Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-10-07


rs far as she could see Tr,ened ~
her, as the moon shona Aals troaS
down on the field that sha y Orire
could be seen. should sha Knew
cross It. at a considerah,aa uen.
So she kept along in the disaN
woods skirting the field. Ipse q
a rise OF ground. she saw, !, casal
lance. what seemed to be : some
buildings IA plantation hona sresS
cabins and outbuildings and
1t. Should she 90 thero 'arioulda
shelter What if Rumford sb aua ds1
her there. Would the famiIs cse
her story or would they y. Oehe
believee his! not raiyy
While she was TINS an.
matter in her mind. tho hpa'ins u
bloodhounds struck upon hass Of u
seemed to freeze the blood .'is ~
heart. Oh, what a mis;aIo N
made in abandoning Salad,n, sue Vi
had supposed that Rumfora y
hounds with him she wonla laa
done so. But now it was NV ep
They had found where She yO te
the horse, and the dogs ho aau VI
been put upon her traa, = assl
could again battle them as shl Y
done before. Drawing her daps es =
her bosom, she looked hastllSva lfl
her for something 10 sma.. aNu
blood. She could find nothina VIZ
few sticks. These would not a. 0al
in despair at the delay, as tho S.s saa
of the hounds came rapidly MY
she caught her bonnet from h@ "ar
for that purpose. when she hao., Ns
pattering of feet in tn ebushes y. Y
looking back. she saw the blooss.aa a
in sight-could see the glare ~ Ss
eyes, as they straine dto ra.A uss
prey, and hear dtheir cries. fercs, y
ever. as they saw their victim rss aa
their certain grasp. 4
She turned TO fly; but in nm ,r,..
they had dashed through tba hrssa
leaped TO her shoulders n drsg
her to the ground.
She swooned with terror. In, I'D
last sight that her faintinc eros ~
in was the form Of Rumforl ., ].
emerged from the tnIcAe, aLa 4
over her. il
Good dogs. Pretty pups, como !,
now" said Rumford. addressinr M
hounds, who, having pulled Ast,ra N
the ground. now held her fast, witms|
hurting her. Il
The dogs returned and crouChed NJ
their masters feet. 4
Here, SAM" he continued. address
inc the groom. who had followed him
take up this girl and carry her N
where we left the horses"
The man silently obeyed, and thsy
left the wood by n short cut unknm,
To .hstrca, and came to a spot yhe,
the two horses were tied.
Give her to me now, and morrir
said Isumford.
The negro did so. and Rumford y.
with the fainting form Of Astrea on te
horse before the man, laid her bead
upon his broad chest, and directed hin
to support her with his left arm Will
he guided the horse with his rIsa
Rumford took charge of Saladin lWAs
had been caught and tied with ts
other horses, leading him by the bi
die rein; and thus they went on 10
ward home. In due time they arrived
at the oil plantation house. where til
still swooning Astrea was taken to Ia
own room and laid upon the bed aD
given UP 10 the charge of Venus.
The first object that Astrea's eye
fell upon when she awoke from bel
swoon. was the kind face Of Vena
bending owe her and dropping tears.
"Oh-h-h, Venus" exclaimed the poo
girl. with n prolonged vail Of despal
Ills hard, honey, berry hard; d.
all I could for you; | KEEP 'em OIL you
track all day yes'day an dis mornin
too. wild 4 cock an bull story Of yoa
bein' gone to bed to sleep de gral
rounds. But at las you see, chile q
tale wouldn't bear tellln' no Longer, q
so dey bus open your room an iOa
you gone. an den went to hunt you
Astrea suddenly started, felt IN ~
bosom. and then smiled. Tne Ia
poniard was safe. 1t was now pa
midnight. She knew that the dreaae
interview with Rumford would y
take place until morning: she Sne'
also. that aftcg that no further gs
would he granted her. She deterliix
TO husband her feelings to meel U
crisis. !,
SO, when Venus brought her up y
very best supper that the klnd-aeaas !,
girl could make from the plenu,
pantry of Ben Lomond, Astrea y
Justice TO IL. 80
Venus carried away the serVicSs :,
soon returned. dragging a narrow u'
tress after her. 10
"Ole Aiarse say how he lei me ~
in here long O. you tonight u !
poorly" she said. as she spre"' :
MATTRESS beside Astrea's bea. ),
"Oh. Venus, that will be u cV"''
indeed :. IN
Yes, honey, I knows W. :
III Hn1 VI
'spects he is a gwine 10 MI W. 4
kindness now, an conquer .u =
way: but | 'spects he gwine Io, q -, =,
for all dat-dere now, what 'eh!
whispered Venus. rs the cilck "
turning key sounded In tnc ioca. i
Astrea did not mind tha,, nv M,
fate could not be decided Delo,e ~ 4
ing. and then it would be III NJ m
hands. And for the night wv ,nt
ence Of Venus secured her lro" :
sion.
Venus settled herself upon n !
! tress. and was soon In the us"
heavy sleep peculiar to her rat thorg
Astrea, filled with trouuplea 20,
lay long with her eyes cioses, IA
asleep. The Don was In peri1 had i
ness. How long exactly sue as
thus Is not known, when asa; nht ii
a former occasion. a sott' p,
.x.otofn nVpn lNltoc-