The Portland daily press., 1895-05-04

Jill III SoAAJ, cce, II I've hurt your
feelin's but now l knows loves Jim tn.
most. Can't you forgive me for not waitin
for you? couldn't help it. loves Jim
so much"
She stops speaking, advances toward
Cheyenne and extends her hand.
The profered hand is rudely thrust aside
'Fergive you! Why, gal, you've ruined
my life. I worked hard and saved INV
money, expectin some day to make Won
happy. I've been honest and square. inst
fer your sake. Fergive you for goin back
on me and maxim my life one long noun
tain trailP No. Gal, YOU. amt no more
wuth trustin than coyote
The crowd of miners sma toward Chey-
enne. Rude hands grasp and handle
roughly the man who dares to insult
woman on her wedding day. Pistols are
drawn. There is the muff1ed report of
shot at close quarters. The voice of Cas-
tella is heard above the noise of the scuffle.
Don't hurt him, boys. Please don't,
fer my sake He's clear gone mad and
don't know what he says
The rough hands reluctantly loose their
hold Cheyenne's right arm hangs help
lessly by his side. Blood drips from his
sleeve and forms shining pool on ths
floor. Cap Woods steps to the front.
"Boys, it shall be as my gal sez. Thar
amt goin to be any scrimmage on this
particular occasion. That amt nv stvle
of celebratin weddin's Put this pugna-
cious cuss on t'other side of the door and
perceed with the festivities. Out with
himP'
Three brawny miners do the eiectino
Cheyenne curses, but does not resist. He
realizes that he now holds losing hand,
but mutters that the game is not out"
The door swiftly closes, and the disturber
of harmony finds himself lying in the
snow, baff1ed and beaten, with one arm
perforated by bullet He lies there and
listens. The violinist is once more endeav-
oring to make the old masters turn in
their graves. The sound of boots shuffling
over the floor can be heard The dance
goes merrily on He wonders If Castella
does not reproach herself for her faithless-
ness. AS if in answer, he hears silvery
laugh. How well he lmows that laugh.
He can imagine Castella throwing back
her queenly head and showing her pretty
teeth He groans in his anguish Then
the spirit of the Indian, which has long
slept within him, awakens. With an effort
he rises to his feet His anguish turns to
rage. He shakes the fist Of his good hand
at the shanty. ~ -. ,-,t
Laugh on, Castella Woods, - he shouts,
"but beware of the Indian, You've let
them turn Cheyenne from your door like
homeless cur. I wuz half white then.
I'm white man no more. !, Laugh now,
but ef you laughs tomorrow it won't be
here" ! /
The rising wind takes up his wild words
and carries them down the canyon. The
1nerry1nakers hear him not. ~ y. 4
His hand drops to his side. and he stag
gers forward toward the shanty where ioy
reigns supreme. He does not enter. but
passes it with a muttered curse. He will
not openly take his revenge. Like the true
Indian he will strike in the dark. The
rain of yesterday has left the snow soft.
and he makes but poor headwav. but be
keeps on a course that would lead him
around the mountain. The trail to Hecla
CANYON is far to the south. but his face is
turned to the north. He does NOT; ston nm
til he reaches DEVILS ridge. He ia weak
from the loss of blood and weary from on.
ertion. but his rest is short. He arises
from the rock which has served as a rest,
ing place. and faint and stiff and sore az
he is starts directly up the ridge. ri,
destination is now apparent. CHEYENNE is
bound for the summit of Eagle mountain.
The wind blowing across the rocky ridge
has kept it almost free from snow. and
now it forms a clear way to the mountain
top. 1t is tedious climb. His arm is
still bleeding but CHEYENNE stops not to
bind it. His teeth are f:..nly set. and there
is determination in " eve. He must
live to accomplish his mission; then death
is welcome. Hour after hour he climbs,
his progress necessarily slow on account
of his weakness. At last he reaches the
summit Far below him lies Barton s
camp. One bright Lit cabin betrays its To-
cality The merryinaking must still be in
progress. .a-
Cheyenne slowly gathers q handful of
snow and presses it into a ball. Then he
stops His face is not pleasant to. look
upon He kneels down and rolls the little
SNOWFALL to and fro, chuckling ominously.
!. PICKS up the sou snow ana grows IN
.1,n,s,n haaa ~ nen !. y as large as
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