Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-07-06

with you,'' retorted Harold Indignantly.
"Then eat-from my bag-eat fruit
and dried meat-and cakes baked by the
women" he said eagerly.
So Harold helped himself from the 9TH
er's stores md fed him with bits of corn
cake, and after making his position as
comfortable as possible he lay down beside
him and slept heavily.
Why, this is independence day!'' was
his first thought in the morning. This
IS an extraordinary way of spending the
day, but a man never knows what he will
do next; but I might find worse employ
ment." Then he gave all his attention to
his companion.
And all the day, while drums were bent
ing, flags flying, bells ringing, cannon
roaring, small boys shouting and men
storming or rejoicing over the admission
of Texas to the Union, Harold waited on
his uncouth charge and attended to the
horses in limos unbroken silence.
As the man showed signs of improve
ment Harold's spirits arose, and his mind
had leisure to Wander off to all the indie
pendent days be had known since he wore
frocks and reveled in 81 cents worth of
gingerbread. Then he thought over the
Revolution and the stories his grandmother
had told him of her sufferings in both
wars. From them he passed to the posi-
JIG WcE WIFI In0AlCO, LIZ dS u6 I1iSCO tIO
shaggy head of the sick man and moistened
his lips with water he wondered if he were
right in sacrificing his time and safety for
one who might prove a most cruel enemy
to his countrymen. We're it not better to
leave him to fate? But fate meant God to
Harold, and, argue as he would, he could
not drown a voice which pleaded, IF
thine enemy hunger, feed him; if be thirst,
give him drink And when night came
and the man was much stronger, though
not we'll enough to sit up, Harold told him
he would stay one more night and day
with him.
"You understand I have no money? 1
have nothing to pay?'' asked the Mexican
in astonishment.
81 dom do it for pay" said Harold
hastily. 81 do it for the sake of a man
who died for me-"
HE surely was a Mexican" muttered
the other as he turned on his side to sleep.
In the morning the man was able to sit
up, at noon he walked a few steps, and at
sunset, to Harold's infinite relief, he in
sisted Upon being placed on his pony. So
Harold saddled the pony, assisted it's rider
to mount, and they parted in the dusk at
the edge Of the wood.
"You save my life. / remember said
the Mexican.
sThen you be kind to the Yankees, !" re-
turned Harold, and they saw each other
no more.
This third night of Harold's journey
was spent in thinking over the events of
the past few days and in specializing about
the unknown uncle he was soon to meet.
When the morrow s sun arose., he saw the
city in the distance, and at noon was sit
ting on the veranda beside his uncle's
couch telling him all that was in his heart.
Tho newt cn,inn 10 !, a ond Haro1I x7ac
again in the saddle with the stars bending
over him and the tender grass and flowers
beneath his feet. But he noticed not stars
or flowers, for the little home in the set
Element filed all his thoughts. He smiled
in the darkness-this one nights ride,
then no more anxious watching, no more
painful listening.
But what was this strange silence?
Everything had been perfectly quiet be-
fore, but now the silence could be felt.
He drew the rein and turned his head.
Instantly the air was rent with yel1s, and
many dark forms sprang from the earth
and surrounded him. He grasped his pis-
tolls, but they were wrenched from him,
and he was dragged to the ground and his
arms pinioned behind him.
After the first cutlery silence again
reigned, and noiselessly they led him to a
wood. Here he found that he had missed
his way: thoughts of home had confused
him, and he had wandered too far to the
westward. Without a word they led him
to a clear space where a fire was burning
low, with women and children gathered
around it. A little apart, in lodges of
bushes, the forms of several men reclined.
Here his guard fell back and the women
children surrounded him, pulling his
hair, slapping his face, pinching and bit
ing him until his soul grew faint with
longing for death. He never knew how
long this continued, for suddenly a man
sprang to his side and, drawing a long
knife from the back of his neck, hourished
it above his head.
sFather in heaven, save me!'' groaned
Harold as everything grew dark around
him.
But the knife was still swinging above
his head, and the Indians were listening
respectfully to an address it's owner was
making to them. With many grunts of
they moved farther and farther
from him. Then the knife cut Harold's fet-
tiers, and he turned to face his rescuer. 1t
was the same degraded countenance that
he had SO anxiously watched over nearly a
year age, but now it appeared like the face
of an angel.
You save my life, now I save your
life, y briefly explained the Mexican. Il
am chief of the Touchewas. They do all
I tell them. Eat with me, and I will send
the young men to show you a short path
Sitting down with the chief to partake
Of the food which the women graciously
brought to him, Harold strove hard to
show his appreciation of the hospitality,
but his throat was SO parched and his
hands SO unsteady that eating was only a
p%retense.
At the close of the meal Harold's horse
brought, his pistols restored, his bag
filed with food, and a basket of trinkets
presented to him by the women. Then
the young men mounted their horses, to
act as his escort, and, with widely different