The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-28

nVe OF SIX or his eilITlS, 1l i1cclSSd 5t the
open favor IAZsEid shCTTcsy GCnnzr Mztsum
and determined on tie first occasion 70
bring down lis oone@t q Peg or tive. Gun
mar was instlnGSivsly =%=re Of their ssnti-
ments toward him - be approached the
wOodplle ana seized the frst opportunity
TO turn about, when lie eOu,d DO 80 with
self respect Bot no sooner nd he turned
his back to the company than shower Of
chips. pieces Of barr aud other light mis-
siles his him about the hcGd and shoulders
he was inclined 70 take no notice Of this
challenge, bat Lnseyld, being less wise,
faced about ay&,n and said:
Il wish you wouldn't do that, lads"
a der1sive jeer greeted tlLs mid request
The girl stood FOR . moment irresoluts,
blushinG with vexation.
Il guess you'll be sorry for II some day. Z"
she murmured, and rejoineJl her compan-
ion.
Her implied championship OF Gunrar
did not tend 10 nOllify his antagonists
He had scarcely walked two steps at her
side when large piece Of wood knocked
his hat e1f and raised bump an the side
OF his head. With the pain his anger
fared up. He 0Rrted back 70 the wcodpile
grabbed Thorstsn Sletten whom he sus-
pected Of being his assailaut, by the leg
and dragged him down. One Of the stakes
which confined the logs broke, and the
whole pile tumbled down pen nell with
the young men on top Of IL. SOuoe Of them
got painful bumps and scratches. which
did not improve their temper. One by enc.
as be got upon his legs. rushed II Gunnar
with clnched fists, and the latter. finding
himself attacked on al sides, struck right
and left, little bee<3tng whom or where he
hit. 1t was a most unfair battle-six
against one. mcerid's blood boiled as she
saw her companion surrounded, beaten
and pommeled by those enviOus fellows.
only because she had favored him.
He fought for a while manfully, return
ing blow for blow, and neither asking nor
receiving quarter. But he was gradually
getting the worst Of IT, She saw his
flushed face above the knot OF com batanrs.
every muscle strained, his teeth clDohed
IN savage wrath and a fash in his eve OF
desperate resolution. Then suddenly down
he went, trpped up by come tricky foot,
and the others feu upon him ike raging
hounds. The light died out al IngeTid's
face, leaving it pale and terrified; for an
instant she stood speeches.. then borne
along By IniglTty impulse she rashed into
the midst of the lighters, grabbed the first
one she got hold Of by the shou lders and
flung him aside II was Tho. ten Slstten.
'Oh, shame on your she cried
ThOrsten sent her surly sideInIz glance
and walked off. trying to hide his resent
meRt and modification under an cir Of
bravado. In another moment she bad
R,Is4 II a
wise skunk Of with nautteEed curses, snd
the others, unwilling to fgbt a girl, got up
hastily and took to their heels. Last Of
all Gunnar rose, with slew and deliberate
motions and turned toward her a rcd,
swollen face, with white hlotches and a
streak Of blood on his LEFT cheek lie look
ed at her wish half shy, awkward glance.
at which all Der sense Of cham pionship
forsOok her, and she fclt sersuas, weak
ness in her knees. The crimson fiush
Jared out upon her checks, and she found
1t impossible to utter a word Had she
not been foolish in GLOWING her hoars 20
run away with herr SIZE had put him IN a
humiliating position, ard though she
would have liked TO beg his pardon shedid
not know how 70 frame the dilfrult
words. And vet she had meant
we'll. It was horribly prrpler-
ing But why did he not speakY
He ought TO have had the gener-
osity to say something, II only To relieve
her awkwardness. She watched him with
a dim sense Of RilB, through which p slow
resentment glowed, while he wiped his
bloody cheek Will the sleeve OF hfS coat
and pulled himself together to recover ais
worted attiJude When he had ~ nearly
as possible efaced Ell traces Of tha com bat
be looked about 70 see II tuey vssre observed.
Ingerids hoart IeaDed into her throat. He
was now surely going 70 thank her
g. suppose you meant all right ~ be said
In a reseHttUl tone: "but another time
with you wouldn't 20 1t"
But they we're killing you. GunnAr,"
she cried in eager self Just 6cation
Well poEt time let them kiu me" be
answered doggediy.
oh, how can ycu'' she unoaned, too
deeply wounded for tears. II wish wish
i had never seen you
She felt weak and Sore. Her heart seemed
heavy - lead. The sunlight had hard
brightness which hurt Der eyes. The
world had lost its glory.