The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-08

| II done gin my WORD Ter Bert 70 snow MIN
the gully whar Barney's gang usen ter run
| thar 'still'ry, up thar, fore they got scarf
out by the officers; an low III do it.
Thar, thar! Don't cry, Lenita. I'll promise
yer never ter holp Bert again. But mus
| this time, shuah. Fur eff l don't he'll burn
| me out or do somethin' wuss.''
IVY, pap, eff that's all yer feard of, don't
go,'' said the girl through her tears. sd
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
fixin's, ribbons an sich,' he said trying to
pacify her
II don't need 'em, pap. All want is fur
you-uns ter do right"
1--WE kin live like fine folks, Bert says, if
III 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 clnging
arms. But Lenita would not let him go.
mo, 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
child's entreaties. But, warmed by the fluid
poison he had imbibed, her opposition reused
demon, and in freeing himself from her
clasp, he flung her aside with too violent
force, and she fell to the floor, 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:
give big notion ter leave him, strikin
me down this away. But done gin mother
my word ter stick ter pap through thick an
thin, an reckon I'd be dom ill ter up an
leave him alone by hisself It'd hurt
mother powerful-liki, in her angel home so
fur frum the Roarin' 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 loving friend.
EsPOOr nanpi sha said hior foorc f1Iad
her eyes. He'd been drinllin' some o. Bert
Coles struggled 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 a wondrous
halo of amber and purple. Lenita had nearly
looked her eyes out, and yet Joe French did
not come. Had any thing befallen him!
Her mind pictured hundred awful fates for
him. Yet she waited in great mental tor
ture, by the doorway, her dark eyes gazing
far away into the gathering darkness,
hoping to catch 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 APP
preached the cabin, slowly and laboriously
In moment she was by his side, assisting
him to gain the house.
20, pap, yer shotr she cried as her
strong young arms supported him across the
threshold and to rude couch in one corner
of the cabin.
He sank upon the couch with groan.
Lenita stood over him with clasped hands.
30, pap; air We bad hurt!" she asked.
''Don't be scarf, Lenita; but reckon I'm
purity well used up" he answered.
''How did it happen, papl'
1T was up in the gully. We'd Jest got the
ponies run in when the cussed officers foun'
US. 1t was SIGH s'prise 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 airy shot in him, but / got
two loads in me, and he groaned heavily.
20. pap, o, papr' was all that the
weeping girl could utter.
Don't take on, Lenita. It's all nv own
blamed meanness. / wouldn't mind yer
warnin', but throwed We like an ole bar frum
me ter the floor, an went ter my fate.
OAlg HcdnI Ter go lnlS OnCC 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 whatn become of you, nv
girl said Jee Frenchy, putting his big hand
on the girls bowed head
Never mind me, pap; but let me do some
thing fur you-uns, ter stop yer pain an
SIGH" and the girl, brushing aside her tears.
strove to make the suffering man rest easily. |
Scarcely had she finished bathing his |
feverish brow, when the tramplingof 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, the brave girl stepped to the |
door just as burly fellow with a Winches- |
ter in his hand came before it A half-dozen |
other rough-looking men, all belonging to the |
Indian police, stood close behind him.
THAT'S Frenchy's gal" said one of the |
men
"Air you-uns Joe Frenchy's darterrr asked |
the leader, hating before the girl.
Yes, sir, / air." replied .Lenita placing |
herself in the door.
'1s yer daddy heref''
she air. |
Tell him ter come out an, s,render ter |
onct," ordered the leader
80, sir he KANT" cried thegirl
@Kain't, ehi III jest persuade him with J