Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-01

held. The Indians would not stay inactive
much longer: the only wonder was that they
had kept quiet so long. II they had contin-
ned the active attack first made the ammuni-
ton of the fort would long ago have been ex-
pended. But their inaction gave no ease. Ii
would only be a prelude to worse deviltries.
Some of the men there. worn ont with cease
less watching. the intolerablc heat. the insult
fcient food. and the terrible anxiety. would
have preferred the rush and shock OF desper-
ate charge and then have had it all over,
meeting death as an honorable friend. But
there were the women to be thought of. Al
ready gloomy shadows darkened the mems
ewes as they looked at the beautiful girl BY
what dreadful means must she be delivered
from the hands of those devils? But the girl
had already decided for herself.
You will know what to do for me, father.
when the time comes" she said to him quietly
one night as she babe him ''Good-night'' in the
starlight. He caught her close to him. and
kissed her without word; but she knew that
he understood. The men sat late discussing
the situation.
If only Colonel Shaw, who must have reached
by this time Fort James, could hear of their
position he would hasten to their assistance
Provisions would hold out-dividing them into
the smallest portions sufficient to keep them
aliye-for another four days; ammunition il
the Indians proved troublesome, half that
time. But who was to go and hasten Shaw's
advance?
1t was certain death to leave the fort. Not
that any of the boys troubled about that as he
personally. was concerned. But the loss of
each life made the chance OF the rest less
And 1.-THE rest always now meant the women,
IN the mems thoughts. Besides the discovery
OF an attempt to leave the fort for aid would
to certainty, precipitate the plans of the In
dams. Shaw would surely soon hear of the
enemies force concentrated at Fort Buff and
advance rapidly to their rescue. There was
nothing to do but wait for him. Not that even
hone val hriu tboir
poets. Each man knew-though he did not say
lt-that 1t was far more than probable that the
instant the Indian scouts discovered the APP
proach of the soldiers their doom would be
sealed. The Indians would fire the fort and
massacre Its defenders long before Shaw could
reach them. Nothing but the most subtle tao
tics on Shaw's side. to disguise his movements,
could prevent the catastrophe. II only mes
senger could reach him to acquaint him with
all the difficulties of the situation,
The men separated. some to sleep. some to
keep up the ceaseless, harassing watch. with
out having been able to decide upon anything
better than to wait
The next day dawned There were signs of
activity once more among the Indians. They
rode out singly or in bodies, from their places
OF shelter. pointing and gesticulating in ELL
ragged derision, toward the fort. breaking ont
into wild war whOops. which curdled the blood
IN the girls veins. Shots we're fired. too. which
the men in the fort, though burning to avenge
each one Win dozen. dared not return. Tor
not bullet could be wasted They would
need them all for the last struggle. The
women-or rather Miriam. for The Lady Betty
had secuted, in savage mockery. the idea-had
been kept inside the building to be out of the
way OF the shots. The long; weary day passed,
the afternoon waned. Miriam, rebelling
against her captivity, ventured to disobey or
ders. As she stepped outside she caught sight
OF The Lady Betty disappearing into small
shanty, built on rising ground at the othcT
end OF the stockade. She looked about
her; none of the boys were near. sudden
impulse-for which the girl could never ac-
account, unless it were simple womanly de-
sire for the sympathy of her own sex at this
supreme moment of peril-made her run across
the space between the building she occupied
and the shanty. She reached the door. which
The Lady Betty had left ajar. The girl called
her softly. There was no answer. and. pushing
the door open, Miriam looked in. There was a
square opening for window at the end of the
room, and through this opening poured the
golden light of the western sun. 1t rolled in
waves of dazzling radiance into the room and
IN the midst of it, bathing her as i'm sea of
fiery light, stood rigid still, gazing through
the opening, The Lady Betty. She seemed to
be seeing vision. 50 pale was her face, star
ing and fixed her eyes.
The girl spoke again gently, but the woman
did not stir, and Miriam. stepping half fear
fully for she did not know how she would be
received. went mp to her. But as she reached
the woman's side, and instinctively followed
the gaze of her rapt eyes. an exclamation of
awed delight and wonder broke from her lips.
Through a break of the wOod-lined hills, fac
ing the window. the sun was setting in a per
feet glory Of red and gold. The whole horizon
narrowed to them by those hills. seemed sea
OF hre. which stretched on in liquid. uuivering
waves of light from heaven to them. as they
stood on the earth. And as the girl looked she
forgot the hideous cries. and the whizzing shot
and the horrors that to them. must wait on
death; and great peace fell on her.
1T is like the golden gate Of heaven!" she
cried under her breath. .And we shall pass
through them. and then the sorrow and the
signing will seem 50 short, for they will be no
morer'
She was not conscious of speaking aloud.
The Lady Betty started; a shudder-was it of
hate and rage, or OF spiritual dread of the
mystery of death?-shOOk her from head to
foot.
She turned sharply, staring stupidity for a
second at Miriam, her eyes blinded with the
radiance into which she had been gazing.
eyes blazed, and she flung out her hands as if
to dash the girl aside.
Git" she cried, in Aoarse choked voice,
You shan't take this from me. toor'
But Miriam caught at her hands.
.Oh. don't let us quarrell' she cried with a
half sob. BE my friend! How can we go
through the golden gate with hate between
u.s.
The woman broke into a reckless. ieering
laugh. whose bitterness appalled, the girl
I've heard on them golden gates? / reckon
ez now. they amt fur SIGH ez me. Only for
fine folks ez your
OH cried the girl. "What makes you so
hard? IL have done you any wrong without
knowing. forgive me; and take my hand"
But The Lady Betty struck it from her with
such savage force that the delicate fingers
were bruised. and a faint cry of pain was forced
from the girl. An imprecation broke on the
air, and Sorry Carew who had reached the
doorway just in time to see the blow. sprang
forward, and caught the poor little wounded
hand in his.
Come awayI' he cried. hoarsely, to the
trembling girl 1T is not fit that You should
be here. Stand backr' He made fierce ges-
tire to The Lady Betty
She fell back, mastered by the look in his
eyes and the merciless gesture But she could
not get out of the light that was now filling the
cabin.
But the meaning of the womans dreadful
reckiessness, Of the mans gesture. broke in
some strange way-for she had had. in her
protected schoolgirl existence. no knowledge
OF the evil OF hfe-on the girls understanding.
She drew her hand from the young mans
grasp, and ran over to where the unhappy wo-
man stood scowling and covering in the corner
OF the light-filled ROOM