The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-02-09
LEMON EXTRACT.

II was a wild night. Torrents OF blind
ing rain fell from hesullen skies, and the
Missouri river, swollen far above its sandy
bars, fretted against the restraining banks
and roared hungrily.
A light cleaned from an upper window
at Blackbird mission, and the sweet face
of Elsa Morris looked anXiously forth.
"It is dreadful storm, she said, shiv-
ering. "Surely Mordaunt and Harry will
not attempt to push on without the stage"
Superintendent Morris had been laid up
for three days. 1t seemed as if he could not
stay in the house tonight when his brave
son Harry and Mordaunt Steele, the indus
trial trader, might be in deadly peril.
"Heaven grant they may not attempt
the road round Horseshoe cliffsP' he ex-
claimed. 1.-THE braves under Fire Chief
have drunk all the lemon extract at the
post and are gloriously intoxicated. 1t
was culpably careless in Hobbs to leave
the door unlocked"
"But his barn was on fire, " protested
Elsa, land he did not stop to think of any
thing but his horses. How much extract
did they get?'
ga case and a half" answered the SUI
perintendent veXedly. "Nine pints Of raw
HlCOlOl 10 DG ulNluGu dluOliS SlN
-Winnebagoes at that. They set off for
Decatur an hour ego, whooping like turies.
Did Harry take his pistols2"
81 think not, answered the girl. You
don't think the Indians would modest the
boys, do your"
''Heaven knows. If only some one could
be found brave enough TO ride on and give
warning! But it is useless. No one will
90 in the face of the storm"
81 will go, " said Elsa, turning her pale,
resolute face from the window
"You, child?" repeated her father, dunn
founded. "What earthly good could you
do, even if you found the way-you, a
slight girl?"
mot an Indian on the reservation, sober
or drunk, will harm me, and can ride
Rowdy. If start at once, shall reach
| Decatur before the stage is in. Let me CO."
| pleaded Elsa.
"Well, daughter, have your way. Ride
over to the agency and get Resale to &C
company you. Her brother, Grey Eagle,
| is the leader. She may have influence with
him."
A blush crept over Elsa's pearly skin.
! Grey Eagle, French half breed, was in
| love with her, and therefore his hatred of
! MOruau0J was Intense.
When she reached the agency, however,
she found Rosale i'll, and she was forced
to press on alone.
When she had reached the little bridge
which SPAWNED the dancing waters of Big
Black bird creek, she drew rein and looked
around her.
Then stifled scream rose to her lips as
she saw form rise out of the shadows
and brown hand grasp the bride.
She recognized Gray Eagle at glance,
and forcing her voice to be steady spoke
calmly:
"Kashwa is it your am glad, for you
will see me safely to Decatur. | have
message to Fontanelle."
Gray Eagle, or Kashwa, as he was call
ed in the Indian language, was hand
some, athletic young fellow, fairly educat-
ed and with unusual intelligence.
1.-THE Snowdrop is out late" he said
gravely. "Kashwa knows her mission.
She carries firearms to the young English
man. But she comes late"
"Loose the pony Kashwa am in haste
See, the rain is soaking through my cloak.
Let me make haste, for it grows late, and
the night is dark"
She chirruped to Rowdy to go on, but
Gray Eagle laughed once more and refined
the pony back.
"Snowdrop cannot go yet. Let her prom
Use me first to be the bride of Kashwa. He
will never give her up to the Englishman
Will she promise?"
"No," said Elsa desperately.
"Then the Englishman dies. He is not
at Decatur. He is Kashwa's prisoner-he
and the Snowdrop's brother" said the In
dian. "Long Pine and the rest are at De-
catur. Kashwa waited in the pass for
Snowdrop's brother and her friend. They
are there, bound to the big tree" with a
gesture toward a large elm that grew a
few yards down the stream.
In an instant Elsa's white hand sought
the saddle girth, and pistol cleaned be-
fore the astonished eyes of Gray Eagle.
His hand fell from the bride as he re-
coiled from the weapon.
The little whip fell with singing force
along Rowdy's flank.
The pony bounded forward, and an up
lifted hoof struck the Indian full in the
breast.
He fell like a log, and Elsa rode toward
the big elm tree.
In another moment Elsa had found the
captives A few deft cuts with pocket
knife and the tough grapevines with which
their hands and feet were secured parted,
and Mordaunt Steele sprang forward just
in time to catch the fainting form of the
girl as she swayed in the saddle.
"Here's his pony" cried Harry, who
had been investigating matters as well as
he was able for the darkness. "This is
rare luck I'll take Rowdy, and you can
carry Elsa on Black Jim. Aha, here's
Gray Eagle sleeping off his debauch in the
middle of the road. The storm will soon
rouse him."
Elsa came to her senses on the way sut-
fciently to relate her experiences, which
threw some light on Kashwa's conduct.
Shamefaced and repentant, the latter
sought an interview with the superintend-
ent the next day.
1t was the bad firewater, he pleaded,
made him seek the Snowdrop's hand and
attempt to revenge himself on her lover.
He would never touch 1t again if Mr..
Morris would only excuse him this time.
AS he had been badly bruised by Row
dy's hoof and thoroughly frightened into
the bargain, the superintendent forgave
him after u severe lecture.
Mr.. Hobbs keeps the lemon extract at
the post under lock and key now, and it is
seldom the Winnebagoes get taste of fire
water in any form.-Exchange