The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-10-09
"Geoffrey Heathcote, ESQ.,
BY JOHN f'NMraoRE Copyright by s. S. Mcclure Co

=. DOR SOUL" said l to Owain; 1T
would be burning shame to kill her
child before her very eyes. But surely
Sir Arthur will not go SO far as that"
HIN" said Owain. 1T is hard to
say
Upon that hint I stepped forward
.Jrncle," said I, will you not let the
He is but a mere lad, and certainly we
ought not to take vengeance upon chill
dren."
NV uncle turned and looked at me,
his mouth set in a hard, cruel smile.
"Would you spare young adder be-
cause it is young?" he answered. "Will
It not shortly become full grown, and
who is to blame then if it stings you?"
He said no more and 1 heard scuf-
fling noise behind me- I turned my head
and saw that rope was already round
the neck Of the Red Man of the Dusk.
He was dragged to treee near a hand
and run up instantly. The woman, with
a harsh scream, ran to the boy and
held him tightly in her embrace, her
face streaming with tears and her voice
choked with sobs. l made another at
tempt to move my uncle, but he turned
on me, his face black with rage Il
tell you, nephew he cried, that l
would hang every one / could lay my
hands on and these fellows would glad
w assist me. You talk like q raw boy
whose heart softens at every whine he
hears, We must root out these rogueS:
we must, we must" He raised his voice
and gave viewhalloo, as of one cheer
ing his hounds on their prey, and l
turned my head and saw that the lad
was being torn from his mother S
clutch She struggled and fought like
a wild cat, but in vain. Feeling her
arms empty, she gave one dreadful cry
then sprang toward Sir Arthur. He
whipped out his sword and turned its
point upon her. But she stopped It a
distance of several feet from him and
stood at her full height, her tears gone,
her eyes darling flame. With great
gesture she clutched the rags which
covered her breast and tore them away,
LAYING her withered bosom bare to the
chill wind.
These breasts" she cried shrilly, and
beat them with her clenched fists
"these breasts have given suck to other
sons than this, and they still live. They
will avenge their little brother. Be sure
they shall! dip their hands in the warm
est blood Of your heart for this day s
work.
rs there no rope left for her2'
screamed Sir Arthur. Hang her up!
Throw down one Of those rogues al
ready dead and seize her. She mus,
carry no tales back to her tribe"
saw couple Of men advance upon her
and she eyed them unshrinkingly. The
last grain Of my patience ran out and
I drew my sword and stepped between
mot While I can lift an arm to stor
you," said 1. mo, no. Those men
that is one thing; this woman, another
What! put to death in cold blood the
mother who rushed into danger to en-
brace her child for the last time!" and
l placed myself In ward.
I believe now that should have Jared
very hardy on that occasion had not
Owain also interposed, for my uncle's
followers were scarcely less ferocious
against the Gwylliaid Cochion thar
himself. But when Owain spoke up and
declared that he would stand by me If
the matter things assumed a different
look. Men who, at a look from my
uncle, would have attacked me instant
~, would not stir a step against Owair
and Sir Arthur knew 1t. For an instant
he glared at me savagely his dark eyes
burning bitterly, his thin, fine face
drawn and white, then, with single
glance round the six dangling figures
now hanging horribly limp and still, he
gave an abrupt signal for departure.
Owain and l We're the last to leave
the little wood, and as we went dowl
the hill we'll to the rear of our com
panions. we head the long, piercing
wailing cry Of the Red Woman of the
Dusk, mourning her dead.