The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-05-16

'''N'
she emurmured
something which sounded very much
like his name.
.sHoward!n he muttered to himself,
sscan she know me? Pshaw! no! She
is unconscious yet and knows nothing.
Poor girl! how came she away out
here? How am to save her from the
dangers that surround her? 1 must not
let her know who | am. How can
get her out of this and restore her to
her friendsP
~ wonder what became of the man
who was with her? Killed, ! suppose;
or taken prisoner. Who was he, her
father? Perhaps he was her husband,
or her lover''-and pang shot through
his heart. "Ah, well! no matter.
She is nothing to me now. But she is
y woman, II helpless, beautiful woman,
and must take care of her."
Again the blue eyes came open; this
time wide and questioning, and bright
with intelligence.
Raising herself to sitting position
she turned her eyes upon Howard, who
was regarding her with look of tell
derness, and III Il dazed way enquired: /:
"Where are the IndiansP Who are
youP'
sThe Indians are gone" he answer
ed, avoiding her eyes-for he hardly
felt sure of himself Gas for who / am,
that does not matter for the present.
/ am friend to the helpless, and just
now my chief concern is to get you
safely out of this prairie and back to
your people. You had n companion.
DO You know what became of him?
Was he killedPn
81 do not know" she answered with
shuddcr. 81 saw his horse fall and
he with it; and then two Indians jump
ed down and | saw them standing over
him with their knives. Oh, it was ter
rible! terrible!n and she covered her
eyes with her hands rs if to shut out
the dreadful scene. "Oh, my poor
father, when shall ever see him again?''
And the miserable girl, overcome by
her feelings, gave way to Il burst of
grief.
ssWas the man your father?'' asked
| IIerndon.
"No. We left my father early this
morning on the Santa Fe trail. BY
this time we are many miles from him
| | fear. Are we notp"
"Yes, many! Il great many-fifty, al
least" he answered rehectively.
| "Oh, what am | to do? How am
ever to reach him again? Cannot you,
sir-you look like an honest and true
man-cannot you take pity on poor,
unfortunate girl and restore her to heI
friends? My father is not rich, but
with all he has he will reward you.
His name is Edrington and | his only
daughter. Grace is my name, and
will bless and thank you all the days
of my life!" and she grasped his. hands
in the earnestness of her supplication
81 will save you and restore you to
your father if in my power TO do so,
Miss Edrington!" said Howard earn.
estly; land we must lose no time IN
moving. Night is coming on and will
it snow storm. Ii threatens to be {
bad one, and our danger from the ele
ments now is more imminent than from
the Indians ~
Indeed the danger was imminent.
The clouds that had hung dark an,
Lowering all the day were growing dense
and more Ominous. The wind came il
low sweeping puffs, and an occasiona
snowflake drifted earthward.
1t was fifteen miles to Herndon''
lodge and over thirty to the neares
settlement.
To reach the first was doubtful, tC
ride to the second utterly impossible
To remain where they were without
food, fire or shelter was certain death
| But the first thing to do was to get ;
horse for himself To ride.
| Explaining this to his fair charge
who had recovered her composure, ant
telling her to remain where she was h
hurried back to the ravine where hi
horse had fallen, If the noble anima
was dead or crippled, his only hop
was to catch one of the Indian ponle
that were grazing Il short distanc
away.
AS lie approached the ravine he CAV
Il loud whistle he was wont to call hi
horse to him with, and was overjoye
to see his beautiful 'sDouglass'' comm
to him.
| AS Miss Edrington's horse had NJ
been seriously injured there was II
. difficulty rs TO the mount; but th
: thought came to his mind: he did nc
want to be recognized by Grace Et
rington, yet the only hope of savin
her from the inclemency of the storl
that was brewing was to carry her
his home for the-night, and take hi
back to the trail where her father W:
as soon as the storm should subsid
There were serious objections to tn
course, however, and he felt it to be h
duty to lay the case candidly before h,
and abide by her decision.
Everything being speedily arrange
for departure he turned to her III
said:
"Aliss Edrington, il has been N
good fortune To save you from one dal
ger, but Il greater one now confrOn
us. A snow storm is coming on III
close behind il the night. | must g
you to place of shelter or YOU W
perish from cold. have Il cabin
the mountains over there fifteen mil
away. TO the nearest settlement
human habitation is thirty miles. 1t
impossible to reach settlement t
night. don't know that ,,an ey,
get to my own home. If you say pu
on for settlement, however, | will {
all i'll my power 10 get you there
safety. If you advise to go to my lodg
where no one lives but myself, pied
you my most sacred honor that
harm shall come To you from any fal
of mine: and | will restore you to yo
father as soon as it is possible for l
- to do So"
.'kind and genelohs stranger
spoke the resolute maiden, ''for thu.
II must address you, since you refuse l
II youriname, | only know that you art
- brave man, and | would Judge fro
your frank words and deeds an honoI
BILE one. No one save a coward wot
0 take advantage of II defenseess girl.
ss know you are not that, and will
with you to your lodge, and tr