Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-08

you has entirely disappeared. But Kitty
has made the same request.
The woman seemed lashed to fury "And
it is to her that owe your indulgence"
ayes; and will not have you-do you
understand clearly2-I will not have you
infiict indignity on this girl. agree to re-
main with you upon the conditions named,
but if you break your promise no considera-
tion shall keep me. So reflect wellr'
''I have reflected. need you. must
keep you as friend. If you could only gain
some influence over me. am not naturally
depraved-only spoiled by bad habits. All,
if had only met earlier such people as you
and Kitty" She spoke slowly and sadly
with the humility of the Slavonic
people, who will always sacrifice
their vanity to satisfy acaprice. "In future
you shall have no reason to reproach me. 1
have always been indulged-who was there
to find fault with me? But will permit,
and, if necessary beg you to be severe with
me, and not to allow any of my whims and
caprices. Treat me like naughty child; 1
should be so glad to find master"
Was there double meaning in these
strange words, or was it merely the symptom
7,
Kitty now appeared and they went to break
fast.
81 have been harsh, very harsh with you,
Kitty" said Mrs. Relitska; "but my friend
Talbot has shown me my error. You must
excuse me-"
The girl muttered few words. She knew
by experience that the mildness would not
last long, and her anger was less ominous
than her seasons of repentance. During the
meal she was unusually gay. She bent all
her energies toward blotting out the memory
of the Misunderstanding.
The stage coach journey was begun
smoothly, but within "a hours Mrs. Relitska
had forgotten all her promises, and was once
more the capricious woman of earlier days.
The prairie lands were of an exasperating
monotony, and the sight of sundry ragged
and dirty Indians irritated the invalid, who
had recourse to a double dose of morphine.
Then. she began to be afraid of the possible
consequences, if Talbot should undertake to
leave her and take Kitty away too. Toward
4 o'clock in the afternoon Of the second day
they were approaching the station of Willow
Creek when the stage stopped short. In her
alarm she hailed the driver:
"What has happened?" she cried in
anguish.
She got in response the most desolating
news that it was impossible to travel farther
that day. A gang Of cowboys had possessed
the road, and the coach was at the mercy of
their caprices. Mrs. Relitska uttered cries
of alarm. What was to become of her?
"Bes calm, Madam" said Talbot; "a lit
tie patience, and matters will right them
selves. We can spend the night at this
lodging house; and as to the dangers that
you fear, 1 think them purely imaginary.
1 am well armed and will keep my eyes
open"
In his own mind the young man was by
no means reassured; but he would not alarm
the women, especially the younger and
dearer one. He had learned that 25 des-
peradoes, angered against the stage COM
pany, were assembled in the neighborhood,
resolved to plunder everything if the man
agement should not yield to their demands.
Her irritation increased still more when
they offered her for repast bread, bacon
and beans. She said not q word, but Kitty
knew her too we'll to be misled. At the
sight Of the pale face and glittering eyes,
the disgust at the food and the over-excite-
ment of the morphine, the girl expected
terrible scene.
The log house consisted Of a large kitchen
on the ground floor, and several small rooms
overhead. One of these Mrs. Relitska and
Kitty occupied, while Talbot took the gar
ret with a single window opening on the
prairie, from which he could watch the hori-
zon, and warn the two women in case of
danger threatening them.
In his restlessness and preoccupation he
did not notice the Russians abrupt manner.
He suspected that she would replace the
dinner by whisky, but being un-
abl., to hinder it, be feigned indifference,
and soon shut himself up in his room and
opened the window. The encampment of
cowboys was insensibly closing in upon
them, the only passengers in the coach, as if
to shut off every means of escape.
Talbot did not for three hours move from
his post. At last a movement arose out
side, and he saw men going to and fro with
lighted torches. What could be their de-
signs? Did they mean to set fire to the
house? Suddenly the men turned their
backs on the log house and walked off to-
ward the inclosure where the cattle and |
horses belonging to the company were kept. |
Talbot saw that they meant to execute one |
Of their favorite maneuvers, that of setting |
fire to the fences and buildings inclosing |
the animals. The latter, terrified by the |
flames, would break loose and dash frantic
ally about, and while the people of the log
house were trying to catch them the cow
boys would carry of all the baggage in
charge of the stage company.
Just at this instan: an outcry was heard
from the room given to the women. Talbot
grasped the situation-a disgraceful scene
was being made there by the morphia wo-
man. When he ought to be on the watch
for the safety of his companions, he found
himself obliged to save Kitty from the pos
sible fury of 3 madwoman,