Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-08-09


spiteful shower to the earth
crouched there, listening to the cry
of the owl and the low moaning of the
wounded man.
Thrice, as she thought how much
was needed a woman's tender touch to
case his feverish brow, did she start up
as if to go TO him, but each time she
shook her head and said: "Not yet;
not yet"
When the first light, shining from
window in Craig's Hollow, warned her
of the approach of dawn, she crept
stealthily away, crawling upon her
hands and knees until she reached the
road. And that morning Joe, going
out to feed his horses, found her stand
ing at the gate, gazing anxiously
across the ravine towards the Ransom
cabin on Pine mountain, and-weep.
ing. He put his arms around her ten.
derby. M
"What air the matter, sis?" he said
"Air you sick?"
"Yes," said she, 81 air-sick O. the
world"
'What be it you mean by that?" he
asked, anXiously. fA-
81 mean | air sick o. world where
two men, two brothers, you might say
kill each other counter what they
choose to callreyenge. No matter what
former friendship there may have ex
listed, or what ties may be broken"
She paused suddenly. The excite
ment of The moment had paled her
cheeks paler in contrast to her raven
hair. Her eyes shone like twin jewels,
and Joe Burton, looking at his sister in
the light of the rising sun, thought he
never had seen a girl more beautiful.
"0h, Joe" she continued passionate
ly, "do you not see; can you not under.
stand?"
Then she turned suddenly and went
into the house, leaving him alone with
Bruno.
Her brother watched her retreating
figure until it disappeared through the
doorway. Then he sat down in the
grass and gave himself up to thought.
For long time he sat there; then he
shook his head.
81 give it up" he said. 81 don't un-
derstand."
The summer passed, and Sam Ran.
som, in whose veins the life-giving,
life-preserying tonic of the mountain
air throbbed warmly, was again in
the saddle, his trusty rifle in his
hand, the brightness of dauntless
spirit in his eyes, the tan of outdoor
life upon his face, and in his heart
the ever-warring emotions of venge.
ance and of lore.
Ever as the thought of revenge
upon the "Burton gang" steeled his
nerves and caused his fingers to an.
grily fondle the trigger of his rife
the thought of Blanche stole into his
heart and brought a CLEAN of tender.
ness to his eyes. She haunted hi;
dreams; she was the central figure in
all his hopes and plans and ambi
tions. lie loved her, but he had nc
thought that she regarded him other
than an enemy, until
Down the winding road from his
cabin on Pine mountain Sam Ransom
rode one afternoon, the autumn sun
shine in his face, the mountain
breezes toying with his hair, and
never thought Of death within him
Turning a sharp bend in the road
he came suddenly face to face witt
Blanche. She was on her pony; hei
bonnet had clipped from her heat
and hung down her back, suspended
by its strings; her hair, tossed by tn,
boisterous breeze,s fell across hel
shoulders like the dark shadows o.
the pine trees across the mountain
road; her face was pale; her eyes
glistened like the stars on winter'i
night. She raised her hand and ht
drew rein, his heart bounding within
him.
"Sam," she said, timidly, 81 her'
come to meet you, an | want to RE,
beside you down the mounting. Ma,
7. or do You reckon me too great al
enemy o. yourn?"
"Little GAL" he replied, taking hi
hat from his head and awkward,
fumblng it in his hands, "little gnl
me an you can't never be no e"e
: mice"
She smiled, the warm blood surgin'
to her cheeks and great gladncs
in her eyes. Then she held out hA
} hand to him, and he took 1t in boil
his big brown ones, patting 1t as n
) would pat his horses neck.
When they had come to marrow
passage between two dense thicket
OF underbrush Blanche grasped tn
bride of Sans horse suddenly an
stopped both animals. Then, turnin!
= nnd peering into the thicket on he
left. she commanded:
"Put up that gun o yourn, Joe, al
come outcn that bresh. BE a man
don't be a coward"
? The bushes parted, and out OF I'm
dense foliage, his rife in his hand
stepped her brother. Ransom quicI
, ly raised his weapon from the pom
=. mel of his saddle, but Blanche place
her hand softly upon his. l'
"No, SAM" she said, and he droprc
= his rife in his lap.
"Joe," she said turning to hc
brother, "come here"
e Without word he advanced to be
: side.
q "Joe," she resumed, looking dow
h into his face, "ef hadn't been wit
c Sam jest now, you'd a-killed him, al
5 I-God, Joe, that woulder broke m
!, heart!"
s. She turned her head and glance
down the valley, with the crimso
o burning on her cheeks. A tef
dropped on Joe's hand, and the tw
e men looked into each others eye
d and understood. Then they claspe
G hands in n nrpssure that cOnQuere