Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-05-25

COuIOs CnCH climbed CQ0 dill TO the
house and waited.
At last they came. Gathering hoofs
on the mountain road drew nearer and
nearer until she could catch glimpses of
moving forms spreading out to surround
the premises.
She waited until the arrangements
were nearly complete and then walked
from her place straight towards the
line of men.
Something inspired her to mislead
the visitors for a moment, and assuming.
frightened air she stepped back and
to one side.
''There he goes" shouted Ferril, and
the horsemen piled spur and whip urg-
ing their steeds forward.
On ran the woman, skillfully leading
the way over the toughest of the
mountain side. Plunging, leaping and
STUN bling, the riders and horses fol-
lowed. At length, bracing herself
against a shagbarked spruce, she
halted and faced them. AS the little
cavalcade drew nearer and recognized
her clothing in the semi darkness,
Ferril cried out: ssWell, if it amt a
woman
Eyes, spoke the pursued, ''and a
fine lot of cavaliers you are to chase
her in this way. Do you know me?"
SIS it tn teacher" suggested Ferril,
meekly.
Eyes. I saw you starting on this
trip and come across Faze mountain
to stop you. What do you want here?''
''Why-why, we're lookin' fer a
stranger" hesitatingly began Ferril,
overcome by the sternness of her tone
you'll find him at the bottom of that
SLOPE" replied Lois, ''where he has
suffered all day with a broken Leg
Any vengeance you want you can
probably get.
Come on now,'' she ordered, when
the men had indicated their surprise.
They followed her and by the light of
hastily improvised torch carried the
stranger to his cabin and laid him on
the bed of pine boughs that the place
afforded.
horse in the lot for a physician and the
others remained to watch with the suf-
ferer.
dropped beside him by Lois when she
found him. The cover had come off and
the contents were clasped close to his
breast.
Lois noticed the action, as by the,light
of Pickering candle she arranged the
few household appliances of the room.
Then she took the light and turned
to the stranger to see if he needed any
thing that she could prepare for him.
Ferril did not notice it, the men did
not notice it, but pallor crept over
the woman's face that left it like mar
BILE. She gasped little for breath.
then withdrew to shadow and watched
the face of the stranger so peculiarly
brought into her life.
When the doctor arrived he found
that he had pretty sick patient, ex-
posture in the damp ravine having had a
bad effect on the wound.
You've got a siege of it, he re-
| marked, land I wish you could be
moved to more comfortable quarters -
81 agree with you,' replied the other.
81 would like to be down where these
flowers came from, myself, % he added.
caressing the bundle which Lois had
| carried. The fragrant roses chung close
| ly to the pale cheek and enhanced the
strength of the fair but manly face.
'sWhere is that?''
sDown in old Virginia, where grew
| to manhood-oh, know these well"
| LOIS had crept closer and closer until
her eager face was at the side of the
rude bed Her eyes, lighted by a strange
| longing, seemed to burn into those Oh
the speaker.