St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1899-04-08

aim Shall raise the. record alittie higher
as the centuries pass.
Faith was quieted; she had reached
the limit of emotional fear, and now d
species of insensibility crept over her
the reaction after the shock. She
wondered why she could not feel as she
ought the peril of all those other men
who were strangers to her affection.
Where was Mike-always rash with him
self? Was he safe? And how was it
with the honest Gassons-the wife wait
ing with her little sleepy brood about
her, TO learn perhaps that they were
fatherless? se ~
She started back from her relaxed out
look and hid herself as man came run
ming, like one pursued, out from group
of black birch trees that stood together
shivering in an open windy space. He
ran uncertainty, this way and that, as
II crazed with fear. His dog-hearted
pursuer covered him with deliberate
aim. 1t was pitiful to see him waVer
between the chances of the river and
of the broken plain below. He was ex-
hausted with running; his chest labored
in hard, painful gasps; his legs were
giving under him The next moment
he stumbled and fell. The ''scab''
hunter came up and turned him over
with his foot, keeping the muzzle of
lis rifle close to his chest. He said
something brief, which Faith did not
hear. The man never spoke, but threw
out his hands eSpressively on the sod.s
The other searched his clothes and took
all that he had in money or small valu-
ables and, stirring him with his foot,
said: @ eT gBs ;.
git out from here! I'll give you
till I count CO.,
The hunted man sprang up and ran
Once he turned his head over his shoul-
der, and saM his pursuer following him
with cool aim. He plunged into the.
bushes, cleared the bank and splashed
into the river.
The man with the rifle stood on the
bank and waited. Faith could have
touched him where he stood. He
watched till the swimmers head showed
plainly beyond the shoreward shadow,
a dark spot parting the current in mid
stream; then a bullet went clipping
through the wild-rose thicket. The,
black spot turned toward the light;
it was the mans face; he was taking his
last look at the sky; his hands went
up; he sank-and coil of ripples IN
wound in widening circles toward the
shore.
The hunter of "scabs" stood still
moment while the smoke of his rife
drifted away among the trees. Then
he set his feet upon the river bank, slid
down, and stopped at the rivers brink.
He laid his face to the water and drank;
and the river did not refuse to quench
his thirst.
Faith scrept back to her place; her
sleeper still slept. The man by the
river turned her way, and set his feet
again upon the bank. She slipped the
mantle from her shoulders, and laid
it, as soft as the rose of silence. upon
Darcie's face. The siIk-lined folds set
tied into place; he did not move. So
he had looked when she had thought
him dead. She clasped her hands upon.
her knees, and bent her head upon them.
Steps came up the bank and paused
close beside her; she merely breathed.
There was silence; then a voice said:
ssWho is your man, my dear?'
She did not answer. Dan Rafferty,
studied the. two figures attentiEeiy q
moment.
SIS this you, Miss Bingham? and
our folks lookin' for you high and
lowl And who's this party you are
hidin' out with2"
Faith raised her hand, but she did
not speak. 49, 5.s*ss sss.
stshow me his face! What's the mat
terwith fim9" Rafferty, made step for
ward.
keep your. hands off the dead!" said
Faith. A
.'Dead, is hep don't think you can
play that with me. If he's dead, it'll not
harm him to show his face"
"There is a dead man whose face you
viii see in the day you go to meet your
God!" Faith pointed to the river. She
had risen, and placed herself between
Rafferty, and her sleeper; and was aware
that Dareie was stirring, and her flesh
rose in horror; she had no hope, only
10 postpone the moment of discovery.
II know you, Rafferty, said the des-
perate girl, 81 viii bear witness against
you, if you dare come one step nearer,
Coward! you took his money. and then
you took his hfel''
n
to TALK / Yant to see who's your best
fel1er. Pull that thing off his face! 1
bet Z know who it is Don't / know
them English shoes? Well. if you
won't. then stand aside. See here, now;
| ]. don't want to put me hands on You"
"Ah!" cried Faith simply shudder-
ing at him. -
Rafferty, gave hoarse laugh. Come
/ off thesnest now, me, little chicken! !,
It's your own dofn's If have to hurt
you.'s
Suddenly Faith felt thatshe was free.
Rafferty, had loosed her, and stood lis
rening. m an
aDuit that! came Mikes great bat
tie roar. .'Put up your bloody handsi
have the drop on ye.''
Rafferty, had not been the last to per
ceiye that this was true. 1t settled the
situation between him and Mike once
more, and for8he last time. Mike walked
slowly forward. hurting taunts at his
old enemy:
sChuck me your weepins, Raffy, me
boy. You'll not want them where
you'll be- ggoin' shortly; you'll not be