The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-11-17

not fight Inc for it. The low is your
hot mine"
Don't say that, Jack; I'm SELLS!
enough to wish it were true: as it /
not. l know whereof l speak"
No." l denied. struggling to my feet
1T has been yours from the first. Dick
l am but a sorry interloper."
For a moment he was all solicitude t.
know If my head would let ME stand: bu
when showed him / was no more thai
clums!ly dizzy from the effects of tn,
blow. he Went on.
II say l know, and / do, Jack. She ha!
refused me again"
/ groaned in spirit. l knew it must hav,
come to that. Yet 1 would ask when ant
where.
Twas on our last days riding" h,
Went on; after We had had YOU note
saying you would undertake a mission
for Colonel Davie."
took two steps and CROPPED for the
horses bride rein.
Did she tell you why she must refuse
you?"
He help me find the rein for my hand
and the stirrup for my foot.
There was no WHY but the one-she
does not love me-"
But | say she does. Dick: and 1, too
know whereof l speak"
He flung me into the saddle as a strong
man might toss q boy, and l understood
how that saying of mine had gone into his
blood.
Then there must be some barrier that
L know not Of" he said. Whereupon he
put hand to head as one who tries to re-
member. Stay; did you not say there
was a barrier, Jack?-when we were
wrestling with death In the Indian fires ?
Or did | dream it?"
You did not dream 1t. But you were
telling me what she said"
on. yes; twas little enough. She cut
me Off at the first word as If my speaking
were a mortal sin. And when 1 would
have tried again, she gave me a look to
make me vince and broke out CRYING as
II her heart would BURST
steadled myself as 1 could by the sad
die horn and waited till he was up and we
We're moving on. Then i would say:
Truly, there is a barrier. Richard; If
promise you that | am going to Charlotte
to remove 1t once for all, will you trust
me and go about your AFFAIR with General
Gates?"
Trust you, Jack? Who am T that I
SHOULD do aught else? When 1 am cool
and sane, I'm none so cursed selfish.
could even give her over to YOU with a
free hand. could I but hear her say she
loves you as 1 would nave her love me.
But when l am mad. . All. God only
knows the black blood there is In the
heart at such times"
we rode on together in silence after
that. and were come to the bank of the
river before We spoke again. But here
DICK went back to my warning, ayine
whilst We let the horses drink: IT'S pa
trolled on the other bank, you saw"
1t was when l passed it a few DAVIS
agone.
liner l will turn back and cross at
Seatt'e's. Twill make you a risk YOU
need not take-to have me with you"
But | thought now hat the upper ford
might be guarded as we'll; and il there
must De a cutting of a road through the
enemy's outpost line for Dick. two could
do 1t better and one. So 1 said:
mo-; we are here now. and if need be |
can lend you the weight of a second
blade to see you safe through"
And you with your head humming like
a basket of bees, as 1 make no doubt 1t
willie"
l laughed. IT should be but a sorry
soldier and a sorrier friend if ] should let
a love-tap with the fiat of a blade make
me fail you at the pinch"
lie reached across the little gan that
parted us and grasped my hand.
b Cod" he swore. most feeliuplv.
YOU are as true as the steel YOU carry.
jack ireton."
Nay" said !. in honest shame; IT do
confess 1 was thinking less Of nv friend
thaN of the Importance of the errand he
rides on:
Blu If there should be a fight, YOU will
spoil youy chance of coming peaceably to
Charlotte ana my lords headquarters."
IF | am recosnized-yes. But the night
is dark. and . brush with the outpost
need rot betraN me-"
A. this he consented %grudginglv. and we
pushed OF to the crossing. Now s.iice this
ford.ns place Of Master Macgowan's has
marched into our history. Won will like