St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1899-02-18
CHAPTER yI.-CoNr1NuEp,

81 heard you, Nike" the sweetest
voice lifted in the darkness, with a sob
in it of tears and of joy.
: tssDid We, darlin'? Did ye mind how ]
reinforshed him2"
Behave yourself, Mike; don't go off
your head, quite" said Darcie, sternly.
''sure there's power o fight in me
yet. It's pity they didn't let blood on
me 'shtead av little Darcie. Are your
legs failin' ye? cud pack ye aisy as a
sack Of ore"
$50 on! go oni' said Darcie.
"I-I'm SO thankful" said the sweet
voice, a little wildly. "You didn't
think could send you such message
'It was not for me to think: came .
Darcie's sentences were brief and
somewhat breathless, for his wound
was coming to life; the passion of pain
and love, and the weakness of fear
lest this strange joy might all fade and
pass by daylight, or some new obstruc-
ton arise, were nearly oyerpoWerlng
him.
.You will have to give me your arm,
Mike" he said. "I'm worse than ]
thought"
"Run on ahead, miss dear, that's a
lady, and rouse up the docther.'
''Do mind who you are talking to-
said Darcie, peeyishly.
"Sure, I do mind. Wasn't it her own
doin's, and why shouldn't she rum?
.'she had not a thing to do with it!
Mike, let me down; my head is going!
Don't go back to the cabin tonight, will
you? 1t won't be safe for YOU
s'Niver fear; I'll be dustin out O. this
pretty quick. I'll be huntin' high grass
before sunrise
'Is it good-by then, old fellow ~ mur'
INJURED Darcie.
ST dunno what it is; but niver fear
Yen hear me whoop again.
The doctor was not at his own house;
he had been one of the guests at dinner
and was the only one of the company
now in condition to render assistance
Wan was getting the other gentlemen
| into their overcoats, and sorting theil
hats and coats for them in the hall
| Abby was down in the gulch exchang
ing news,with the ewiFes aEtl maidens OF
1.-THE camp. The manager WIS itting OF
| the front stairs with every appearance
of staying there all night unless helE
should come.
It was Faith who waited upon the
doctor, and, as Darcie tainted underline
examination of his wound, it may bt
imagined what an ordeal this service
was for the girl following the earlier
events of the night. Itwas at this VIC
lent pace that the wild little romance
SO squaidly begun on the night OF ths
storm, was progressing.
In the back hall after breakfast, OF
| the following morning, Wan was brush
ing and cleaning the clothes that Oar
Gle had worn on the preceding night
discussing with himself their condition
| and probable destination.
ssTlowsa all light, vest all light, Goa
heap all blood; no can clean him good
Think he no wear coat any more
/ Think give him Wan. Say: John, yo1
burn him up, tlow him away, give hin
some poor miners Plenty good coat
Il
/ me all same miner. Some ittee thin!
| in pocket? One silk hankcha; one lite
book, velIy thin; one big book-som
| letta inside. look see.''
Hereupon Abby. appearing by sid
door, took in the situation at once.
/ '.Them things belong to you? Look
| like you're maxim mighty free wit
'em. Here. hand 'em over to me. IT
take care of=s'em. You no bushes
| goin' through gentleman's elothe
| like that. Take .em out to your owl
place; you can't be cleanin' clothes i
my back hall.
| Wan looked black, but his fear Q
.Abfny was scarcely less than his hatre
of her; she possessed herself Of til
contents Of Mr.. Darcie's pockets, II
Guiding the letter Of evidence agains
the manager, which he had not sen
nor. yet destroyed, and departed, lea'
ing Wan in a grinning rage. He carrie
the clothes out into the back area, mui
tering curses in Lis jargon OF heathe
! English.