Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-26
FtlEE WELDON RSFAfk>
BY ALFRED r.. CALHOUN.
Copyright, 1895, by American Press Association
CHAPTER XVIII

band when he 80 opportunely came tc
the rescue Of Alice Blanchard and he,
sister After leaving the girls he went
to where his horse was grazing and rode
on over the hills His object now was
to reach the opposite side Of the canyon,
and, without forgetting his brother, 1
do all that he could for the girl that he
loved and her sister. He headed his
horse for the valley, whose every sur.
rounding was 30 familiar to him, and
stood ON the rocky rim just as the sun
was setting. The horse also recognized
the place and seemed anxious to &c
down.
Giving the animal loose rein, Henry
Kyle was soon galloping across the
meadows and along the shore Of the
lake in the center Of the valley. With
his quick observation, he saw that there
were no cattle, horses or sheep where
hitherto the green expanse swarmed
with them. This struck him as strange
He urged on his horse, dashed into the
grove In which the home that had ever
welcomed him stood and refined in be-
side the ash heap that marked the site
Of his fathers house
The stiffness Of death hung over grove
and mountain. Even the birds seemed
to have flown from the trees, through
which the evening breezes went signing
like a requiem. With cry Of agony
Henry Kyle flung himself from his sod
die and gazed wildly about him. The
old house was gone, but in the rush OF
feelings he could not think Of the house
Where were the occupants?
"Motherl Motherl" he crted, and the
rocks behind the woods returned, like
the ghost Of his own voice. the echo:
"Motherl Motherp'
He shouted for his father, he shouted
for Nora, but only the echoes, like q
mockery, replied
20 Godi o GodW he walled; this
is my doing!"
His first thought was that this had
been done by Indians He looked about
him, and his trained eyes soon discover
ed in the soft, rampled ground the i'm
press Of white mems feet. There was
not moccasin track among them. he
knelt down and read the impressions as
o scholar would read simple book, and
leaping to his feet he cried:
"Bouton has been here. Bouton came
here when he left me in charge Of the
camp"
"Yes, Bouton has been here" shout
ed voice behind him.
"Who Is that?" he demanded as he
clutched his rife and tried to discover
the speaker through the increasing dark
ness
lone who would die for you. Ku.
shatl''
As the Indian girl uttered her OWL
name she sprang forward and threw he,
arms about Henry Kyle.
"You, Kushat'' he said, gently dis'
engaging himself.
"Yes, and I thank the Spirit Of the
Mountains that you have come here. ,
when was this done?" he asked,
pointing to the ruin.
"Last night. "
"And my mother and father2"
'They are fugitives III the noun.
tains"
'And Noral"
"Alas, she is captive"
"a captive"
"a captive in the hands of BoutonP
20 GodW
"Yes, call upon your God, Henry
Kyle, but he will not hear your cry, for
his ears were c.osed to your fathers lam.
entations and your mothers wailing.
Your companions have done this thing,
yet will not blame you cannot de-
nounce the idol I have so long worship
ed"
"But tell me Of them, Kushat Do
not wait to be questioned, but tell me
all about it"
II will, but sit down Yon are
weary"
And forthwith Kashat threw down
her long black hair, and in low musical
voice, like one improvising dirgc, she
told all with which the reader is already
familiar, and then continued:
"We hid in the rocks, but Bouton and
his men found us They ran in like
wild beasts The Prophet fought like
the dead chiefs Of the Sioux and carried
back your mother"
"And my father?"
II never saw him angered before, but
he was in truth warrior and fearless
Yet wounded and in darkness, what
could he do? Nothing to prevent them
when they seized Nora and bore hel
away
"And Nora is in Bouton's hands?"
"She is, or may be that she is dead. u
"And my father and mother?"
"They arc in the care of the Prophet u
"Do you not know where they are?"
II do not
Ibid you remain with them till they
were safer"
"No."
''Why not2 Did you not love them3"
II did and do, but it was my love fol
you that made me steal away and hide
in the rocks near by"
"What did you do that for? What hat
your love for me to do with such con
duct?" he asked angrily.
''Do not blame me, Henry. though
to see you when daylight came" "
ITO see me among the plunderers O.
my fathers home and the captors Of m,
darling sister,"
"Have you not been with them3 Hav'
you not told me that Bouton was you
chief?"
"Yes, o God, yesp'
"Thcn that is why expected to Be-
you," she said in plaintive tone
81 do not blame you, Kushat Yo'
,,o-o r;obt in thinking wOuld be wit