The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-05-01

WNcclS unlll CuTTldSC SNepI alouili Iho
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:
II have never been inside this grand
old church which you love so dearly,
Will you show it to mc2"
Like some pcnitent, l led the way. We
paused before pictures, rare and old, OF
saints, angels and martyrs. averted
my face as DR.. Warner looked upon Saint
Cecilia. Suddenly he asked:
"Why did you leave us so abruptly.
and why did I find you walking OIL
those cruel thorns?"
looked down and said:
II was playing penitent."
We had paused before the Madonna.
There was a tremor in my voice, but ]
answered almost defantly:
"You all left me- wanted to sit next
you at the table"
Then my tears fell fast, and I put my
small laced -bordcred handkerchief, which
I had chosen in the happy hours of pre-.
paration for the dinner party, to my
eyes.
His voice was kindly, and I felt sure
his eyes grew tender as he said:
"Your father and mother were engaged
in their duties as host and hostess, and !
q few weeks ago received letter from
my old time friend, Mr.. Bell, who in the
spring is to marry Miss Amcs'' my heart
beat ioyfully), "asking me to make he1
visit here pleasant. You are too impul-
sivc. 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 handker-
chief was removed from my eyes.
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, as much as to say,
"What is the troubled" 1t was so funny
that we both laughed.
was only too glad Of an excuse to be
merry. was very happy.
II had forgotten for few moments
what brought me here" said Doctor
Warner. s'1'he Indians are on the war
path. About s 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 a scat beside me. John
seated himself beside Michael, and we
rode homeward.
Hasty preparations were being made
at the garrison when we reached there.
At S that evening the soldiers, accom-
panied by their surgeon, left. Ihad list
cncd attcntivcly as to the route they were
to take. When the sound Of the retreat
ing horses died away, turned to Nano,
Mexican boy, and said:
"Saddle my two ponies, and you and l
will have a ride
Nano joyfully did rs badc him. In
half an hour we were riding away. AT
ter the neat 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
rode along in silence.
Through my mind foatcd, many times:
''Your father and mother love you, and
/" What did he mcan2 Was it pos
siblc that he loved me? Why had dear
old John come just at that momcnt2
Should ever hear that sentence finishcdl
Then I thought of the cruel, treacherous
Indians. In my life on the border lands
1 had seen many brought home, slain by
our dusky neighbors.
The full moon was shining. Nano in
tcrruptcd 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 veered. I heard distincly
the sound of the horses hoofs bearing
our soldiers. They were quite near, but
going from us. I bent my face upon my
pony's neck and said little prayer for
their safety, then said to Nano, as I
looked at my watch, and found it was 10
o'clock:
''It is time to return"
As I was wheeling Brownie, my pony,
around, I grew faint with terror at what
1 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 I felt myself torn
from Brownie. I had clasped my arms
around her neck.
There were few dry, wretched trees
growing out of the sand. They tied Nano
to one with strong leather bands. Then
they tied me to another. The moon
looked collly 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. I
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 dcarcr still, 1 thought of the blue gray
eyes dcarcr than all other eyes.
The Indians, sure of their victims, left
lis to gather fuel for the sacrifice. "Thc
inconstant moon" never cried out to save
us, but 'thc tickle, ftful wind'' came
screaming through the desert and cried:
s'This shall not be-" 1t famed the pale,
; l. e