The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-07-11

friend. must needs drink with them
and sing snatch. But we put keg
on the table and stole out, leaving them
fighting for the first draught Of it.
We found the coach, but, as I feared,
neither men nor horses. Still, there was
that in the travelling box which more
than satisfied Gowan, and we soon had
another horse saddled standing with
Roger ready in a shed just above the
tavern. On getting again into the back
room by a rear door, found the girl
sitting up on the bed. She chung to
me, and cried out in slnothered voice:
THAT man! That man! Is there an
other with him? There must be! They
are always together!"
There's no other here, madam. Do
but keep Cssiet, and all will be WE'LL
we must get away she begged
again. -.,----5
You could not ride now, and an hour
hence the men will be beyond the pow
er to follow us. Hark-they are at it
again." and, indeed, only the dead could
fail to hear them.
I got her to lie down again, and went
and sat outside the door, till she cried
out that was leaving her to them.
And SO came and sat by the bed, and,
as am sinner, nothing would do but
she must have her little hand in mine.
~ 80 go oS tAiiAiso LII 1f4Cl lO11 Dbl
fort. And once turned, when I dared,
to look at her, and saw her asleep with
her head lying on the pillow, still in it's
frame OF wonderful Wavy hair.
CHAPTER w.
AS TO THE MOODS OF A MAIDEN.
We had been walking the horses slow
ly good hour northward, for I had no
choice but to get on with my journey.
The rain had stopped, and the first light
OF a september day began to show up
over the high land to the eastward. Not
word had we said since getting well
started. I, for one, had more to think
than talk on, and the girl was too wear
leo TO 40 more than sit in her ungainiy
saddle, while led her wretched nag.
Heaven knows, I am no poet. and
never was; but the break of that day
was a beautiful thing to see. All the
earth was wet and glistening on the
barest excuse for light. The trees all
put met over our heads, with now and
then an open bit Of country. and here
and there a sight Of the big river. And
all the little noises Of the morninp-the
insects, the blrds-kept up a singing
and wheeling and a droning that
you. -
Then would come a little more light.
and the trees would separate and stand
up OF themselves, and you could tell
houses from sand banks. And from a
strange and ghostly Wilderness there
came a big red glow, like a sun
set, but still never was that light at
setting sun. Here and there was a red
tipped Dough, while the big rocks
across the stream burned with the
color. Then I watched the color go by
and the first white light Of the sun
pitch against the cliffs, catch the trees
ABOVE US, and then come dropping
around us on the wet tli-f and the red
mud at our feet. And another clear
DAY was come out Of as filthy a night
as one could guess at. =.
lis q very fine day" said a strange
voice at my side.
found her looking up at the trees over
head and the sky through them. and
then turned back in my saddle and
said not word. What might be her
ladysh1p's next mood? AS for myself.
was too worn out, too uncertain as
TO my next move, to see aught in the
situation but desperate outlook and
small chance of my mission finishing
that day or week.
So the noisy silence of the wood he
gan again.
GU have not the manners Of his
majesty's court, SIR said she blandly.
Il have never had occasion to be
there, Mistress I answered. with
some meaning to my tone
No:' said she, and studied the green
leaves about her for a space. "'Tis a
wretched thing" she added, after bit.
What. the court?'
May, the want of manners"
Perhaps you would prefer to return
to the Others" and then Iistuck a spur
into old Roger and cursed myself for a
fool. :
She said not a word for a moment,
and then:
"a courtly response, indeed. Where
were you bred, sir?''
In What, God be thanked, is a free
country, mistress. The town Of Bos-
ton, in Massachusetts colony"
"Oh! I have heard tell of it.. A lit
tie wandering town, where men pray
for eight days in the week, and a wom-
an may wear only black and never
raise her eyes from the buckle of her
slipper
Ills. a town OF great men and big
hearts, Mistress Phi!ipse. And its not
for even British butterfly to demean
it,"
Am I, wonder, Mistress Philipse o.
said she, looking at me with a CLINT In
her eye. Or
II do not know, madam. That was
the name you took but few hours
since" She had a look in her face
that for the life of me I could not
read. Was it a bursting desire to laugh.
or a vixen's love of teasing?
''Or, am I Mistress istress-Bal-
fort, is it?"
III you were so, indeed, you should
not speak thus Of the Cradle of Lib
erty."
'Ah, indeed! And would you tell me
who should prevent it?"
That I will, mistress. No other than
your husband"
'''Ah, indeed" said she again sI see
that you have lived i?,,Ich in the com
pany of women and know them full
well, Captain Balfort."
Lieutenant Balfort, at your service,
mistress I
You should be captain, sir" said
she, looking up through the trees.
You bore yourself as such not many
hours since ID
The change Of tone was SO quick that
for some unknown reason + grew red
With shame, and asked seriously
enough:
5 will you tell me why you should go
through bad scene as brave as any
any soldier, and then faint at sight of
q drunken man 2" 81 Z;
All, do not speak Of him!'' cried she.
turning face that on a sudden had a
11it Of thpf terror n, A. cr,i ~, "a 49,,