Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-12-06


she WAS able to command.
Work ~ she did 10 keep ahead. sh
tegan To see that her focs were surely
if slowly. gaining on her.
Presently the arrows hegan dartin
after her. confirming her greatest fear
that with every dip Of their pad klle- Oh
enemy was drawing nearer.
"rll not give up till I have TO-" Lon
observed "a herself. IF the moo
would only stay hidl'
Hut u showed no disposition 90 do so
and two OF three times she was oblig~
10 Dodge the arrows of her exuliinI
foes.
She dared not rrlinquish the oars
second io riss O. shot from the revolve
q, her side. It might do no good. an
would doub,lcss give the Indians dan
gerous advance.
II was very toilsome. NJ well as teri,
flying. Great droi~ Of sweat stood ol
her forehead. and the muscles of be
arms ached from the unnatural strait
placed upon them.
She was beginning 90 feel strangel.
weak and nervelc-~. And sh. was tw,
miles from Jordan's; she could beyc
reach II now. DESPAIR seemed sud,lenl.
10 have swallowed all her courage.
but she did not relaI her hold upp'
the oar. and the race continued . litil
longer.
"whiir an arrow came his-inI
through the air. Il pierced . fold o
her dress. hut left her untouched.
The canoc wa. almost upon the skifi
AMI a. the Cheyennes bsheld the suocc-
Of their Last arrow they set mp . tri
umphant shout.
A moment NOR. and Lois believed he
doom would d. sealed.
"Pang. Pangr' came two reports II
rapid succession from among the bushe
on the right bank Of the river.
Instantly two sharp cries OF moria
agony aru~e from the canoe. and two o.
Oh. braves with heavy plash fell head
long into the water aud were swept frou
view.
The remaining Cheyenne began pad
ding fran,ically for the other hank
when another broaiside from the cotton
WOOD bushes causei the canoe to cap
sire and left him struggling In the swif
current In the middle II the stream.
Another quick report put an end Il
the Indian. struggles, and he found ,
grave with his companions.
Lots had watched this tragic pla,
from the .kid. where she sat as one sud
denly changed Ia stone.
Who could her deli,erer bcl Doubt
les Silas Jordan or one ~ the scttler'
frOin the bloc khouse. she thought.
She was soon. however. allowed 10 sc'
her mistake ~ . manly form aro~'
from conc-alnent among the bushes
and stool revealed In the suhlued moon
light on the hank of the Arkansas.
Lee, Lee she cried. unable 20 con
troll hcrs.lf.
"loi.. my iarlingr' aud he stretched
,u, hi. strong arms toward her.
She pushed the skih toward him
.l-ying force which she could not ~
,ist.
In another moment the young ranch
man held her half fainting form 10 his
breast and pressed his lip 20 her brow,
One moment Of this bliss, then Lois
released herself aud told her lover what
hal brought her out on such = I-rilou'
mission.
"You are dear. brave girl, Lois, be
said t.nierly as he started the skiG to-
warl JOrLlans.
Tell Inc. lee. how yOu happened "a
H. herry' she s.kei. her face glowing
from ,h. gentle fervor of his praise.
ii warned the Plum Greek settlers
and helped them fortify themselves In q
large dugout Then ! started over 10
JOr,lan's." he returned.
"Oh. L.! What made you venture
alone again cut on the prairiesf abe
rrie,l.
Wasn't some one at Jordan's dearsf
than all th. world to mey" he WHISPERS
softly. "IIow could I stay away frou
yun. Lois. when knew such fearfn
dan,cr threatened; had done my dut,
nj Plum Greek. and must return to de
fend the one love.
lit was your love that saved me. Lce.
Than. God that was here to de
fend you.' he murmur-d. lit was sun
,et when I started hack from Plum
Greek. I hal only gone about four mile
when I almost rode into little camp %
Cheyenne. down in rayine. They ha'
l-,n slaughlcring cattle and were pre-
farins for ldg supper. Before ] coul'
r.tr-at I was s.eu. and three of the part,
ga,. chase. Ny pony was Jagged ont
aud l knew I could never escal- on u
~ I abandoned the pony AMI ran dow
u deep gully. AMI by hiding often man
aged 10 clude my pursuers. u took in'
a guol while 10 reach the Arkansas. bu
when 1 did ! started as fast as ] coul'
for Silas Jor,lan's. where ] hoped To hn'
you rafc. Suddenly heard th. r-dskin
yell out up the river. ~ trst ! though
they had discovered my trail and wer'
after me. I concealed myself and waited
Presently the moon came out cl-a
enough for the Ia ~. the rae. betweeI
y,u and this. villains. When ] say
that the pursued one was you ! feare'
there had been a massacre u the settler
and YOU hal iie,l to the skiff for refuge
I made up my mind to saye you OF di
with you"
"Iio,l l. gool." said Lois. laying
hand on Lec's shoulder
They reachel the cabin safe. bu
scarcely had t.l.y received the congratu
la,ions of THAR friends On their remark I
abl. e.caI- when th. Cheyenn-s. wit
loud whoop-, rushed forward to r-ne'
the siege.
No doubt they hoped To find the se'
tlers drowry ami of their guard durin
the hours between midnight and daw
and counted ON an easy victory. Bu
the brave action of Lois Gilbert iI
spired those pioneers with fresh energ
and courage. and the powder which sh
had r.sel ~ much 10 bring enable
them Ia fight back the enemy with q VI
hemence which was plainly . asurpris
% them.
Despite the obstinate resistance whic
the Cheyennes encountered In the ~,
tlers. they'kep, mp the siege at interval
for several hours. Finally they with
drew TO the cottonwoods. where shot
conference was held; then they rod
rapidly away over the prairies.
About noon the next day Nose Gi
bert and q party of armed settlers al
rived. They reported that the The,
ennes had crossed the river and WEI