The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-09-05


7.se. Found him on the syening Of
the third day eighty miles from the
post, semi-delirious and busily walk
ing straight away from sticcor. Some
Of these fellows here found him, fed
him on goats milk and finally brought
him. He never had q sense Of the
north again"
The Captains somewhat moist, thick
voice had not changed during this re-
cital, and he looked at the girl with
an honest. kindly gray eye. In turn,
she looked at him with eyes of red
hazel and broke into a peal Of laugh
ter.
ut is refreshing to meet humorist,
Captain Harding" she said. "My
English friends, while. everything that
is good and wholesome, don't see any
fun in the things we see fun In"
mo humor at all, I assure you,"
said the Captain. Nothing but sober
truth. Fact is, this chap who felt the
north so strongly until he ought to
have felt it. was my brother; he's
down in Cuba now, broiling for the
sake of lot Of yellow people whose
souls are in. their stomachs."
The others of the party had re-
turned to the ranche-house. The two
stood within the circle of the freight,
the semi-Seminoles busy about their
own amusements, not noticing their
presence. Harding saw the leaping
lights of the flames playing upon the
dark, red masses of her hair, the
smooth curves of her powerful and
graceful figure, the clear flush upon her
cheeks, the delicacy of her profile, the
somberness in her half-veiled eyes.
Suddenly she spoke:
II have another feeling, Captain
Harding. 1t has come to me while we
are standing here. 1t is that 1 shall
need friend ere long. I am drawn
toward you, because you are the first
American gentleman T have seen for
long. AS an American woman, in a
people of kindred blood, but still not
my own people, ask you: Should &C.
casion arise, will you be that friend?"
He looked at her gravely, and he
knew instinctively the effort it had cost
her to say this. He no more imagined
that she desired Irritation or that she
lacked sincerity than he thought that
his own idolatrous troops would rise
and butcher him where he stood. So
he said:
I'm anything that an American Off
Ger may do, Miss English, to aid or
succor countrywoman you may count
on me. trust no occasion may arise,
but if it does, will do my best
She thanked him gravely and sweet
ly. Come to the house," she said. 81
haven't anything of value with which
to repay you, but if you like music, I
will sing to YOU"
Now, deep in the somewhat battered
heart of Bob" Harding was a men,
DRY of sister back in the old home
in the Pennsylvania hills, and this
sister used to sing him songs in the
twilight in voice that was deep and
rich and low. During his years on the
frontier those notes had fingered with
him, as the perfume Of flower will
sometimes linger in the nostrils long
after the flower is dust. So, when, in
the hushed drawing room her glorious
voice pealed like chime of golden
bells, he sat silent, absorbed with his
newly-won epaulets glittering on his
shoulder; the wide world ahead Of
him and those visions reckoning which
beckon every man in his life's morning
march, when his bosom is young.
In vain did Glynn, with nod and
wreathed smile intimate that there
was genial company in the smoking
room. In vain did Allyn tiptoe in and
whisper to him and tiptoe out again,
realizing that the gallant captain had
sworn at him softly, but violently. In
vain did the Hon. Henry Lacelles ap-
near in the semi-dark of the hallway,
catch his eye, lift tall, thin glass,
drain it to the dregs and back solemn
ly out of sight. Harding sat on, trans
ported on the waves of liquid sound to
the sunny hillside where he was born,
with the scent Of clover about him and
the heavy, busy hum of bees upon the
summer air.
ITO be cOntinued1