The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1889-07-10
Poor Girl, We shook our heads

among ourselves at the way In which
she elung to hope, and the strange
belief she now expressed in the man
whom, in our. hearts, we all de-
nounced as Percy's murderer. An
other week dragged slowly by; an
air of desolation and gloom hung
over the camp, when one night, as
we gathered as usual about the fires,
strangely silent, | started, as COM
ing toward US out of the gloom, my
old superstltious fancy conjdred up
the ghost of the boy whom we all
had loved; butin another moment
his ghostly gril' was on my shoulder
with very fesh and blood reality, as
Percy Graham stood before US, a
little paler, a little thinner, but
otherwise unchanged. How we
clustered about him! But Jack
Harding? If he had not killed him,
where was he? Some one told
Percy the cruel doubt we all had
had. The bright look vanished
from his face, his voice trembled.
"He had the noblest soul God ev-
er made" he answered. 1--WE had it
all out that night as we walked
alone together under the stars. He
had told me how he had loved the girl
| was TO wed, and what a bitter
struggle he had had with himself to
conquer it " "a
AZ shall love her to my grave,
Percy he said, bot | have now
found room in my heart for you
both, and my love can now do your
wife no HARM s..s
1T was at that moment that we
we We're surrounded by small band
of Indians. . -
"'See that Meta knows, 1 shout
ed, as ] saw that | must surrender
hope. | learned afterward that he
had escaped. | knew that he would
bear my message. How it was re-
ceiyed, you all know. My captors
Determined not TO kill me. They
held me as hostage. NV death
could occur at any future time.
Three days ago one of the squaws
put a note into my hand BE ready
at nightfall' was all its message. To
me il was enough. In some way
the writer had made the woman his
friend.
| was unbound. They did not
consider it necessary to bind me, so
| was all ready for my dash for
freedom. At Q o'clock | recognized
whistle knew well. | asked and
received permission 10 bring some
water from the spring and started
on my errand, scarcea stones throw
from the camp. AsI bent at the
spring | heard q horses neigh. In
the thicket at my side was u mount
ed horseman. How 1t all happened
! can scarce tell you, but in anoth-
er moment !, too, had sprung on his
saddle, and we were off like the
wind. IL was a brave, a noble act,
but sank into nothiugness compared
with what followed. With a shrill
cry my eaptors swung themselves
on their swift ponies and were on
our track.
"0ur horse, with his double
weight, could not distance them.
Inevitable capture and death must
follow. John saw the danger, and
ere could defeat his intention he
had thrown me the reins and slid to
the ground.
''See that Meta knows" he cried,
giving me nv own message her, but
with a strange exultation in his
voice.
"lhe next moment ! saw him fall,
pierced with arrows"
Percy stopped and covered his
face shudleringly with his hand,
while tear stood in every Nuns
eye. many Of which had known no
moisture ia long years.
II was as though an angel ha
unawares stood at our very door
and we had driven him away. w,
had very quiet wedding, after oil
but when. in the years that follow.
Cd, little noisy prattler was every
body's pet, We loved him the NOR,
dearly, not only as Meta's child, but
because he bore the name "Johi
Uarlinv Graham.n 4.