Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-10-06


they reached the summit the Indians
could be seen flying across the bottoms
still in mad pursuit.
Courage, my darling" he again
cried In an assuring tone. "Do not
despair, for we may yet escape them.
The fort can now almost be SEEN"
God will aid us, Ned, my beloved"
she responded. my lips are moving
in constant prayer for our deliver
ance."
Up from the gulch came the Indians,
but half mile behind, and again their
blood-curdling yells rang out upon the
mir. On they flew, pursued and pursu-
ers, and Browns heart sank within him
when he noted that the Indians were
rapidly closing the gap between them.
Squirting his horse to its greatest ex-
ertions groan escaped from the SOL
diers now bloodless lips, for the ami
NAL began to perccptibly slacken its
speed. His powers of endurance were
almost exhausted, and II was evident
that he could go but little further.
The fort was yet two miles distant, and
escape now seemed impossible.
Zip. Zip. Zip." The bullets from
the rifles of the Indians began to fly
by them.
Pulling the jaded horse behind bar
ricade of rocks which rose by the trail
Brown sprung to the ground and cried:
'Get into the saddle, Alice, and push
on toward the fort. For the love Of
God hasten. and may be able to hold
them ut bay until you escape. Fly. my
darling. iy, for not an instant must be
| los.."
To his utter amazcmcnt the brave
girl slid from the horses back and,
with pale but determined face, replied:
! mo. Ned, will not leave you. You
rislsed your precious life for me. and it
would he cowardly Cor me to desert you
( now. II you must die here, ! will die
with you."
There was no time for further urg-
ing. for the yells of the Indians now
came to them with startling distinct
ness rs they rapidly came on. Gaining
! n position from which he could see
over the rocks, the soldier lcveled his
repeating rifle and began to discharge
II with deadly effect.
So unexpected was the fire thatthe
Indians rccoiled. and. springing from
their ponies in confusion. sought for
shelter behind the rocks which dotted
the mesa. From their cover they kept
mn scattering fire, but their bullets
flew harmlcssly overhead, or were fat
tened against the rocky breastwork
which raturcd had provided.
Pccring cautiously over the barricadc
the brave soldier watched his foes with
eagle eyes. firing whenever feathercd
head camc into view.
There came cessation in the firing
of the Indians. and he heard them call
ing out to each other from their sepa-
rated positions behind the rocks, and
surmiscd that they were planning a
sudden dash upon their hiding-place.
His heart became rs lead in his breast.
for he well knew that. although his
rifle might do deadly work as they adj
vanccd. they would certainly over
power him and death would speedily
follow
In his eagcrncss to get n good shot
and thus still further intimilate the
savaces. he raised himself yet higher
above the rocks. and the next instant
fell backward into the arm, Of his be-
trothed. the warm blood squirting from
a bullet wound in his breast.
"Oh. Ned. Ned. Won are hit. You are
killed" she cried. ia agony. "oh! my
God. my God. what shall do? Father
in Heaven. save him. save him."
With n great c.sIrt he said:
lie brave. Alice, my love. he brave.
It's not much lam only-only stunned
little. will re-recovcr in ain
moment"
Ills face grew IDENTIFY pale. and
blood oozci forth from his pallil
lips. Alice almost screamed with
fright. and her voice trcmbled with
agony rs she said:
"Oh. Ned, my poor darling you are
dying. They have cruelty murdered
you! Father in Heaven take me with
him
With an almost superhuman effort he
seemed to rally his fast departing
strength and said:
II am not SO badly hurt rs yon think,
Alice. and can yet protect you The
shock Of the shot made me feel faint.
but It has passed. Raise me up III yo7T
I
rocks. will yet beat them back.
They shall never harm you, my be-
loved. Raise me up. There - now
rouse your hopes. All! hear their
fendish yclls! They think they have
US now, but will soon learn their error. )"
Alice exerted all her strength in do
ing us he requested. and again his rifle
rang out us the Indians, supposing he
had been killed, were securing their
ponies and preparing for a descent
upon the maiden. Again they sought
shelter behind the rocks and resumed
their desultory fire.
The effort proved too great for the
wounded man. and he sank back heav-
ily into Alice's arms She now became
almost paralyzed with fright Us she
gently let him down upon the ground.
lie looked up into her blanched face,
and with a smile so CHASTITY that It
seemed to betoken the approach OF
death said, family:
"Why do you weep. Alice, darling. I
am not badly hurt. feel very-very
-weak-but-it Is only-only from
loss of blood. will rally in n moment.
Kiss me. Alice. The pressure Of your
dear lips will nerve me-me-me for
one mo-morc effort"
She pressed her trembling lips to his,
and moancd:
"Ned, you are dying! You are dyingl
I can see II in your poor, dear eyes.
Oh! must you die so cruelty, and for
me? Don't close your eyes, darling