The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-10-06

ane cautiously peered out.
1t was as she had feared. The Indians
were attacking the station. Already the
air rang with the shrieks of the diving.
Sick with horror, Amy turned to fee,
she scarcely knew whittier, when sud-
denly from out the shadow of tall cot
tonwood tree near by, there sprang a
1.-THE figure--it was Gay Feather.
Come, paleface lady, come with me
-quickl" she painted, seizing Amy by
the arm.
For an instant the young wife hesita-
ted. Was this treachery2 she asked her
self. One glance atthe Iedian girls sin
cere though anxious face reassured her.
"Where are we going2" she asked, as
they sped ulong in the darkness
''Ale not tell now-no time talk !
Hurryp
Down among the willows by the creek
was found the shaggy pony, tied, as Gay
Feather had evidently left him.
"Him little, but sttong," she said. He
carry us both"
They mounted the animal and guided
by the Indian gir's careful hand, she
stepped on briskly. Behind them the
sky was all ablaze with the burning sta
ton. Before them the dark expanse of
the plains stretched away till it met the
silver-tipped gray Of the horizon.
"You are very kind, Gay Feather, :"
said Amy, patting the dusky arm thrown
around her. Glow came you to think
of saving me2"
''Me know Indians kill um at station.
Me no care for agent nor agents's squaw
and all the rest bad, too. But you---you
give medicine for little papoose. He get
well-laugh, crow, kick he's little foots.
Me not want you killed, so me come
Hist what is thatlp
Suddenly, like a dark wiud-cloud, a
band OF warriors dashed by them, in mad
pursuit of fugitive soldier. The saw
ages were too intent on overtaking their
victim to perceive the horse and its
riders, all of which were in the shadows
of the willows. Instinctively, Gay
Feather leaned forward to screen Amy
from random shots, and as she did so a
stray bullet pierced her own side.
Without groan, she slipped from the
saddle and sank upon the grass. The
pony, as if conscious that some accident
mad taken place, stood still. Amy
alighted and knelt beside the Indian
girl.
"Gay Feather, my poor triendl Are
you much hurt2" she whispered.
Gay Feather looked up and smiled.
"Me hurt bad-think. But never
mind, pretty palefacel You take pony
and 90 on. Follow creek. Keep in
shadow-be careful-let no Indians get
you. Hurry"
"Nol mol 1 can't leave you so! Do
you hear, good girlf"
But the faithful Indian woman made
no response; she had sunk into state
of Inconsistencies. !
Amy sat beside her and drearily waited.
AS long as she lives she will never forget
that night The distant yells died away
the lurid CLEANS from the burning station
faded out of the sky; all was silent, save
the moan Of the night-wind and the
murmur of the waters, sharply broken
now and then by the yelp of prowling
coyote. After hours of agonizing sus-
pense, a faint light began to tinge the
eastern sky. Fleecy clouds of rose and
gold foated towards the zenith; the
dingy brown of the plains took on a soft
amethyst, deepened here and there by
purple shadows; the white cones of far
away peaks seemed bathed in floating,
misty glory Thank God The morn
ing had come With the rising of the
sun was seen in the distance party of
korsemen, and it was with feelings of in
tense relief that Amy recognized the
familiar dark-blu, uniforms of army
officers; and that relief was changed into
great Joy when she beheld, riding at the
head of the band, h,r own husband,
Lieutenant Armand. Mounting the pony
ana waving her shawl to attract atten-
ton, she dashed forward to meet him.
"Amyl you here2 Thank Godl We
heard that an attack was to be made,
and have been riding hard ever since
midnight. But how come you here, and
saved.
''It was dear, kind Gay Feather, who
saved me, y said Amy,
''Gay Feather" stammered her hus-
band, his face turning red and then
deathly pale.
In as few words as pos ible, Amy re-
lated the circumstances, at the same time
leading him to the place where lay the
Indian girl. She was till breathing, but
it was with much difficulty. AS they
drew near, she opened her eyes and
smiled.
"Me save your palefaced squaw, Lieu
tenant Armand, " She said, in her low,
musical voice. ''She good squaw; you
must be kind to her all your life" Here
she paused, and beckoned him to draw
nearer. Reaching up two slender,
brown arms, she drew his head down to
her face and whispered; "Don't cry
brave never cry-only squaw do that
Me forgive e-"
The sentence was never finished, for
the dark eyes closed and poor Gay
Feather was gone Mary n. Brush.
WoH Dunnfurad