Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-02-28

sSVE
Gapc her hand to Armstrong.
~ am shot," gasped Brent, and sank
down fainting.
Which firstl the lady or my friend,
slain perhaps for her sake!
"Her! leo to her!" he moaned.
unbound her from the saddle. !
could not utter word for pity. She es.
sayed to speak, but her lips only moved.
She could not change her look. so many
hours hardening herself to repel. she
could not soften yet, even to accept my
offices with q smile Of gratitude. She
was cruelty crainped by her lashings to
the rough pack saddle, rudely cushioned
with blankets. But the horror had not
maddened her; the torture had not
broken her; the dread OF worse had not
slain her. She was still unblenching
and indonitable. And still she seemed
to rule her fate with quiet, steady eyes
gray eyes with violet lights.
carried her few steps to the side OF
q jubilant fountain lifting beneath a
rock. and left her there to nature, kind.
liest leech.
Then took a cup of that brilliant
water to my friend, my brother.
81 can die now," he said feebly.
"There is no death In you. You have
won the right to live. Keep a brave
heart. Drink"
And in that exquisite spot, that fair
glade Of the sparkling fountains, gave
the noble fellow long drafts OF sweet
refreshment. The rescued lady trailed
herself across the grass and knelt beside
US. My horse. still heaving with his
honorable gallop, drooped his head over
the group. A picture to be remembered
Who says that knighthood Is no more!
Who says the days Of chivalry are past!
Who says 1t, is lOsel.
Brent was roughly, but not danger
ously, shot along the arm. The bullet
had plowed an ugly path along the mus.
cles Of the forearm and upper arm, and
was lodged In the shoulder. A bad
wound; but no bones broken. II he
could but have rest and peace and sur
gerry! But II not, after the fever OF our
day, after the wearing anguish OF our
doubtful gsllop-if not!
Ellen Clitheroe revived In moment
when she saw another needed her care.
Woman's &c tile duty Of nurse found her
ready for its offices. My laundering
good will gave place willingly to her fne
fingered skillfulness. She forgot her
own WEAKNESS while she was magnetic
ing away the pangs OF the wounded man
by her delicate touch.
He looked ut me and smiled with total
content.
"My fathery' asked the lady family,
as II she dreaded the answer.
..Safer said l.. "Free from the Nor
mons. He is waiting for you with a
friend"
Her tears began to flow. She was busy
bandagins the wound. AL was silent
about us except the pleasant gurgle OF
the fountains. when we heard shot mp
the defile.
The sharp sound OF pistol shot came
leaping down the narrow chasm, flying
before the pursuit Of its own thunder
ing echOes.
l sprang up when I heard the shot
and stood ON the alert. There were two
up the alley; which, after the shot, was
living, and which dead?
Not many moments had passed. when
heard hoofs coming, and Armstrong
rode into view. The gaunt white horse
galloped with the long, careless fling ]
had noticed all day. He moved machine
like. us II without choice or volition of
his own, u horse commissioned to carry
fate. Larrap's stolen horse trotted
along by his DID master.
Armstrong glanced ut Murker's body
lying there, d battered mass.
'Bothr' he whispered. "The other
was sent right into my hands to be put
to death. knew all the time 1t would
be sent to me to do the killing. He was
spurring mp the alley on my own horse.
lie snapped at me. My pistol did not
know how to snap. See hereT
And he showed me, hanging from his
saddle horn. that most losthsoine OF all
objects mans eyes ever lighted upon
fresh scalp. II sickrned me.
'Shame!' said I. "Do you call your.
self man to bring such q thing into q
lady's presebcey
'It was rather mean to take the tel.
lows hair" says Armstrong. ~ don't
believe Brother Bill would have did 1t.
But felt orful ugly when I saw that
fat, low lived devil. and thought Of my
brother, a big. hui hearted man a. never
gave bad word to nobody. and never
held ON to dollar or slug when ayry
man wanted 1t more n him. Come, I'll
throw the nasty thing away II you say
So"
"Help me drag Of this corpse, and
well bury man and scalp together" j
said. t
We buried him at the gate Of the alley
under great cairn Of stones.
"God forgive them both" said I, - j
hung the last stone. "that they were
brutes, and not men,"
"Brutes they was, stranger" says
Armstrong. "but these things II ordered
somehow. I allow your pardener and
you Is glad TO get that gal out OF . Nor
mon camp. Of It did cost him . horse
and both on You an all days tremble.
Men don't ride 30 hard and look % wolf
ish a. you two men have did onless their
heart u into t."
"It IL indeed strange" said !. rather
thinkingsloud than addressing my com.
panion, "that this brute force should
have achieved for us BY outrage what
love failed In. Fate seems to have
played Brute against Brute, that Love
might step between and claim the vic-
tory. The Lady IL safe, but the lover
may have won her life and lost hia
own" -
"Look here. stranger" says Arm.
strong. part Of this y yoerp," pointing