Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-01-10


there was nd sign of one. Lucy had
been carried back by their terrible pur-
suers to fulfill her original destiny, by.
becoming one of the harem Of the ell
der's son. Jas the young fellow realized
the certainty of her fate, and his own
poNerlessiless to prevent it, he wished
that he, too, was lying with the old
farmer in his last silent resting place.
Again, however, his active spirit
shook off the lethargy which springs
from despair. If there was nothing else
left to him, he could at least devote
his life to revenge. With indomitable
patience and perseverance, Jefferson
Hope possessed also a power OF sus-
tanned vindictiveness, which he may
have learned from the Indians among
whom he lived. AS he stood by the
desolate fire, he felt that the only thing
which could assuage his grief would be
thorough and complete retribution,
brought by his own hand upon his enc
mics. His strong will and untiring
energy should, he determined, be devot-
ed to that end. With a grim, white
face, he retraced his steps to where
he had dropped the food, and having
stirred up the smouldering fire, he
cooked enough to last him for few
days. This he made up into bundle,
and, tired as he was, he set himself to
walk back through the mountains upon
the track of the Avenging Angels.
For five days he toiled, footsore and
weary, through the defiles which he
had already traversed on horseback.
At night he flung himself down upon
the rocks, and snatched few hours
of sleep, but before daybreak he was
always well on his way. On the sixth
day he reached the Eagle canon, from
which they had commenced their ILL
fated fight. Thence he could look
down upon the home of the saints.
Worn and exhausted, he leaned upon
his rifle and shook his gaunt hand
fercely at the silent, widespread city
beneath him. AS he looked at it, he
observed that there were flags in some
Of the principal streets, and other signs
of festivity. He was still specializing
as to what this might mean, when he
heard the clatter of horses hoOfs, and
saw a mounted man riding toward
him. AS he approached, he recognized
him as a Mormon. named Cowper, to
whom he had rendered services at diff
erent times. He therefore accosted him
when he got up to him with the object
of finding out what Lucy Terriers fate
had been.
II am jefferson Hope" he said. "You
remember me?"
The Mormon looked at him with I'M
disguised astonishment. Indeed, it was
difficult to recognize in this tattered,
unkempt wanderer, with CHASTITY white
face and fierce, wild eyes, the spruce
young hunter of former days. Having,
however, at last satisfied himself as to
his identity, the mans surprise changed
to CONSERVATION.
"You are mad to come herew he
cried. "It is as much as my own life
is worth to be seen talking with you.
There is warrant against you from
the Holy Four for assisting the Fer
riers away"
81 don't fear them or their warrant"
Hope said, earnestly. You must know
something of this matter, Cowper.
conjure you by everything you hold
dear to answer Il few questions. We
have always been friends. For Gods
sake, don't refuse to answer me!'
.'What is it!' the Mormon asked, I'M
easily. "Be quick. The very rocks
have ears and the trees eyes,
"She was married yesterday to young
Drebber. Hold up, man, hold up. You
nave no lie leIC Ill you.
Don't mind me-" said Hope, family.
He was white to the very lips, and had
sunk down on the stone against which
he had been leaning. Married, you
say?"
married yesterday. That's what
those flags are on the Endowment
house. There was some words between
young Drebber and young StangersOn
as to which was to have her. They'd
both been in the party that followed
them, and Stangerson had shot her IA
Their, which seemed to give him the best
claim; but when they argued it out in
council, Drebber's party was the strong
er, so the prophet gave her over to
him. No one won't have her very long,
though, for saw death in her face yes
terday. She is more like ghost than
woman. Are you off, then!
eyes, I'm off, said Jefferson Hope,
who had risen from his seat. His face
might have been chiseled out Of mar
tle, SO hard and set was its express
sion, while his eyes glowed with q
baleful light.
,."Where are you going?"
"Neyer mind" he answered, and
singing his weapon over his shoulder,
strobe off down the gorge, and so away
into the heart Of the mountains, to
the haunts of the wild beasts. Among
them all there was none so fierce or
SO dangerous as himself.
The prediction of the Mormon was
only too well fulfilled. Whether it
was the terrible death Of her father
or the effects of her hateful marriage,
into which she had been forced, poor
Lucy never held up her head again,
but pined away and died within a
month. Her scottish husband who had
married principally for the sake OF
John Terriers property, did not affect
any great grief at her bereavement,
but his other wives mourned over her,
and sat up with her the night before
the burial, as is the Mormon custom.
They were grouped around the bier
in the early hours OF the moWling,
when. to their indispensable fear and
establishment, the door was flung
open, and as avage looking weather.
beaten man in tattered garments
strobe into the room. Without a
- rlonon Or n word TO the covering