Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-10-10

aid church which you love so dearly.
VIII you show it to me?"
Like some penitent | led the way.
We paused before pictures rare and old,
OF saints, angels, and martyrs. l
averted my face as he looked upon st.
Cecilia. Suddenly he asked:
"Why did you leave 80 abruptly, and
why did | find you walking ON those
cruel thorns?"
looked down and said:
81 was playing penitent."
We had paused before the Madonna
There was tremor in my voice, but |
answered almost defiantly:
You all left mel wanted to sit
next you at the table"
Then my tears fell fast, and put my
small lace-bordered handkerchief.
which | had chosen In the happy hours
OF preparation for the dinner party, to
my eyes.
His voice was kindly, and felt sure
his eyes grew tender as he said:
Your father and mother were en-
gagged in their duties as host and host
ess, and | few weeks ago received a
letter from my old-time friend, Mr..
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 impulsive. Your
father and mother love you, and ="
AT this moment the church door was
pushed open, and on the stone floor
was the sound OF awkward, uneven
steps" They approached quickly. My
handkerchief was removed from my
eyes. l opened them just in time TO
see John swallow it. lie craned his
long neck and brought first one and
then the other of his small black eyes
TO bear on me, then on DIR. Warner. rs
much as to say: What is the trouble?'
1t was so funny that we both laughed.
l was only too glad of an excuse to
be merry. | was very happy.
Il had forgotten for few moments
what brought me here" said DIR. War
ner. THE Indians are on the war
path. About o'clock this evening a
party of soldiers are going in pursuit
of them. / accompany them"
lie led me TO the carriage, helped me
! in, and took seat beside me- John
| seated himself beside Michael, and we
rode homaward.
Hasty preparations were being made
at the garrison when we reached there.
At s that evening the soldiers, accom-
panied by their surgeon, left. | had
| listened attentively as 10 the route they
were TO take. When the sound of the
retreating horses died away l turned
to Nano, Mexican boy, and said:
Saddle my two ponies and you and
| l will have "a ride"
Nano joyfully did as | babe him. In
! half an hour we were riding away.
After the heat of the day, how CRATE
| ful the cool evening. Flowers folded
away from the sun, children OF the
sand. opened their eyes for me. NanC
and | rode along in silence.
Through my mind 1oated many
times: Your father and mother love.
YOU. and i" What did he mean
Was it possible that he loved me?
Why had dear old John come just al
that moment? Should / ever hear
that sentence finished? Then thought
of the cruel treacherous Indians. In
my life on the border lands had seen
many brought home, slain by our
dusky neighbors.
The full moon was shining. NanC
interrupted my musings by saying
that the huge cacti looked liked giants,
and he could kill one or two with hi:
knife.
The wind, which was blowing from
us. suddenly veered. l heard distinct
ly the sound OF the horses hoofs bear
ing our soldiers. They were quite
near, but going from us. | bent my
face upon my pony's neck and said {
little prayer for their safety, then sale
to Nano, as looked at my watch anC
found it was 10 o'clock:
at is time to return"
AS l was wheeling Brownie, my
pony, around l grew faint with terror
at what | saw. From behind the tai
cacti sprang at least a dozen indians.
Like demons they looked in their war.
paint and feathers. They had knives
and clubs and strengthening objects
dangling from their belts. They
dragged Nano from his pony, anG
then / felt myself torn from Brownie
l had clasped my arms around hel
neck
There were a few dry. wretched
trees growing out OF the sand. They
tied Nano to one with strong leather
bands. Then they tied me with an
other. The moon looked coldly down
right in my agonized face. The In.
dians gathered dry twigs and leave:
and grass, and laid them about oul
feet.
After one wild cry Nano was silent.
/ think he tainted. In the moment OF
terror when expected to pass through
the dreadful gateway Of fire though
of father and mother, OF dear old John
but nearer and dearer still l thought o
the blue-gray eyes dearer than al
other eyes.
The Indians, sure of their victims
left us to gather fuel for the sacrifice
The inconstant moon" never cried
out to save us. but "the tickle. fitfu
wind" came screaming from tn,
desert and cried: This shall no
be-" 1t famed the pale, dark cheeks
of Nano; it caressed my forehead, anC
gave me last fond kiss.
saw an Indian approach with I
lighted torch. Then, as il in anger
the wind gave one horrible blast. j
tossed my long black hair, which hat
fallen all about me, away. The moon
Oava a lOvinu infapsa Olanoa I en- "a