Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-10-24

were only putting her little d to bed,
although, while Iheard no sob nor any
expression Of grief. 1 could see that her
breast was heaying with sorrow and her
face was visited by tears.
The two now knelt on either side. kiss
ing their darling many times. and weep
ing over her, though trying apparently
to comfort another in their wretch
ednoes. If peruhance there might come in
their hearts 2 calm like that with which
the moon was still sending down her
beams to llumine the fearful scene.
Then. laying hold Of the blanket. they
carried their darling to the grave, and by
the aid of the bride reins lei the precious
burden down into the place which they
had so carefully prepared. Green boughs
were scattered over her until they COW
cred the beautiful form many inches
deep, and then the clods were gently re-
placed. and a little mound was hoappd.
and the child. transferred from her raoth-
er's bonom, WAS sleeping ut last in the
bosom Of that greater mother-Earth.
Tie two sad m%ournerB lcnelt again beside
the grave and seemed to be engaged in
prayer, lifting their faces now and then
TO the sky, rs If in It's infinite clear depths
they saw the future hopes.
All this-thougli l still Thought 1t IN
real-had axakened in me the keenest
interest and sympathy. Bat my atten-
ton was now suddenly diverted to n line
Of figures in the distance. somewhat be
yond the spot where | had seen the
wagon when | first awoke. These were
horsemen, who anne sweeping on at u
rapid pace. as if engaged in eager pur-
suit. From tho manner in which they
rode l knew they were Indians.
All. saw it al now. and understood
why these spectral visitors had 80 often
looked back so apprehensively III the di-
rection from which they had approached.
These pilgrims across tho plains bad seen
signs of savages. and had used the night
to push on beyond their reach, if hGply
they might bury their dead in peace and
find safety for themselves. But the foe
had discovered their trail and followed
them. bent Oh massacre.
l laid my hand i~nstinctively on my
rife under the edge Of my blanket, that
l.might join in the defense. and was
about to cry out III warning of the dan
ger l saw approaching, but instantly be-
thought myself that this was unhealthy,
a mere vision. calling for no practical
action. and l might better lot these
shadows work out their tragedy to the
end. / again restrained The dog. who
seemed agitated, whether because he
saw what | was seeing or out Of sympa-
thy with my emodon-I know not
which.
The two at the grave seemed uncon-
scious Of the threatened danger until
their enemies were within a hundred
yards, when the man sprang up and
lifted the woman also to her feet. They
turned toward the wagon. rs if to gain
its shelter and secure weapons for de-
fence. It was too late. | saw flashes of
fire ind also Il flight Of arrows, still
without a sound. however. TO break the
calm of the night.
Both the mar and woman staggered as
if wounded. They stopped and turned
face to face. throwing their arms about
elch other. as if realizing that this was
their last embrace. Another volley, and
still clinging to each other in the agony
OF death, they fell together upon the
grave Of their child.
The Indians were not long in coln-
pleting their work. Then catching the
horses and Harvesting them into the
wagon they fastened away. as though
themselves in fear Of pursuit. Watched
them until they disappeared, and then
was alone with my thoughts and the
brilliant night.
Irealized that l had seen n vision. and,
although l turned myself resolutely e
rest. my sleep for the remainder of the
night was ftful and disturbed. When
finally | awakened again the sun had
risen, and under the influence Of thai
great dispeller Of illusions. and in spite
of the vividness of the nights experience
| began to think that. after al, l might
have been only dreaming; especially
when l saw that the space where l has
seen the burial and the tragedy that FOL
lowed was not open and clear, but over
grown with brush and young trees.
Nevertheless, yielding to "A curiosity Of
which | was meanwhile almost ashamed
l soon made my way into tine bushes
? Parting these with my hands rs | wen.
forward. and scanning the ground close
/ ly.I shortly experienced n new shock O
surprise; for there, in the exact Epo'
marked by Tie ui-tt scene. was "a httl'
! mound, and over it were lie rer1ins o
/ two skeletons.
knd now for a retrospective fac
which gave to this weird experience G.
? the night r personal significance. Will,
: was yet a lad in my teens my brother
twenty years older. had taken his young
wife and only child and set out to eros
the plains in pursuit of fortune. Thu
mails had brought home tidings Of theiI
journey up to a certain point, Beyond
this all trace was lost. and We nevel
3 heard Of them again.
have not been able to account salts
factorily for what ! have related. Wa
this an indubitable intimRtion vouch
= safed to me from another world as to tn,
= fate Of my relatives? Wa it impossible
that | should have this vision elsewhere
And If this is the case, then why? HaC
nature photographed these tragic scene
and preserved their reflection, to repro
duce them for an eye that was fitted b!
some occult law of sympathy 20 behold
i Let the savants answer if they can
cannot.-Edward b. Payne in True Flag
/ Riddles RebuEe to "A Girl.