Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1904-04-27
,,ay. He offered to tie ciamoring

10 ediclne man and his ferociouS diSci-
pies one OF these captives. whose death
shou,s appease not only the offended
Great Spirit. but also the unsatcd
vengeance OF the tribe. He offered. at
the same time. the spectacle Of 81 play
in which human life should be the
stake He used as practical execution
or the woman who was possessed by
enc OF them, and who. in Inc crude no.
tions of the savaSes. was no doubt
coveted by both. ~ must be- the hand
of this woman that should cast the
dice. white one and a red one for
each man. and he whose red die fcll
closer to the line was winner in tie
grim game of life and death.
Jean Breboeuf and Pierre Noir stood
apart. and tears poured from the eyes
OF both. They were hardened mon.
we'll acquainted with Indian warfare:
/ they had seen the writings of tor
tured victims and more than once had
faced such possibilities themselves;
yet never had they seen sight like this.
Near the two men stood Mary Con
nynge. the bright blood turning in
her cheeks. her eyes dry and wide open.
looking from one 10 the othe? God.
who gives 10 this earth the few Mary
Connynges, alone knows the nature OF
those elements which made her. and
the character of the conflict which
ROW went on within her soul. Tell such
woman as Mary Connynge that she
has a rival, and she will either love
tho more madly the man whom she de-
mands as her own, or with equal mad
ness and with greater intensity will
hate her lover with a hatred undying
and indispensable.
Mary Connynge stood, her eyes
glancing from one TO the other of the
men before her. She had seen them
both proved brave men, strong of arm,
undaunted of heart, both gallant gen.
tlemen. God. who makes the Mary
Cornyngcs OF this earth only can tell
whether or not there arose in the
heart of this savage woman, this wo-
man at bay, scorncd. rcbukeG. mas
tered, this one question: Which? Ii
Mary Connynge hated John Law. or ii
she loved him-ah, how must have
pulsed her heart in agony or in Bit
tcrness. as she took into her hand those
lots which were the arbitcrs OF life
and death,
TeganisOris looked about lin and
spoke "A few rapid words &c caught
Mary COnnyngc roughly by the shout
der and pulled her forward The two
men stood with faces set and gray in
the pitileSS light of morn. Their arms
were fast bound behind their backs.
Eagerly the crowding savages pressed
up TO them gesticuating wildly, and
peerinS again and again into their
faces to discovc" any sign OF weak
ness. They failed. The pride OF birth.
the strength OF character. the sheer
animal viSor Of each man stood him
in stead az this ultimate trial. Each
had made up his mind 10 die. Each
proposed. not doubling that he would
be the one to draw the fatal lot, to
die as man and a gentleman.
Teganisoris would play this game
with all possible mystery and impor-
lance. II should be told generations
hence about the council fires. how he
reganisoris. devised this game. how
he played it, how he drew H. out link
by link to the last atom of it's agony
There was no receptacle at hand in
which the dice could be placed. Tc-
ganisOris stopped. and without cere-
mony wrenched from Mary Connynge's
foot the moccasin which covered it
the little shoe-beaded beautiful. and
now again fateful Sir Arthur smiled
as though in actual joy
My friend said he. Il have won,
This might be the very slipper for
which We played at the Green Lion
long ago"
Law turned upon him a face pale and
solemn. Sir said he. Il pray God
that this issue may not be as when We
last played. pray Cod that tho dice
may elect mo and not yourself"
You were over lucky in the games
Of chance. replied Pombgok
TOO lucky said Law. "But tho
winner here is the loser, if it bc my
self"
Tcsanisoris roughly took from Mary
COnnyngc's hand the little bits of
lone. IL cast them into the hollow OF
the moccasin ana shook them dra-
maiicaIly together. holding them high
above his head. Then he lowered them
and took out from tho receptacle two
OF the dice lie placed his hand on
Law shoulder. signifying hat his was
10 be the first cast Then he handed
back the mUccas.n t. the woman.
Mary Conhynse took the shoe in her
} hand and stopped forward to the lin.
which had been drawn upon tho
/ ground The red spots still burned up
/ on her checks her eyes. amber. feline.
| still famed hard and dry. She still
/ glanced rapidly from one 20 tho other.
Ter eve as lightly quick and as bril-
! liant a. that of the crouchcd cat about
10 spring
Which? Which would it be? Could
she control this game? Could she
| elect which man should live and which
should die-ths woman scorned.
abased mastered? Neither OF these
sought 20. read the riddle OF her set
face and blazing eyes. Each a. nc