Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-06-14


l was SO absorbed in my grief that
did not hear the sound of approaching
wheels until a carriage swept around the
church. Seated in it was DR.. Warner,
He jumped from the carriage and spoke
very kindly, never appearing to notice my
forlorn aspect, and said:
81 have never been inside this grand
old church which you love so dearly.
Will you show it to me2"
Like some pcnitcnt, led the way We
paused before pictures, rare and old, OF
saints, angels and martyrs. avcrted
my face as DR.. Warner looked upon Saint
Cecilia. Suddenly he asked:
"Why did you leave us so abruptly,
and why did 1 find you walking CD
those cruel thorns2"
l looked down and said:
~ was playing pcnitent"
We had paused before the Madonna.
There was u trcmor in my voice, but
answered almost defiantly:
"You all left mc-I wanted to sit next
you at the table"
Then my tears fell fast, and put my
small laced bordered handkerchief, which
had chosen in the happy hours of pre-
paration for the dinner party, to nv
eyes.
His voice was kindly, and felt sure
his eyes grew tender as he said:
"Your father and mother were engaged
In their duties rs host and hostess, and
few weeks ago received letter from
my old time friend, NIr, Bell, who in the
spring is to marry Miss Ames" (my heart
beat joyfully), "asking me to make her
visit here pleasant You are too impul-
sive. Your father and mother love YOU,
and Il"
at this moment the church door was
pushed open, and on the stone floor was
the sound of awkward uneven steps.
Thcy>approached quickly. My handker-
chief was removed from my eyes 1
opened them just in time to see John
swallow it. He craned his long neck and
brought first one and then the other of
his small black eyes to bear on me, then
on Doctor Warner, MS much as to say,
"What is the troubled" 1t was so funny
that we both laughed.
merry was very happy.
81 had forgotten for few moments
what brought mo here" said Doctor
Warner. "Thc Indians are on the war
path. About o'clock this evening
party of soldiers are going in pursuit of
them. / accompany them"
He led me to the carriage, helped me
in, and took n scat beside me. John
seated himself beside Michael, and we
rode homcward.
Hasty preparations were being made
at the garrison when we reached there.
AT that evening the soldiers, accom-
panied by their surgeon, left. had list
encd .attcntivcly as to the route they were
to take. When the sound of the retreat
ing horses died away, turned to Nano,
n Mexican boy, and said:
Saddle my two ponies, and you and I
will have ride"
Nnno joyfully did rs / babe him. In
half an hour we were riding away. AT
ter the heat of the day, how grateful the
cool evening" Flowers folded away
from the sun, children of the sand,
opened their eyes for me. Nano and I
rode along in silence.
Through my mind fioated, many times:
"Your father and mother love you, and
I" What did he mean? Was it pos
sible that he loved met Why had dear
old John come just at that momcnt2
Should l ever hear that sentence finished2
Then thought of the cruel, trcacherous
Indians. In my life on the border lands
l had seen many brought home, slain by
our dusky neighbors
The full moon was shining. Nano in
terrupted my musings by saying that the
huge cacti looked like giants, and he
could kill one or two with his knife.
The wind, which was blowing from
us, suddenly vcered. 1 heard distincly
the sound of the horses hoofs bearing
our soldiers. They wers quite near, but
going from us. l bent my face upon nv
pony's neck and said a little prayer for
their safety, then said to Nano, as
looked at my watch, and found it was 10
o'clock:
''It is time to return"
AS | was wheeling Brownie, my pony,
around, grew faint with terror Mt what
saw. From behind the tall cacti sprang
at least dozen Indians. Like demons
they looked in their war paint and
feathers. They had knives and clubs and
strange looking objects dangling from
their belts. They dragged Nano from
his pony, and then felt myself torn
from Brownie. I had clasped my arms
around her neck.
There were few dry, wrctchcd trees
growing out of the sand They tied Nano
to one with strong leather bands. Thci
they tied me to another The moon
looked coldly down right in my agonizcd
face. The Indians gathered dry twigs
and leaves and grass, and laid them about
our feet.
After one wild cry Nano was silent.
think he tainted In the moment of ter
ror when I expected to pass through the
fearful gateway of fire, thought of father
and mother, of dear old John, but nearer
and dearer still, I thought of the blue gray
eyes dearer than all other eyes.
The Indians, sure of their victims, left
us to gather fuel for the sacrifice. HThe
inconstant moon" never cried out to save
11,,4