The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-03-03


II done gin my word ter Bert to show him
the gully whar Barney's gang usen ter run
thar 'still'ry, up thar, fore they got scarf
out by the officers; an 1 low I'll do it.
Thar, thar! Don't cry, Lenita. I'll promise
yer never ter holp Bert again. But mus
this time, shuah. Fur eff don't he'll burn
me out or do somethin' wuss."
"W'y, pap, eff that's all yer feard of, don't
CO." said the girl through her tears. "Id
druther be burnt out an hev ter live in a
holler tree like 'possum, IAN ter holp do
what's gin the law an amt right tall.
'But Bert's goin' ter gin me heap o.
money fur showin' him the gully up the
creek this time, and if you-un's air a good
girl, I'll spend it most all on gittin' yer new
fxin's ribbons an sch," he said trying to
pacify her.
81 don't need 'em, pap. All want is fur
you-uns ter do right"
1--WE kin live like fine folks, Bert says, If
I'll holp him. WY, Lenita, you-uns kin put
on more style an any gal along the Roarin'
Fork, when git that money" he said try
ing to tear himself away from her clinging
arms But Lenita would not let him go.
'No, pap, you shan't go. Ye got ter stay
ter home," she said, locking her arms more
tightly around his neck.
Had it not been for the liquor Bert Coles
had given him to drink in their interview,
Joe Frenchy might have yielded to his
childs entreaties. But, warmed by the fluid
poison he had imbibed, her opposition reused
q demon, and in freeing himself from her
clasp, he flung her aside with too violent
force, and she fell to the floor, a cry of pain
escaping her as her head struck the rough
boards. Frenchy did not look once upon
his daughter to note the result of the fall;
but he rushed out of the cabin and took the
little flower-starred path up the Roaring
Fork.
For long time Lenita lay moaning on the
floor, holding her hand to slight wound on
the side of her head. When she felt able,
she sat up and looked around her. She had
been partially unconscious before, but now
she remembered everything, and a look of
mental anguish settled upon her face. She
tried to get up. but she was so dizzy she sat
down again. When she felt somewhat re-
covered, she spoke aloud:
'I've a big notion ter leave him, n strikin'
me down this away. But Idone gin mother
my word ter stick ter pap through thick an
thin, an reckon I'd be doin' ill ter up an
leave him alone by hisself It'd hurt
mother powerful-liL ~jp her angel home SO
fur frum the Roarn' Fork, ter see me go
away frum pap, jest cause he struck me
me down"
Then she managed, with the aid of a
bench, to get upon her feet. She staggered
to the door, where she got pan Of water.
After bathing her head in the cool liquid
she felt much better, and seated herself on
the threshold of the cabin, where the balmy
south air played softly over her face, like
the touch of a loving friend.
"Poor pap!" she said, as big tears filled
her eyes. He'd been drinkin' some o. Bert
Coles smuggled whisky, or he'd never
pushed me frum him so cruel like. He
never treated me that way before; but he'll
feel sorry fur it when he comes back ter his
self. Poor pap!" and the girl wept as she
thought Of the probable fate Of her father.
The day wore away. The sun went down,
leaving the bluffs tinged with wondrous
halo of amber and purple. Lenita had nearly
looked her eyes out, and yet Joe French did
not come. Had any thing befallen hima
Her mind pictured q hundred awful fates for
him. Yet she waited in great mental tor
ture, by the doorway, her dark eyes gazing
hoping to catch a glimpse of his figure COM
ing home. Far into the night she watched
and waited thus.
1t must have been near midnight. Lenita
was at her post. Suddenly Joe Frenchy ap-
peared in view down the path. The rising
moon partially lit up the woodland, and
Lenita could see that he staggered as he ap-
preached the cabin, slowly and labOriOusly.
In moment she was by his side, assisting
him to gain the house.
80, pap, yer shot!" she cried as her
strong young arms supported him across the
threshold and to u rude couch in one corner
Of the cabin.
He sank upon the couch with u groan.
Lenita stood over him with clasped hands.
20, pap; air ye bad hurt!" she asked.
"Don't be scarf, Lenita; but reckon Pm
purity well used up" he answered.
Show did it happen, papf"
SIT was up in the gully. We'd jest got the
ponies run in when the cussed officers foun'
us. It was sich s'prlse ter the hull of us
uns that we couldn't do nuthin' but break
an run. Bert an me broke fur the woods.
He got off without ary shot in him. but got
two loads in me-" and he groaned heavily.
so, pap! U, pap" was all that the
weeping girl could utter.
"Don't take on, Lenita. It's all my own
blamed meanness. / wouldn't mind yer
warnin' but throwed ye like an ole bar frum
me ter the floor, an went ter my fate.
only meant ter go this onct more, an then
break Off But went onct too often The
Lowd never meant fur me tn prosper on
money got frum Bert for holpin him ter
hide the ponies up the gully, an he let the
officers fin us out; an now I'm shot, an the
Lowd only knows what'll become Of you, my
girl" said Joe Frenchy, putting his big hand
on the girls bowed head.
"Never mind me- pap; but let Inc do some
-hing fur you-uns, ter stop yer pain an
sich," and tho girl, brushing aside her tears
strove to make the suffering man rest easily.
Scarcely had she finished bathing his
feverish brow, when the trampling Of horses
feet was heard before the cabin door and the
coarse voices of rough men broke simultan-
eously upon Lenita's hearing Leaving her
fathers side, tho brave girl stepped to the
door just as burly fellow with Winches-
ter In his hand came before it. A half-dozen
other rough-loolsing men, all bs.0nging to the
indian police, stood close behind him.
"Thats Frenchy's gal" said one of the
men.
"Air you-unsJoe Frcnchy's darteri" asked
lhe leader, halting before the girl.
''Yes, sir, ! air." replied, :Lenita, placing
herself In the door.
SIS Yer daddy herei'
"He air.
'gTell him ter come out an render ter
onct,n ordered the leader.
20, sir! he kain't," cried the girl.
"Kain't, ehf Ill Jest persuade him with