The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1895-03-30

wind.
It was ten miles to Blake's cabin,
the little frame house of the hand
some. bachelor 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 fleetest broncho she
leapt upon it's back fearlessly and with
q rude rope bride to guide dashed
forward into the night.
With a steady swish the hardy horse
bounded on, shaking his rough name
with apparent pleasure as he breasted
the cold blast. .
She knew the ours the party of
cowboys would probably take. She
knew, too, the most direct line to the
claim of him ofwhom she had thought
as her lover. Up the little incline she
swept, down through the reedv ravi-
neg, her skirt torn by the dead sun
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 a blow
with the ropes end and he increased
his space until it seemed that he could
cover the distance 10 faster.
"Thanksgiving eve and TN stay at
home" unused Blake as he drew his
one chair close to the stove OF his sim
gle-roomed cabin. 1.-TWO years ago ]
was really at home enjoying the fire
with the old folks; now I am alone.
But it will not be long," and he look
ed around with a conscious pride up
on some new furniture-atable, a cup
board and a roll of c~arpet-that
shone in it's guady cheapness in a cor
ner OF the room. ut will not be long,
l hope, for / think she loves me we'll
enough to marry me. treated the
poor. child shabbily for a while, l
know; but the finding OF Mary a school
and the gettingh her here has about kept
me busy. An 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; l was
born on that day. wish l could be
mar-but no, it is too late now. l
must 60 ter town agin tomorrow an
git another load of furniture an then
I'll speak ter her. l wish Mary could
be here with us but she can't until
summer an then, 'seein' as how as tn
old folks is gone, mehbe she will; but l
know she'll like my little gal, my
pretty prairie w~ild-rose, my sweet
heart"
He started to his feet. A horses
hoofs were heard outside coming on a
run 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 a 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?"
9Th lyncbers. heard 'em q ways
back. They's a lot Of 'em an wemust
act quick"
1--WE must? What do they want O.
us?"
They think you've done somethin'.
Never mind now what, an air 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 l say. Give me yer hat an
when they git in sight blow out yer
light, hide under tn bed an I'll skip.
They'll foller me thinkin' it's you, an
I'll lead 'em a chase, I tell yer. While
we'ro gone you make yerself scarce.
UNDERESTIMATE"
There was no time for parley, AL.
ready the muffed patter of ponies
hoofs on the sod could be dis
tinguished.
"No, no, I 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
the door.
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 distinguishing of the light in the
cabin and a dark figure with Blake's
hat dimily outlined against the sky.
\ 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!"
The ponies of the lynchers were no
better than that Of the rider they
we're following and that parsonage
easily led them just enough, to keep
them encouraged.. -.
Mile after mile they travefsed, 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.
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
70 provokingly just ahead OF them
was plainly down hill. 1t was q long
incline leading to the bottom lands OF
the Smoky Hill River, and the grass
grew thicker and taller as they went
farther on. ~. 49,
A sleeper slope told them that they
would soon be on level ground along
The river, when suddenly a shout o.
slee went up from the band of rup'
'uera- .
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.