The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-04-25
LlONNB'S REVENGE.
ArRAoIc ROMANCE oFTHELAs1
CENTURY.

ATRAolc ROMANCE oFTHELAsT
CENTURY,.
CHAPTER XVI.
Be Il what II may; or bliss or torment,
| Annihilntion dark and endless rest,
| Oisoms dread thing mans widest range OF
thought
Hath never yet conceived, that chunge III
dare
Which makes me any thing. but what am!
JOANNA BAIi.LIE.
One morning - usual Lionne stole off to
her grotto.
Throwing herself down upon the rugged
floor, she sat with her elbows on her knees
and her forehead bowed upon the palms Of
her hands. Her long black hair escaping
from its bands. fell all around her shoulders
and bosom, halt yelling her bent form.
Gnmindful Of the passage of time, she gave
herself up to bitter thoughts.
While thus she sat like another forsakcn
Ariadns or deSpairing Dido, shadow came
between the mouth OF the grotto and the
glimmering light Of the river beyond, and at
the same moment o rough, kindly. respectful
voice called out
| ''Mistressi"
Lionns put aside her binding hair and
looked up to behold the dwar.ed giant, vul.
can, accompanied by the Indian squaw, the
"Great Sorcereas" kalOugoora-
Shc advanced into the grotto. and stood
muttering weird nominations and performing
strange gestures.
Lionne arose. bound up herlong. black hair,
and stood with somewhat OF her old native
dignity to receive her singular visitor.
"Mistress." said Vulcan in IL tone, and with
a manner Of deep respect intended to inspire
the sQuaw with u proper reverence for thu.
Indy, mistress. this !. Kalnugoora, the
Grent Sorcaress' Of the Shenan,loahs, come to
offer her service to your ladyship."
Lionns Looked with q shutder OF repuuls,on
towards the old creature. who stood still,
moving her lips ind slowly wheeling her
arms as In solemn incantations.
Take TINT seat" sni'i l.ionne, pointing to
| The ''Great Sorceress," with more in.
cnntations nnd conjurations. sat down.
1 You mny leave us now; but do not go out
ofcnll. added lionne, turning to the dwarf
Mistress. will pnce up and down before
tie opening ofths vrotto to be within sound
ms good bow Ms squire block could make,
ha retreated. leaving Lonne alone Will, her
formidable looking visitor.
Midnight STAR" began the old crone ad.
Other tribe. Midnight star, my dark bright
daughter. does not trust her red mother"
l.iopne looked wistfuIy at the speaker and
remained silent
"Ths Midnight Star fears the Great Sor.
ceress' Of the Shenan.ioahs." snil the crone.
In u key half affirmative, half interrogative.
II fear nothing in the heavens. earth or
hades; but my footsteps go down the deep
valley where tho powers OF sleep and death
mingle. and my face grows dark in their
shadows" eaid I.ionne, falling into the pict-
uresque style of the squaw's language.
I INV dark hriUht dnuUhfor nooh mt nfnv
for TINT. Her red mother has firm foot
and q strong hand. and will lead her safely
through tho valley Of black vapors. to the
sunny hills beyond.
,n DO ,, you know now, Why summoned you hither
1.-THE 'Great sorceress' Of the shsnandoahs
knows oil things!"
With shrug of her shoulders, Lionne next
asked, Can you supply me with what l re-
auire?"
"Ths Great Sorceress Of the shennndoshs
an do all thngs!" sheanswered with an eg:
otism hall between the sublime and the ride
| uionR.
What 10 it then that rend?" asked lii
onne with IN almost impercoptible curl OF
her lips.
my daughter needs medicine that shall
lay her out so still that none but the Great
! Spirit shall know that the soul has not fol-
lowed her Pale warrior to the happy hunting
| grounds"
.she believes mo to be a widow" thought
1.ionne, With aneer at the protested omni-
srience OF the "0rent Sorccress'' but aloud
she said. "nnd you have such a drug-n drug
that shall simulate without causing death.
| "lhave herb so potent that when my dark,
bright daughter swallows it and lies down
to sleep. not all the plants that grow above
ground. nor ell the minerals that Turk bslowin
the bowela ofthe enrth nor Nil the skill Of man
shall be nl,le to rouse her from her dcath-lika
sleep until two auns have passed. when she
will awake! does my pale daughter still
doubt"
NO do not care enough about 1t to
doubt. Even Il the deuth-like Sleep should
be the Fleep OF death. perhaps it were az
WE'LL said Lionne, in a Responding tone.
Then utter pause for some moments. she
suddenly said-
"Our interview IN closed for today come to
me. tomorrow at this place, and at this
hour that We mny confer further"
| And placing her finger to her lipa, she blew
q clear. high, shrili call, that summoned the
dwnr' to her presence.
The Great sorceress" then arose, and with
| q repetition Other lamentations she retired,
accompanied by Vulcan from the grotto.
Lionne returned home, and entered the sit.
ting room, when she found her father busy
in packing up his books and papers,
When 10 saw her, he looked up and smiled
saying
"Ten years Of practice has enabled me to
some skill. my dsnr. And you my child, And
the functions OF lady's maid to your self very
easy"
"Quite SO" replied Lionne; "any successor
to myself as attendant upon me might
| oveawkwi.rd and embarrassing"
Her father laughed: How strange TINT
laugh upon lips Of lifelong sa1ness!" Did
| 1t lode good?
| 1t was fortnight after her first meeting
with the" Great Sorceress otthe Shenandoahs''
that Lionne in tile reclusion Of her grotto,
and attended only by kalougoorn. became
the mother Of q little girl only in it's uncon.
aciousnesa of misery less wTstched thnn its
parent.
humble abstraction OF his mind, and in his
full acquaintance with her wild habits, scarce.
ly for dny or two, missed the presence of
his daughter. Hut when three days went by
and she hnd not made her appearance and
wns not in her place the fourth morning ut
Where is Lionner"
"Oh. yer honor she went out before you
| were up" answered Vulcan.
(And go she had three days before.)
| But unconscious OF the prevnrication
prncticed upon him, the recluss merely an
THAT girl grows more eccentric every day!
All! well. let her have the run OF the wilder.
ness while she remains, 1t will not be long"
Immediately after breakfast Vulcan hur--
ried to the grotto. where Lionne, exhausted
more by despair than by Illness reposed up
on her rude pallet.
"I.ionne. my child, the master has at last
inquired for yon."
land how did you answer for me?" ex.
claimed the wretched girl, starting up and
leaning upon hsr elbow.
Il said that you had gone ont before he
was up
"Oh this necessity Of falyel.ood"' exclaimed
Lionne In intense disgust.
Dear mistress. let me suggest something.
Do not go home until late in the afternoon,
and see your father about twilight. Then
-"
~ understand; he will not be startled
ed face"
in the morning he notices It,
him you hud bnd night