Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-05-11

Chinese TO understand. Then more
soldiers passed the house from the
south, tired, dusty, grimed some of
them running, some wounded and
tottering along slowly. All passed in
steady stream behind the forts.
Suddenly horseman dashed up TO
the house-he was all dust and dirt
and his horse was covered with foam.
He threw himself from the saddle and
came up on to the veranda.
Good graciousl the captain.
Come away from here at once, he
said; ''our men are retreating; we are
going TO make a stand behind the
works. You are directly in range. Be
quick the fire is liable to open at any
moment"
Then there was a scramble to snatch
q few things One took q lamp, an
other q pitcher, another photograph
album. 1t seemed as If everybody
took the most useless thing to be
found. All except me were hurrying
down the walk to the gate; stayed
behind. The captain was trying TO
make me hurry. lie was stamping up
and down on the veranda and through
the hall, almost crazy at my delay.
Come, be quickT he said, as sharp
as if he were the general himself.
Captain said hesitating.
"What is it2" he asked, impatiently.
'The hostage"
"What hostager
THAT you left when you went away;
| couldn't find it. Must we leave itP
He looked at me a moment as if he
thought had lost my senses then he
burst into a laugh.
never could stand to be laughed
at, and just then il was particularly
obnoxious. | made up my mind that
he should tell me what had hunted
for, and tell me then and there.
Never mind that" he said, seeing
that | was irritated. Save yourself
and it will be in no especial danger"
"Tn not leave it, whatever it is" ]
said, resolutely.
Come, comel this will be a battle
field in few minutes.
II won't stir step till you tell me
what | want to know"
"Nonsensep he said, severely.
The more severe his tone, the more
resolute | became. stood stock still
For Heavens sakel" he urged, be-
coming really frightened; 'the gun
ners are standing with the lanyards in
their hands ready 10 fire."
LET them firew folded my arms.
A volley sounded a short distance
down the line Of forts TO the west
The captain tried TO seize my wrist.
do come" he pleaded.
Tell me what was the hostage" ]
said, stubbornly.
Here"
"Here."
mo, no; this is not ct place to
tell you that. For the love Of heaven
do come awayw
Vowed would conquer him or die
on the field.
"You shall either tell me or will
stay here till the battle is over"
He looked at the frowning forts anx-
iously, then back at me.
you must knowl'
Yes"
"Nowp
"Now.n
well, then, Molly dear, left you
my heart"
Istood as one who sees an engine
coming straight down on him, and
whose limbs are paralyzed from the
suddenness Of the discovery. Merci-
full heavenl what had | donel What
stupidity The blood rushed in tor.
rent to my cheeks; / covered my face
with my hands.
And now, sweetheart"-talSing one
Of my hands from my burning cheek
and leading me away-''if you're sat
isfed about the hostage, we won't stay
here any longer"
As he spoke there was an explosion
in the forts, and it seemed as if dozen
shrielSing cats were whirling over our
heads. i almost wished one of them
would strike me dead. The captain
led me like child toward the forts
through smoke and noise and confu-
sion. ! didn't think of the battle that
was opening; only thought how i'm
modest Ire must think me, and that
he never would believe ! could be so
stupid as not 10 know what he meant
by leaving hostage.
/ have had TO suffer all my life for
that one mistake. 1 never can have
my way about anything, for when
my husband finds all other expedients
for governing TO be failures, he inva-
riably taunts me with having forced
his secret at the cannon's mouth.-F.
A. Mitchell in Harper's Weekly.