Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-01-01
By MAURICE THOMPSON
Bowen. MERRILL COMPANY


in his early thirties, respected Bever.
ley's reticence on the subject upper.
most in his mind Nine. Godere had
told the whole story with namboyant
embellishments. Kenton had seen Al
ice and, inspired with the gossip and a
surreptitious glimpse of her beauty. he
felt perfectly familiar with Beverleys
condition. He was himself a victim of
the tender passion to the extent of be,
ing an exile from his Virginia home,
which he had left on account of dan
gerously wounding rival. But he
was well touched with the backwoods.
mans taste for joke and banter. He
and Oncle Jazon, therefore, knowing
the main feature of Beverey's predica.
ment, enjoyed making the most of their
opportunity in their rude but perfectly
generous and kindly way
BY indirectiOn and impersonal de.
tails, as regarded his feelings toward
Alice, Beverley in due time made his
friends understand that his whole am.
bition was centered in rescuing her
Nor did the motive fail to enlist their
sympathy to the utmost If all the
world loves a lover all men having the
best virile instinct will fight for low.
er's cause. Both Kenton and Oncle ia.
zon were enthusiastic. They wanted
nothing better than an opportunity to
aid in rescuing any girl who had shown
so much patriotism and pluck. But
Oncle JazOn was fond of Alice, and
Beverley's story affected him peculiar
ly on her account.
"They's one question I'm a-goin' to
put to We, young man." he said after he
had heard everything and they had
talked it all over. AN | want We to an
swer it straight as a bullet f'om yer
gun"
"Of course, Jazon. Go ahead" said
Beverley. 81 shall be glad to answer"
But his mind was far away with the
gold haired maiden in Hamiltons pris-
on. He scarcely knew what he was
saying.
Air We expectin' to marry Alice
Roussillon|
Beverley started as if blow had
been aimed at him. Oncle Jazons
question indeed was a blow as uneX-
pected as it was direct and powerful.
Il know it's poOty p'inted," the old
man added after a short pause, IAN We
may think tibet | amt got no business
askin' it, but l have. That leetle gals
pet o mine. an I'm a-lookin' after
her an eXpectin to see thet she's not
bothered by nobody who's not goin' to
do right by her. Margin is n mighty
good thing, but
kenton had been peeping under the
low hanging scrub oak boughs while
Oncle Jazon was speaking these last
words, and now he suddenly interrupt
ed:
"The deuce. Look yonderr' he growl-
ed out in startling tone. 'Injuns"'
1t was sharp snap of the conversa-
tons thread, and at the same time our
three friends realized that they had
been careless in not keeping better
lookout. They let fall the meat they
had not yet finished eating and seized
their guns
Five or six dark forms were moving
toward them across a little point of the
prairie that cut into the wood quarter
of a mile distant
"Yanders more of en-" said Oncle
JaZon. as if not in the least concerned.
wagging his head in an opposite direc-
ton. from which another squad was
approaching
That he duly appreciated the situa-
ton appeared only in the CELEBRITY with
which he acted.
Kentoe at once assumed command,
and his companions felt his perfect fit
ness. There was no doubt from the
first as to what the Indians meant, but
even if there had been it would have
soon vanished, for in less than three
minutes twenty-one savages were
swiftly and silently forming n circle in
closing the spot where the three white
men, who had covered themselves as
best they could with trees, waited in
grim steadiness for the worst.
Quite beyond gunshot range, but near
enough for Oncle Jazon to recognize
Long Hair as their leader, the Indians
halted and began making signs to one
another all round the line. Evidently
they dreaded to test the craftsmanship
of such rhemen as they knew most
border men to be- Indeed Long Hair
had personal knowledge of what might
certainly be expected from both Ken
ton and Oncle JaZon. They were terri
bic when out for fight. The red war
riors from Georgia to the great lakes
had heard of them; their names smack
ed of tragedy Nor was Beverley with
out fame among Long Hairs followers,
y, l.,
fighting qualities brought to Nincennes
by the two survivors of the scouting
party so cleverly defeated by him.
The liver colored towards" said
Kenton, ARE afeared of us in shoot
in match. They know that Il lot of
'em would have to die if they should
undertake an open fight with us. It's
some sort of sneakin' game they are
studyin' about just now"
I'm a-pittin' mos TOO ole TO shoot