St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-06-01

1
showed fight, but as we far out
numbered them, their leader. with
signal to his men. put spurs to his
horse, and in a moment they were gal.
Looping down the gorge, with several of
our party in pursuit.
| They had gone but q short distance
when a shot took effect, and the horse
OF one of the outlaws fell dead.
| Larkins and hurried forward to pre-
vent the riders escape. but as we lifted
the saddle by which he had been PIN
ioned to the ground. the long coat and
broad sombrero fell hack, disclosing
the fact that our captive was a woman.
At this moment one of the men came
galloping back with the news that
Buck had been shot. This put an end
to the pursuit, and we hurried back to
the ranch with the wounded man.
O'Flaherty and l took charge of him,
while Harper was left in the outer
room to guard the prisoner. From the
first it was evident that Bucks wound
was fatal.
| Il reckon I'm goin, Shore" he said,
feebly. Il never was half decent; l
/
pitiful, pleading look, IF you see Mrs.
Buck Tupper. l wisht you'd tell her
that tried"
thought that the experience of these
months had etfectually hardened me,
but this was too much, and on the pre-
tense of wishing tD relieve Harper l
left the room.
| 1t was not until was alone with
the woman that looked at her. Then
was transfixed with astonishment
As she sat there. the lamplight f;liing
on her cold. rigid face. it needed no
second glance to convince me that sis
was the original of Bucks picture.
This, then. was the angel of purity al
| whose shrine the poor fellow had been
worshiping!
My first thought was he must never
know. And yet reflected how much
| it would mean to him but to see he!
face. Going over to where she sat,
! hurrie.lly told her the whole story.
And you want Inc TO 60 to him."
| Her face was cold and unfeeling, bu;
there was a singular sweetness in her
| voice.
'.Yes, cnly that he thinks you are
Il understand" with a faint smile.
After explaining matters to OFla-
herty, led her to the bedside of the
dying man, and left them alone to
gether.
When returned some minutes latei,
She sat beside him. and he was holding
her hand. A change that could not
describe had come over her counten-
ance. There was subdued light that
only tears can give TO a womaIf's face.
You'll make little pra'r for me-"
he was saying, pleadingly.
IL can't
"Ycs, little one." very tenderly. 4
low you do feel broke up. but ne 5er
jest knowed how, an the angels'd hear
such as You"
The woman turned hunted look
upon the rest of us, then slipping from
her chair dropped upon her knees:
..Now lay me down to sleep
lpray the Lord my soul to keep.
II should die before / wake,
Ipray the Lord my soul to take"
At first the words seem to choke her,
but there was something SO solemn
about it all that l do not think it oc-
CURED to one of us that there WAS any
thing incongruous in the repetition of
the childish prayer at this moment.
Buck repeated the last words over
after her:
Il pray the Lord nv soul to take =
.'Yes, 1 low He will,' and he was
gone.
OF course we could not think now of
dealing with our prisoner: SO, after a
hurried consultation, we put her on
Bucks pony, and Harper and rode
out to the trail with her, and the last
we saw Of Mrs. Buck Upper she was
vanishing down the gorge in the gray
morning mist.
The following summer returned to
the east. and as the years slipped away |
my western experience became gradu- |
ally an uncertain memory.
One evening late in December, as
was walking up Duane street. my at
tention was arrested by the sound of
music that came from the Salvation |
Army barracks across the street
Ihave friend in Jesus;
lie s everything 10 me.
He's the fairest OF ten thousand 10 my sou'! |
crossed over and stood for 4 moment |
in the crowd that surged about the |
door.
The singing had ceased, and woman
was speaking. Icould not sec her face,
but her voice was a singularly musical
falsetto.
s.vr 1Nn LOFT do
you hear that?" she was saying. Scar
lct-that means blood-and the Bible
says that no murderer can enter the
kingdom. But lie can wash the muir
der out Of your heart, bless His name!
He says: Il will make them white as
snow
Seized with sudden curiosity,
mounted one of the benches to gel
glimpse of the speakers face. 4 pale
face, with clear. gray eyes and waving
brown hair-where had seen it be-
fore?
What was the vague memory that
for a moment seemed only to tantalize
me? l had gone back through the
years. and the same face-only younger
and fuller-was looking al me from the
smoked wall above the chimney piece.
Mrs. Buck Upper Involuntarily
the words came TO my lips. At this
moment the woman's eyes met my own.
A confused look overspread her face.
and she faltered in her speech. Could
it be that she knew me? No. but she
had seen the look of recognition in my
face. and recognition TO a woman with
such a ~ M A!"ays be disturbing.
/ reflected, asf stepped down and
joined The crowd outside.
who is she?" questioned Of q strap
ping fellow with a flaming badge upon
his breast.
That's Capt. Mildred" speaking en-
Enthusiastically. The devil hates that
woman, tell you! Why. she'd go
through anything to get poor wretch
cut of his clutches. Why, she's "a
But did not wait to hear the rest.
Here. l mused. was fit sequel to poo-