Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1892-02-11

y
nave seen gentle ladies wearing boast
fully brooches that their favorite heroes
had taken from Christian men dead on
the field at Inkerman, and shawls Of
the loot of Delhi cover many shoulders
that wonld shudder over a dead worm
''Im not squimmidge," said Arm
strong. ''It's my own and my brothers
money in them belts. I'll count that
out, and then, Ell you won't take your
part, Ill pass it over to the gals father.
| allowed from signs ther was, that that
thar boss Mormon mad abont tux the old
mans pile Most likely these sinners
they won last night is some Of the very
sufferins Sizzun got from hin. It's
| right he should hev 'em back
acknowledged the justice Of this res
titution
''Now," said Armstrong again. s'you
want to stay by yonr friend and the gal
SO iii take one OF the pack mules and
fetch your two saddles along before dark
lights down. 1t was too bad to lose that
iron gray, but there's more n two horses
into the hide of that black Of yourn.
He was the best man Of the lot for the
goin, the savin and the KILN. Stranger,
I've ben buyin and sellin and breedin
kettrypids ever since | Was raised my
self, but / allow I never seed a horse till
l seed him lunge off with you two on his
back
Armstrong rode up the alley again.
Another man he was since his commits
sion Of vengeance had been accomplished.
In those lawless wilds vendetta takes
the place Of justice, becomes justice in
deed. Armstrong, now that his stern
duty was done, was again the kindly,
simple fellow nature made him.
/ returned to my friends by the
springs.
gave few moments to the horses
and mules. They We're still to be unsad-
died. Healthy Fulano had found his
own way to water, and now was feast
ing on the crisp, short grass along the
outlet of the Champagne spring, tickling
his nose with the bubbles of gas as they
sped by. Sup, Fnlarol This spot was
worth the gallop to see. Sup, Fulano,
the brave, and may no stain Of this days
righteous death-doing rest upon your
guiltless life!
Brent was lying under the spruces,
browsing with fatigue, reaction and loss
Of blood. Miss Clitheroe sat by watch
ing him. These fine beings have an ex
quisitely tenacious vitality. The happi-
ness of release had suddenly kindled all
her life again. AS she rose to meet me,
there was light in her eyes and color in
her cheeks Her whole soul leaped up
and spoke its large gratitude in a smile.
My dear friend, she said; and then
with sudden tearfulness, "God be
thanked for your heroismI'
sGod be thanked!7 I repeated. I'VE
have been strangely selected and sent
you from England, my friend and / and
my horse, the hero of the day, from the
Pacifc-to to interfere here in each others
lives.
1t would seem romance. but for the
sharp terror Of this day, coming after
the long agony Of my journey with my
poor errant father"
"a sharp terror, indeedr'
But only terrori" and glow of
maidenly thankfulness passed over her
face. Except one moment Of rough
usage, when slipped away my gag and
screamed as they carried me off, those
men were considerate to me. They
never halted except to dig well in the
sand of a riverbed. learned from their
talk that they had made an attempt to
steal your horses in the night, and fail
ing, dreaded lest you, and especially Mr..
Brent, would follow them close. 50
they rode hard. They supposed that
when | was found missing, whoever
went in pursuit, and you they always
feared, would lose time along the emf
grant road searching eastward
'sWe might have done so; but we had
ourselves ridden off that way in despair
of aiding you and | gave her sketch
of the events Of the morning.
''It was the hope Of succor from you
that sustained me. After what your
friend said to ME last evening, 1 knew he
could not abandon me if he had power
to act" And she looked very tenderly
at the sleeper "a look to repay him for n
thousand wounds
Did you find my glover she asked.
'sHe has it. That token assured us. All.
you should have seen that dear wounded
boy, our leader, when he knew we were
not astray."
| continued my story of our pursuit
the lulling beat of the stream underton-
ing my words in the still twilight. When
| came to that last wild burst Of Fulano.
and told how his heroic charge had full
filed his faithful ardor of the day, she
sprang up, thrilled out of all WEAKNESS
and ran to the noble fellow, where he
was taking his dainty banquet by the
4 brookside
She flung her arms around his neck and
\ rested her head upon his shoulder. Locks
Of her black hair, escaping into curls,
mingled with his name.
Presently Miss Clitheroe seemed to
/ feel maidenly consciousness that her
caresses of the horse might remind the
horses master that he was not unworthy
Of a like reward. She returned to my
! friend. He was stirring a little in pain.
She busted herself about him tenderly.
and yet with certain distance Of man
4 ner, building a wall of delicate decorum
between him and herself Indeed, from
the beginning of our acquaintance yes
terday and now in this meeting of to-
day she had drawn apart from Brent
and frankly approached Inc. Her fine
instinct knew the brother from the lover.
Armstrong presently rode out again.
When he saw his brothers sorrel horse
feeding with the others he wept like a
child.
We two, the lady and /, were greatly
touched.
I've got 4 daughter myself to home
to the Umpqua," said Armstrong, turn
ing to Miss Clitheroe; ',jest about your
settin up and jest about as many corn
shuckins old Ellen is her name.
ELLEN is my name
That's pretty pooty he pronounced
it,. s.Well, I'll stand father to you, Just
as ef you was my own gal. know what
gal in trouble wants more'n young
4 fellows can.
Ellen Clitheroe gave her hand to Arm
strong in frank acceptance of his offer.
He became the paternal element in our
party-he protecting her and she hui
manizing him.
We lighted our camp fire and supped
heartily. Except for Brent's uneasy stir
and unwilling means, we might have
forgotten the deadly business of that