Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-08-06


home was no place for him when
duty called at the distant front.
Only, there was Nan, silent, trem-
nlous, to be sure, and with such
" orld of piteous dread and pleading
in her beautiful eyes. IT was hard
to have to tell her he must go again
and at once, hard to have to bid her
!"elp him in his hurried preparations,
when she longed to throw herself in
his arms and be comforted. lie tried
to smile as he entered the gate, and
thereby cracked the brittle, sun
dried court plaster with which a SER
geant had patched his cheek at the
stables. The would-be gladstone
grin started the blood again, and it
trickled down and splashed on his
breast where poor Nan longed to
pillow her bonny head, and the sight
of it, despite her years of frontier
training, made her sick and faint.
lie caught her in his left arm,
laughing gayly, and drew her to the
other side. Got the mate to that
scoop of Billy's," he cried, holding
forth his other hand to Mrs. Ray.
"'Tisn't so deep, perhaps, but twill
serve, twill do, and I'll crow over
him tonight. Come in with us, Mrs.
Ray. 1--we something to show
YOU"
zone minute" said that wise young
matron. Let me tell the children
where to find me. Sandy and Billy
are on post at the telescope. They
wouldn't leave it even for luncheon"
With that she vanished, and husband
and wife were alone.
you must go, Gerald" she sobbed
q know it, but-isn't there some
way?-Won't Capt. Dade send more
men with you?"
IF he did, Nan, they'd only ham
per me with horses that drag behind.
BE brave, little woman. Webb has
swept the way clear by this time.
Come, ! need your help"
And the door closed on the soldier
and his young wife. They never saw
that Nanette Flower, in saddle, was
riding swiftly up the row, and, for
the first time since her coming to
Frayne, without an escort. Dade re-
appeared upon his front gallery in
time to greet her, but Esther, after
one quick glance, had darted again
within. Dade saw unerringly that
Miss Flower was in no placid frame
of mind. Her cheeks were pale; her
mouth had that livid look that robbed
her face of all beauty; but her eyes
were full and flashing with excite
mcnt.
What news, captain?" she hailed,
and the joyous, silvery ring had gone
from her voice. They tell me Capt.
Blake is back-two horses crippled,
two men hit, including himself"
His own share is a scratch he
wouldn't think of mentioning outside
the family, Miss Flower" answered
Dade, with grim civility. He had his
reasons for disappearing of the
young woman; yet they were not
such as warranted him in showing
her the least discourtesy. lie walked
to his gate and met her at the curb
beyond and stood stroking the arch
ing neck of her spirited horse
"IIarney" again.
Did they-were there any Indians
killed." She asked, with anxiety
scarcely vcilcd.
"Oh, they downed one of Them"
answered the captain, eyeing her
closely the while and speaking with
much precision, "a fellow who cursed
them freely in fluent English" Yes,
she was surely turning paler. ~
bold, bad customer, from all ac-
counts. Blake thought he must be
of Lame VOLTS fellows, because he
seemed to know Kennedy so well and
to hate him. Kennedy has only just
come down from Fort Beecher,
where VOLTS people have been at
mischief"
But what became of him? What
did they do with him?" interrupted
the girl, her lips quiycring in spite
of herself
"Oh-lcft him, l suppose" an
swcred the veteran, with deliberate
design. 'What else could they do?
There was no time for ceremony.
His fellow sayages, you know, can
attend to that"
For a moment she sat there rigid,
her black eyes staring straight into
the impcrturbablc face of the old
soldier. No one had ever accused
Dade of cruelty or unkindness to
man or woman. especially to woman;
yet here he stood before this suffer
ing girl and, with obvious intent. pic
tured to her minds eye a warrior
stricken and left unburied or uncared
for on the field. Whatever his rca-
sons, he stabbed and meant to stab,
and for just one moment she seemed
almost to droop and reel in saddle;
then, with splendid rally, straight
cncd mp again, her eyes flashing, her
lip curling in scorn, and with one
brief, emphatic phrase ended the in
teryiew and, whirling IIarney about,
smotc him sharply with her whip,
and darted away:
"True!" she said. "Ciyilized war
farc!"
IF that girl isn't more than half
savage said Dadc, to himself, as
liarncy tore away out of the gar