The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-12-22

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It was ten miles to Blake's cabin,
some batchelor settler to whom she
realized that her heart had gone
out.
She must get. there before the cow
boys. Taking from the stable her
foster parents feetest broncho she
leapt upon it's back fearlessly and with
a rude rope bride to guide dashed
forward into the night.
With steady swish the hardy horse
bounded on, shaking his rough name
with apparent pleasure as he breasted
the cold blast.
She knew the course the party of
cowboys would probably take. She
knew, too, the most direct line to the
claim of him OF whom she had thought
as her lover. Up the little incline she
swept, down through the reedv ravi-
nes, her skirt torn by the dead SUM-
flower stalks and her face at times
brushed by the tall rag weeds. The
way seemed so long. Would she be in
time? She struck the broncho q blow
with the ropes end and he increased
his space until it seemed that he could
cover the distance no faster.
"Thanksgivine eve and III stay at
home" unused Blake as he drew his
one chair close to the stove of his sin
gle-roomed cabin. 1.-TWO years ago ]
was really at home enjoying the fire
with the old folks; now l am alone.
But it will not be long" and he look
ed around with a conscious pride up
onsome new furniture-atable, a cup
board and a roll of carpet-that
shone in it's guady cheapness in a cor
ner of the room. at win not be long,
l hope, for think she loves me we'll
enough to marry Inc. I've treated the
poor child shabbily for. a while, /
know; but the finding ofMary q school
and the getting herherehasabout kept
me busy. An I don't suppose the lit
tie lass knows of her at ALL"
He put a few more pieces of wood
into the fire and continued: "Mother
was married on Thanksgiving; / was
born on that day. wish I could be
mar-but no, it is too late now. l
must go ter town agin tomorrow an.
git another load OF furniture an then
I'll speak ter her. I wish Mary could
be here with us but she can't until
summer an then, seem as how asth'
old folks is gone, mehbe she will; but l
know she'll like my little gal, my
pretty prairie wild.rose, my sweet
heart" . &
He started to his feet. A horses
hoofs were heard outside coming on a
III up the beaten path that led from
the regular trail to the settlement. In
a moment he was at the door peering
into the darkness.
A little figure slid downfrom q pant
ing pony and Merl's face looked up at
him.
"You, here?" he exclaimed, startled
as at an apparition.
eyes, me. But thar amt no time
ter waste, Jim; they re comm"
"Coming? Who?"
eth lynchers. I heard 'em a ways
act quick"
"We must? What do they want o.
us?"
They think you've done somethin'.
Never mind now what, an cir cumin'
ter punish yeh."
Blake would have stormed and
fretted himself into uselessness if the
girl had not brought him to his senses.
do as I say. Give me yer hat an
when they git in sight blow out yer
light, hide under tn bed an I'll skip.
They II foller me thinkin' it's you, an
I'll lead EN- a chase, / tell yer. While
we're gone you make .yerself scarce:
There was no time for parley, Al,
ready the muffed patter of ponies
hoofs on the sod could be dis
tinguished.
"No, no, l am no coward. I'll take
the chase and I'll escape, too," the
man was determined and attempted
to take from the girl the hat she had
snatched from the table just inside
the door. 3
There was a little struggle but the
pursuers did not see it.
What they did see just as they came
within a few rods of the house was a
quick extinguishing OF the light in the
cabin and a dark figure with Blake's
hat din1ily outlined against the sky.
IS Away it dashed across the prairie,
followed by at least twenty men on
horseback, all masked and crying:
"There he goes; he's guilty sure; after
him!' y
The ponies of the lynchers were no
better than that of the rider they
were following and that parsonage
easily led them just enough to keep
them encouraged.
Mile after mile they traversed, the
mems bodies rising and falling in
monotonous regularity as. the level
leagues were passed.
"Who warned. him?" asked the
leader angrily, shouting out the
question to his band. +:
His conscience" answered one with
q coarse laugh, and no more was
said. III.
The prairies proper were being left
behind. The course OF the cavalcade
as it followed the dark figure on horse
BACK that like a will-o' -the-wisp kept
10 provokingly just ahead OF them
vas plainly down hill. It was q long
incline leading to the bottom lands OF
the Smoky Hill River, and the grass
grew: thicker and taller as they went
tarther on.
A sleeper slope told them that they
would soon be on level ground along
the river, when suddenly q shout o.
,lee went up from the band OF rupA
'uers-
The horse ahead had done just
what they had expected some Of their
own would do while racing through
q weedy ravine-its feet had become
tangled in the long slough-grass and
it had fallen.