sped, and his thoughts
To the little band at Crawfords, thinking not
of danger near
"0h, God helpme save" cried he, "lttle Bessw
And fast and free
Trusty Nell bore on this hero Of the far-away
frontier.
Low and lower sank the sun. He drew rein al
Rocky Run.
"Here these men met death, my Nellie" and
~. he stroked his horses name;
$50 will we 20 10 warn, ere the breaking OF the
morn,
IF we fail, God help us, Nellier' Then he
gave his horse the rein.
Sharp and keen riAe-shot woke the echoes Of
the spot.
"Oh, my Nellie, ] am wounded" cried Ven.
arez, with moan,
And the warm blood from his side spurted out
In a red tide,
And he trembed in the saddle, and his face
had ashy grown.
VI will save them yet" he cried. "Bessie Lee
shall know died
For her sake" And then he halted in the
shelter of q hill:
From his buckskin shirt he took with weak
hands, n little book;
And he tore blank leaf from 1t. "rhis"
said he, "shall be my will"
From branch twig he broke, and he dipped
his pen OF oak
In the red blood that was dripping from the
wound below his heart.
Plumes warriors lie In wait.
Goodbye, Bessl God bless you always" Then
he felt the warm tears start.
Then he made his message fast, loves first let
ter, and fits last:
To his saddle-bow he tied IL, while his lips
were white with pain.
"Bear my message, IL not me, safe TO little
Bcss," said he.
Then he leaned down in the saddle, and
clutched hard the sweaty name.
Just at dusk, a horse of brown, flecked with
foam, came painting down
To the settlement ut Crawford, and she stop
ped at Bessies door.
But her rider seemed asleep. All, his slumber
was so deep
Besse's voice could never wake him, If she
called foreyerlnore.
You win hear tho story told by the young and
by the old
In the settlement at Crawford's, OF the night
when Red Plume came;
OF the sharp and bloody fight; how the chief
fell, and the flight
OF the panic-strcken warriors Then they
speak VenareZ's 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;
So his memory Is kept green, while his face and
heaven between
Grow the flowers Bessie planted, ere they
laid her by his side.
-[EDES Il. RExP0RD in Youths Companion.