The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-09-16
XIII.-CONTINUED.

Faith sat beside her unconscious
sleeper, listening to the sounds which
reported all that she ever knew of those
incredible scenes that have gone down
on the annals of this region as 1.-The
massacre of Fourth of July canyon"
Her senses were blunted, her mind re-
fused to act; her heart crushed the
life out of her with its beating.
Now was the time to say good-by-
not the potential good-by she had bid
den him an hour ago, but the actual
parting, at the brink of the river of
death. Many were crossing the dark
waters to the city Of refuge who would
never return. She bent over her sleeper,
and kissed him softly, but the sob that
forced her heart against his aroused
him, and he spoke to her suddenly in his
natural voice:
GOD bless mel" he murmured, while
she held her breath in horror of his
coming to himself at this fatal mo-
ment. 81 thought that you kissed me!
| must be dreaming. Oh, let it be true!
Faith, dear, make it true before l lose
you again"
" 1T is true" said the girl hoarseIy,
and nothing else is true-nothing. L
will never doubt you; never did doubt
you. Now go to sleep! Good night,
dear; good night"
He held his breath and looked at her
keenly.
Your lips are cold; your hands are
cold. Why are you saying good night?"
THE boat is late" said Faith in a hol
low voice. "We cannot go till the boat
comes. You are sick: rest now-do rest;
this is your only chance!"
She put her hands upon him, with
soft, shuddering touches, trying with
all the strength of her love to master
her fear, that she might have power to
lull him into obliviousness of the awful
sounds of the night. Under the trees it
was quite dusk; he could see nothing,
but she felt that he was listening.
What is that fringe.
only some men," gasped Faith.
But what are they shooting at?"
Shooting? Oh, at mark"
''Oh, j say! in. the dark" laughed
Darcie softly. He was drifting off
again, as his speech betrayed. "Are
they drunk? What are they shouting
about?"
Its the other men who are shout
ing" Faith lied to him, feebly
What other men? Is this a stag pic
mic? o Lord! o Faith, dear!"
Faith hardly knew what he was say
ing, but she welcomed any wildness,
profanity-anything but his own low,
steady tones.
BE quiet, Darcie, dear!" she whis-
pered.
''Darcie, dear!" he repeated, foolish
". God bless me, but this is nice
what a sweet girl you are! Heavens!
what a brute was! Are you ever going
to be friends with me again?"
He nestled his sick head close to her
lap, contentedly, and gave himself up
to the exquisite sense of her cold, soft
touch moving over his hand in the dark.
Mother of Grace, the pass is diff
cu1t!'" whispered the tortured girl. 1t
was the mother instinct, which can look
on death, that taught her calmness at
this moment, and gave her strength to
exert her love, else one of natures mira
Giles was wrought; for out of the an
guish of her deadly fear came supreme
rest to him she loved, and Darcie slept.
His hand slipped from hers, lower and
lower, and touched the sand; softly she
saved the contact from disturbing him
He sighed, and breathed more deeply;
he was gone, even beyond his conscious
ness of her.
She moved a trifle. cautiously; drew
away her dress, and noiselessly raised
herself upon her knees. All along the
shore she seemed to hear stealthy foot
steps and furtive, ieafy rustlings, as oi
a hunter stalking big game. The rapid
firing had ceased, but scattering shots
- came infrequently, one at time, from
y a distance. Step by step she moved G
little way past the bushes and looked
out Overhead the clouds were blown
in wild masses; the stars in the darE
blue lakes of sky between winked peace
fully, while the torn and flying cloud
signals altered from moment to mo
ment. So did the peace of heaven abide
f.his senseless, passing hour. that proye'