Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-02

$50 the days wore Az ay.t SuDmer
delicate wild flowers and dancing gree
leaves faded from the low hills, the al
tumnal splendOrs Of sumae, eottonwOo
and locust gave place to the bare gra
boughs and heaping snowdrllts Of wiz
ter. I'D .-.e-. -a. s.... ..-
Sometimes Mrs. Pope met her angr
husband, but he ostentatiOusly gave he
a view OF the Scared side Of his fac
without speaking. How could sh
know, as she wept binding tears Of re
morse and self-pity after each encount
er, that her unforgiving lord stood hal
the nights ontside her little windoy
listening. as Saul unto David, 10 tn
harp which was once again her one con
fidant and eonsoler? Jincy, 1t is true
was now her sister, but she felt tha
Jincy and Louis looked on her with 81
lent disapproval. Her father was ava,
nor did she sigh for his return. Ole
Isabel, the negress, was her only cham
pion, and Isabel's feudal fidelity anC
eagerness to prove it made her trying
follower.
"Dey's gwine ter be lots o. spoht ter
night" said the poor darky at the closC
ola clustering January day phenome
nally cold for the thirty-ninth parallel
"Lots Of spoht," she continued, elevat.
ing her voice In the hope of rousing heI
mistress from her dismal contemplation
Of the Goals in the open fireplace. "BiI
Langston, missy, is gwine to han'le
'im." fE' q ~'ttHs @e2- ~
Him? WhO?n asked Tarias sharply.
'HimOvah yondah,n indicating the
nirn0tinn ftf Ia "a nak hxyo n
bill sass i'm Observation-Disclosures
dim, and he knock i'm down. Bill an
he gang gwiDe dar tOreekly, tie i'm ter
tree and whop i'm good"
"Who told you?'' cried the girl,
springing up. Too we'll she knew what
was in store for an unprotected man in
the clutch of the outlaws known as Bill
Langston's gang.aE "a. 7....s
II war in de cohn crib, an Johnnie
Slack an One-Eye Charlie wuz accom-
in long an heah 'em."
"Oh, and it's dark nowv cried Tar
las, wildly. "Give me my shawl! Tell
Louis, when he comes, to rouse up the
neighbOrs and come to Dawes cabin as
fast as he can bring them.',
She snatched q shawl from the old
woman's hand and started on a run
toward the "big road,r but suddenly
changing her mind, she ran in among
the trees, in her mad haste stopping
and turning aside for nothing. Gnarled
roots tried to trip her. ghostly branches
caught at her hair, stubborn under
brush tore at her garments, treacherOus
scales of ice set snares for her feet, but
she neither slipped nor stumbled.
IF get there in time it will atone"
she said over and over as she sped on
ward. Fortunately. the thaw and sue
ceeding freeze of few days before had
made hard crust over the snow, which
bore her up. The pale CLEANS of wan
new moon gave light enough for her
keen vision.
The distance was more than half
she was out of the woods and |
hurFying across the prairie, when long /
mournful wall came family |
across the snow. One less experienced |
n the ways of the wilderness would |
have paused, hoping to be convinced by |
repetition of the sound that some pes
'imistic deerhound was bemoaning the |
nclemency of the season; but Tarias
vas wiser than that.
Holy Mary, vierge celeste, save US
'oth!' she prayed.
"Ah--oo! 90! oo!-yap! yap! yapw
There it was again. The cabin was in
light, but-"O Mother Maryw
"Ah-oo! 90! 90! 90! yap! yap! yap"
This time it was nearer; and from the
rove behind her, the dark recesses of
hat heavier timber on one side, the
'are fields split by deep ravine on the
ther, came answering howls and
arks.
Before she had run; now she seemed
o fly. 10 God, if should stumble?n
he whole pack of famished devils had
ssembled and were in full cry. She
7as fieeter than almost any boy; but
rho has fieetness to outrun a wolf? One
noment and she would be safe. Alas!
he door was barred, and the snarling
ack was close after her.
"Open, open, Dave, for the love of
The door was opened. Dave struck
he leader with brand caught from the
re, flung 1t among the prairie brigands
nd dragged their quarry across the
The door swung shut, and
'arias fell at her husbands feet.
AAo Aoonou uOWH Ou IIeE Al SitcuC6,
earchingly, sternly.
"Come to the fire." he said, after a
)ng pause. "You are tuckered out.n
He lifted her, pushed her into his
hair, and wet her lips with brandy
rom a tiny pocket flask. Il
'Is the door made fast?n she asked,
tarting up.
"Oh, yes. The critturs cayen't git
~ he reassured her. "When they've
t the one hurt, they'll go offin search
4 other plumber"
THAT insn't it," she answered. look
ng about her with frightened air alto
ether new to Dawes knowledge of her.
'Bill-Bill Langston-n
"Well, what Of Bill?n he said slowly.
Hev you had fuss 18th imp he ques-
ioned, with quickened speech and an
,ir growing more and more stern.
Tarias hung her head like chidden
hild. Evidently Dawes one thought
# her was as contentious spirit.
"Whatd he say to your" continued
Dave, sourly.
Nothing" murmured Tarias. "He
-is-coming here tonight"
"D' you mean ter say yer wanter meet
inn hyur?" bawled Dave, like q fool.
EFF he comes hyur I'll shoot i'm like a
ID you hyur?''
HE comes with his gang to beat |
you," wept Tarias. "YOu must keep
asst the door till Louis comes"
In an instant Dawes mood changed. |
An so you come to warn me, did you,
Carias, at the resk o. your life?" he said
softly, as he laid his hand on her hair.