Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-03-10
one. but all unaware of the prisoners

escape.
The river road? He spurred his
horse down the trail furiously until
the post was far behind him. On his
right the river flowed; on his left the
land rose in ripping bluffs. a gray
black mass in the starlight. In front
of him he knew the long and lonely
trail stretched drearily without house,
without town, for hundred miles and
at last ended at the railway. He was
able. with an effort, to consider that
the two would spare their horses,
knowing how far they had to 20 and
hardly expecting pursuit before guard
mount in the morning, when the officer
of the day would make his report.
They had more than an hours start,
but if he pressed hard after them he
should catch up soon. That settled. he
urged his horse to the utmost and gave
himself up to the mad rage of jealousy
and disappointment. He had known
her from child TO be willfU! and pas
sionate and mischievous. but he had
never in his alteration believed her ca
pable of such deceit. He did not stop
to think that love had forced him to
break his oath. to neglect his duty. 10
assist a prisoner under his charge TO
escape to forfeit. if the truth became
known, the trust of his officers and the
name he had won in years Of hard
campaigning: he did not stop TO think
Of what love might have forced her
also to do. His mood was entirely self
ish. He was wounded sorely, and he
wished for nothing but revenge.
The dust scattered in clouds about
him. The horse. In that hot night,
soon was streaming sweat. He never
slackened pace. Now and again there
was q creek to cross, and through them
he dashed needless of mudhole or rock
or stump. Once belated Indian
freighter met him and grunted an as
tonished "How?" Holmes hardly saw
him nor answered his greeting. In an
instant he was out of sight and hear
ing. So he rode, blind to all he passed,
his eyes glaring ahead. his teeth graf
ing, seeking revenge for the slight and
the scorn and the lie.
They had Travelled more quickly than
he had reck0ned they would, and tho
sky Of the midsummer morning was
turning slowly from gray to violet
when he saw them and drew the re-
volver he carried as being on guard
duty. He hailed them, and through
the misty dimness OF the dawn they
saw him and spurred ahead with a CRY
Of fear and surprise. His horse, the
feetest In the troop, drew up upon
them, but, urged by terror, they pushed
on to the utmost. The sergeant was
within 200 yards of them when he lev
eled his revolver and fired. They were
too far off for pistol shooting, but the
shot resulted in bringing them to q
standstll. He rode slowly up and
reined In, facing them. The girl sat
erect in her saddle, her bosom heaving,
her eyes defying him. The musician
looked at him with his big, brown, sor-
rowful eyes, despairing. Holmes look
ed only on the girl. and even as he did
so that which had caused all his mis-
cry in the last few years, his great love
for her. came back, sweeping in on him
as flood, washing away his wrath
and disappointment and longing for
revenge. 1t was Katy Malone who
faced him, his pet in her schooldays,
the one thing he had ever loved. As
he looked Oh her, flushed with exercise
and Indignation, he put his pistol back
I'm the holster and the reins fell on his
horses neck, and he cared nothing for
the others presence, but held out his
arms in overwhelming despair, crying:
katy! Katy! Why have you done
this?"
The girl paused moment in sur
prise. for she had surely expected an
outburst of colossal rage, but in mo-
ment she regained her usual self pos
session. She took the musicians hand
In hers, in the protecting way she had
used when she had met him In the is'
land wood.
Because love him." she said.
The sergeant's head dropped low over
his horse. and his tall frame shook.
When he looked up his face was as
gray as the morning sky. All light
was gone from his eyes, even as the
stars were disappearing In the heav'
ems. He was calm now.
"You could not trust me to make you
happy" he said slowly. II begin to
understand. I want to know one thing.
( Did you care for me at all before-he-
Gamer
She shook her head.
Never" she said.
He sat again erect and looked up at
the sky. In one instant his life
stood revealed-lonely. lonely, lonely!
Through all the years from the first
early questionings of himself. of who
his mother was and who his father
through all the years Of Ill used, soul
souring childhood, through all the years
Of unfriended. starving youth, through
all the years Of manhood, solitary and
avoided by his comrades, he saw him
self, babe. child, boy, man, unfriended
and alone-lonely. lonely, lonely, friend
less and unloved!
He looked at the young lovers hand
In hand. What good would 1t do tt
arrest him? She would only hate hin
the more. What good would 1t do tt
force her back? Besides, the escap<
must be known soon, and he. In turn
would be a prisoner. The sky wa!
changing into blue, the sun was almos
on the horizon. but round his soul th'
night grew very dark. For awhile they
watched him, wondering, and at las
he looked at them. His eyes were full
Of tears.
"Ride on" he said.
They did not move, hardly believing
until he waved his hands impatiently.
60" he said, "and-and God max,
you both happy"
Without parting word they wheel
ed and fed.
He watched them disappear. and
moment after the crack Of a pisto
rang out across the plain, and the ser
geant's riderless horse. frightened. gal
!