Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-01-15

"Then there is tile more reason for
our speedy departure. H pursuit is
made, rs ii no doubt it will be, a. soon
as our fight is discovered, We need oil
the start we can get to outride them,
replied John.
We shall, indeed, and I fear much
for the result should they overtake us.
We must ride fast and far tonight"
We shall, my love- rejoined John,
as he swung himself into the saddle;
tomorrow will find us in another
State"
@Will it," broke in harsh, mascu.
line voice. Thank goodness, / am
just in time to block your little game.
Mabel uttered scream of terror as
she looked up and beheld her cousin
Tom, seated on horse some few yards
away. angrily eying them.
Il hardly think you will interfere
with us in any manner" retorted John;
"at least I'd advise you not TO-"
Nevertheless, certainly shall. Ma
bel, come with me. Are you not
ashamed to disgrace your family by
being seen in the company of o low-bred
Hanley, let alone accepting him as q
NFCLs IOE ouduts, hhO6l
"You have no authority to command
me, Tom, and shall pay no attention
to your orders. As for what you have
| said in regard to my betrothed husband,
| it is false-utterly fatse!"
"Yes, and were surrounded by any
| other circumstances than now am, he
| should answer for his words. Come
Mabel, it is foolish for us to be quarrel
| ing here with him when our time is so
precious" and John started his horse
forward.
Tom Rogers struck his horse sharply
with his whip, and with bound it
placed him alongside of the one which
Mabel rode. With his free hand he
rudely grasped her bride rein, and ex-
claimed:
"Not so fast, my young lady. Isaid
you should not go, and you shall not.
have not so soon forgotten the many
kindnesses of my uncle as to permit
his daughter to disgrace herself in
this fashion"
Release her! Quick!" commanded
John, "else I will not be responsible
for the result"
"Never! She shall not go while l
have the strength to prevent it.
stake that, then, and learn your
placed" cried John holly, as he brought
his riding-whip heavily down over the
! face of Tom Hanley.
Tom uttered an exclamation of pain
and rage as the blow fell. A great red
welt raised up on his cheek to mark the
spot. He released his hold on Mabel's
| h~sl In 1osr
.You have struck mel My cause is
doubly just! Defend yourself the best
you can, for shall shoot you like the
dog that you arep
81 shall defend myself. But first let
us ride out of the presence of this lady,
and I will then accord you any satisfac-
! tio6 you may demand replied John.
| "No! In her presence was the insult
given and there must it be
wiped out. Draw! Draw and
defend yourselfl I shall wait no
longer" and the rash youth whipped q
| pistol from out pocket of his riding
coat.
"You must not, shall not do this mad
thingl" cried Mabel in terrified accents
as she endeavored to force her horse
\
"Back, Mabel!" commanded John,
sternly. He would have my life;
there is naught left to me but to defend
it."
At that instant Tom fired. Mabel saw
| the red blood leap out from Johns
breast. She uttered shrek of horror
and fell fainting from her horse. AS
she fell she was dimly conscious of
anothe, explosion ringing in her ears,
then all was blackness.
| Ten minutes later consciousness came
slowly back to her. At first she could
not remember where she was or what
had happened, but suddenly it flashed
into her mind with all its horrors, aud
she sat up and stared wildly about her.
A short distance away she saw three
riderless horses quietly feeding, and
near her lay two human forms-oh, so
still! .
Terror gave her strength, and,
springing up she FASTENED to her lovers
side and dropped on her knees beside
him. He was still alive. Tearing
strips out of her dress, she bound up his
wound as we'll as she could. Taking his
hat, she fastened to little brook near
by and. getting it full of water, brought
it and bathed his temples and tace.
She left John fora moment, and went
over to her cousin. A moments exami-
nation satisfied her that he was beyond
the need Of earthly aid and she returned
to her lover.
A lit 9 while longer and John opened
his eyes and looked up at her in blank
wonder.
"You must not speak," she COM
manded. II am going for help. You
must lie quite still now till return"
and, pressing kiss on his lips, she left
him and hurried to where the horses
were grazing. She was about to mount
her horse when she was startled by the
sound of carriage wheels. It contained
friend of her family's, and his black
coachman. Releasing her horse she
fastened toward the carriage, which
halted as she approached. Briefly she
made him acquainted with what had
happened. He at once drove to the
spot where John lay, and he and the
coachman lifted the wounded man
gently into the carriage. The dead one
was carried and laid under the shade Of
the same old oak where John had
waited the coming of his love.
The horses were then caught. Johns
was fastened behind the carriage |;
Mabel mounted hers, and, leading the
one Tom had ridden, set out for her
home. The goodman was left in charge
of Toms remains, and the carriage YVES
driven to the Hanley mansion.
n WI nE