Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-08-21
THE BLACK CROSS. =

"A black cross had been set against lu2t
Nawkin's name. Why, it is hot for mt
to say. We We're not accustomed to ex
plain our motives or to give reasons fol
our deeds. The deeds were enough, anC
this black cross meant death; and when il
had been shown US, all that we needed tc
know further was at what hour we shoul
meet for the contemplated raid. A WORD
from the captain settled that, and when
the next Friday came dozen men met at
the place of rendezvous ready for the ride
which should bring them to the Judge 5
solitary mansion across the mountains
was among them, and in us satisfactory a
mood as had ever been in my life, for the
night was favorable and the men hearty
and in frst-rate condition.
But after we had started and were
threading a certain woods began to have
doubts. Feelings | had never before ex
perienced assailed me with force that
first perplexed and then astounded me.
was afraid, and, what rather heightened
than diminished the unwonted sensation
was the fact that was not afraid OF any
thing tangible, either in the present OF
future, but of something unexplainablt
and peculiar, which, if it lay i'll the skies
certainly made them look dark indeed
and if it hid in the forest, caused Its faint
est murmur to seem like the utteranco Of
great dread, as awful as it was incI'
pliCable.
! nevertheless proceeded, and.Should hay,
done so if the great streaks of lightning,
which now and then shot zigzag through
the sky, had taken the shape of words anc
bade us all beware. | was not one to bt
daunted, and knew no Other course than
that of advance when once n stroke OF JUS
tice had been planned and the direction
for it's fuIRlment marked out. | went on
but began to think, and that to me was
an experience, for had never been taught
to reiect-only to fight and obey.
The house toward hich we were riding
was built ON hillside, and the first thlne
we saw on emerging from the forest was {
light burning in one of its distant wan
dows This was a surprise, for the hour
was late, and in that p rt of the country
people we're accustomed to retire early,
even such busy men as the Judge lie mus
have visitor, and visitor meant pos
sible compiled! o Of affairs; SO halt was
called, and | was singled out to recon
hotter the premises,
started off in strange state of mind
The fear ! had spoken of had left me, but
a vague shadow remained, through which
as through mist. saw the lieht In that
PARKWAY window reckoning ne on tc
what felt was in some way to make al
end of my present life. As ! drew nearer
to it the feeling increased; then 1t
too, left me, and | found mysel
once more the daring avenger. This
was when | came to the foot of the hill
and discovered had but few steps more
to take.
The house, which had now become plain
ly visible, was a solid one OF stone, built
rs ! have said on the hillside, II faced
The road, as was shown bv the large porti
co dimly to be dlScerned in that direction
but its rooms were mainly on the side, anC
il was from one of these that the light
shone As came yet nearer ! perceived
that these rooms were guarded by piazza
which, communicating with the portico il
front. Afforded an open road TO ttat win
dow anu clear sight of what lay behinC
il. ] was instantly off my horse and up0r
the piazza and before ! had time to real
we that my fears had returned TO me with
double force, had crept ateaithiIy towarc
that uncurtained window and looked in.
What did see? At first nothing but 6
calm, studious figure bending above &
batch of closely written papers, upon
which the light shone too brightly for me
70 perceive much Of what lay behiud them
Bot gradually an influence, OF whose
workings ! was scarce conscious, drew ml
eyes away and began to discover OF
every SIDE strange and beautiful object
which greatly interested me, until suddenly
my eyes fell upon vision of loneliness 81
enchanting that forgot to look elsewhere
and became for the moment nothing but
sight and feeling.
1t was a picture, or 50 thought in the
first instant of awe and delight. Bu
presently saw that ii was a woman, llv
ing and full of THOUGHTS that had never
been NINE, and at the discovery, sudden
trembling seized me. for ] had never seer
anything like her beauty, while she san
nothing but the man who was bending
ever his papers There was a door OF
something DARK behind her, and against
It her tall srrong figure, clad In "a close
white gown. stood cut with distinctDesl
that was not altogether yarthly.
but 10 was her lace tHht htiN hS AM
made Of me from moment 10 moment 2
new man For in it / descerned what
had never believed in till nov, devotion
that had no limit. and love which asked
nothing in return. She seemed to be
faltering on the threshold Of that room
as one who would like to utter, but doe
not dare, and in another moment, with d
smile that pierced me through, she turned
al If 10 60 Instantly forge everything
but my despair. and leaned forward with
an impetuosity that betrayed my presence
She glanced quickly toward the wind =
and. seeing me, turned pal, even Fhii,
.ka re in haiuht til | felt Inrself shrink