The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-08

moved from the nerves of Agnes Altman,
she asked her parents permission to re-
main outside until she could fully COM
pose herself
She promised to join her mother as
soon as she was in a condition to sleep.
Knowing her for a good obedient daugh-
ter the parents made no objection. A
half-hOur later they were unconscious.
Simon Kenton stopped beside The
Panther, and, looking down in his face
for moment without speaking, stopped
and examined the ropes.
He frightened them in one or two places,
and then STROBE to the front of the boat.
where he seated himself. prepared to
watch through the remaining hours of
the night
The Panther had taken the same pos
ture as before. with his back against the
planking the right side of the boat,
and his feet extended toward one of the
boxes in front of him.
Not a murmur came from his lips, nor
would any be heard, no matter what suf-
fering might be visited upon him.
The position of the scout was suf-
ficiently elevated to give him a view of
the river in all directions. With him on
guard no one could feel alarm, for he
possessed the secret of keeping awake
through the tedious hours without any
change of position.
BY this time the other flatboat had
burned to the waters edge. Only a big.
charred, smoking mass of timbers, from
which came crimson CLEAN, was visible
far down the river where it slowly drift
ed out Of sight around a bend in the
stream. Fit end for the craft that had
been the scene of so sad a tragedy.
Agnes Altman seated herself on one
of the boxes a few PAGES in front of the
cabin. and as far from the silent cap
tive as she could.
The knife snatched from the Shaw
an0e's grasp and flung away had been
picked up by her father and restored To
its place. She was beginning TO recover
from the sinking that followed the re-
lease of the tension on her nerves, and
she decided soon to join her mother
George Ashbridge noted her loneli-
ness. and though he longed to go over
and place himself beside her he hes
itated. Instead. he walked tc where the
scout was seated.
''YOunker." said Kenton with a grim
smile. Il don't want you"
What do you mean?" asked the
youth, nettled by the abrupt words.
What I've said. l don't want you;
you've no business here"
You told me you had no objection
TO my keeping you company for awhile"
Which is true. giner'ly speaking; but
do you obsarve that gal yender by her
self?''
she intends to stay only few min
utes."
she mought stay longer. if you went
over by her; take your chico. do that
or go to bed; 1 won't have you loafing
here when she's alone. | look upon that
gal the bravest and sweetest little
/ creatur' that has ever set out to make
her home in Kentuck."
so she is. so she is. and as good and
loving as she is beautiful"
'Younker, you heered what j said; 1t s
a chico atween going to bed or stepping
over and comforting her, and that right
off, too
Thus driven to his duty, as may be
said. the youth plucked up courage and,
walking the brief space. ventured to
| take his place beside the miss though
he took care to maintain a respectful
distance.
"How-how do you feel now, Agnes %
he managed to ask in a tremulous voice.
Much better, thank you-so much so
/ that L think L will join mother"
Il wouldn't; that is, L wouldn't be in
, hurry about it,"
II don't think / am. but why wait
4 longer?" she asked with that winsom
archness and innocent coquetry which
comes naturally to her sex.
! why, if you feel well because you
| have stayed out awhile in the open air
-why-that is, if you stay a little longer
that is-why, you will be likely to
feel a good deal better
THAT sounds logical, George, provided
| I
Sure of that, Agnes?'
"of course am she replied, turning
/ rogUishly toward him.
! 1T sort of seems TO me that you look
a little pale-that is, not very pale-but
/ a little So
Nonsense! You cannot see my face
| plainly enough in the moonlight"
There's where you're mistaken: / can
see things very plainly; can't you see
| me, Agnes?"
4
/ the question of vision before answering
/ him. She held her gaze fixed so long and
| earnestly that he felt the hot flush steal
ing to his temples and he knew his
countenance was crimson.
Agnes" he faltered, don't 1 look
| kind of pale?''
| do you think you're going to faint?'
Il feel rather queer, but l guess III
| get over it,
I viii catch you if you do. but GER
tainly your face isn't very white One
who has shown such bravery as you
| ought never to faint"
| II haven't been half as brave as you"
the impetuOus youth was quick 10 say,
greatly relieved TO veer away from the
perilous subject; why. everybody agrees
| that no girl ever did Drawer thing than
/ you when you snatched that knife from
1 The Panther's hand"
There, George, say no more about
that" she protested with a shudder of
4
| forget it,"
II don't see why you should wish that
| IL will be a good many years before
4 you'll hear the last of it, / shouldn'
| wonder If one of these days, may be a
! hundred years from now some story
| writer will put it in the papers"
| II hope not, for there will be too many
| better things to tell"
4 81 wonder If the people will believe
| that story-writer," unused the youth, IF
| he tells how a girl. not out Of her teens,
| say ed the life of George Ashbridge when
| he forgot to pay attention to what was
| going on around him. But" was the
| saving clause, II guess his readers will
| be as ready TO believe that IA they will
| the other things he undertakes to write
for them"
And he mustn't forget to say that
George Ashbridge wouldn't have been in
such danger If Agnes Altman had not
| the wrists of Indian prisoner and then
! give him the knife"
THAT isn't the worst part Of the story
| by any means. for Kenton said it did
| credit to your heart"
II just warned you TO say nothing
| more of IL. and here / am talking away
| myself. as though there was no other
| subject in the world"
well what shall we talk about %
| asked the youth, hitching closer to her
and instantly hitching back again.
| Nothing" was the half-pouting reply.
"Of nothing. Ell? What shall we say
about nothing?'
| why, nothing. OF course"
What an interesting conversation that
would ber' observed Ashbridge. recover
I N