The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-10-10

gave me n look, partly Implotlng, part
ly commanding, that recalled me to n
sense Of my helplcssness.
JaquclInc began sailing about, keep
ing time to Gingcrs music, moving
hithcr and thithcr with uncertain steps,
as a bird will fit back and forth before
darting away in Its light, or as u musi-
clan will sweep his fingers over n harp
before beginning his melody. Gradual
ly the music grew quicker, and Jack,
gathering confidence, forgot everything
but the dance.
Since the entry of the two girls into
the camp had suffered one terror aft
er another In quick succession, and
now 1t struck me that in case Jack sue
ceeded In fascinating this lawless group
some Of them, fired with q desire Of
possession, would break through all re-
strn1nt. l had been wonderstruck that
two dcfcnseless girls should dare to
come among them, and now l was stu
peficd that Jack should dance before
them and that Helen should permit her
to do SO. But who shall measure the
strength Of woman's weakness? Moth
er Nature had taught Jack and Helen
their power, and they went about their
| work with not n 1.-THE Of the fright that
possessed me.
Meanwhile Jaqucline had drifted in
to the dance and was whlrling, bend
Ing, floating, every muscle alive with
Its especial motion. At times she
would lull, poisc herself for n moment,
then. like ntful wind, start again
with renewed feryor. At no time could
there be discovered aught but delicate
refinement In her movements, and now
1t was her purpose to attract without
exciting her spectators. Stimulated by
frequent bursts Of applause and by
| the rapt attention Of the men surround
Ing her. she found her main incentive
In far deeper, nobler motive, feeling,
rs she did. the critical situation. the
| dread responsibility, for a human life
resting upon her.
What n singular scene! The ring of
| ugly faces momentarily softened by
the sight Of grace and beauty; the cap
tain. his sharp face turning with the
dancer and following her wherever she
goes; Pete Halliday, standing with
| folded arms. lowering from under the
| broad brim Of his sombrero, grinding
his Quid; Gingcrs black face cleaning
| with pride at furnishing the music for
his young mistress. inspiring her with
his own inspired melody; little Buck
standing between two lank guerrillas
In "butternut," staring Mt his cousin
and forgetful Of her danger In his inter
| est In her work; Helen Stanforth,
standing apart, her strong face wear
Ing the expression Of a general who
| fDh ,nl, OH 1or
turn position on which hangs the fate
Of the day.
The guerrlllas, not one Of whom
would hesitate to slit throat Mt the
slightest prospect Of gain, were watch
Ing the little soubrette not only with
admiration. bit with respect. Once
during her performance one Of the men
appluuded with n rlbald remark. He
was standing by the captain, who
stretched his arm. brought it down
with backward stroke and sent the
| man sprnwling. JaQueline saw tho
act and the approving looks Of the out
laws, who were In no mood to have
their sport interrupted. The color left
her checks, but she kept right on, and
| tho episode passed without further con-
| sequences.
| At moment when the attention Of
| the men had become riveted upon the
dancer Helen, who had been gradually
working her way from the group to-
| ward me, came and sat down on tho
| log behind Ginger. where she was par
| TALLY screened by him. Watching her
| opportunity, she deftly took a revolver
from her pocket and concealed it in
| the folds Of her dress. With her eyes
| fixed upon the group about Jack, she
| waited for a burst Of applause. and
when 1t came. reaching back, she drop
| ped the weapon behind the log at my
| feet; then, rising, retoined the circle.
pushed the revolver under the log with
the toe Of my boot, then kicked dust
and leaves over 1t. This accomplished,
brcathed the most comfortable sigh
| Of relief I have ever drawn In my life.
The whole situation seemed changed
by that little dust covered combination
Of bits Of metal STOPPING. slipped 1t
into the leg Of my boot and felt that
half the battle was won.
At that moment the setting sun came
lances Of light through the trees, cover
Ing the group-the beautiful and tho
ugly, the good and the bad, the refined
and the vulgar-with gllded splendor.
I saw but Jaquellne. The usual fltful-
(T|,,s,6g27Ey !