The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-04-05
SILVER SPUR

odl she turned with a short cry-a cry
the like Of which l have never heard,
SO full was it Of choking joy. The glass
dropped to the floor and was shattered.
In a second her arms were about me,
and so she hung on my neck sobbing and
laughing together.
Twas true-'twas true! Dear, dear
Jack-dear Jack to come to me; hold
me tighter, tighter-for my very heart
is bursting!"
And behind me a shadow fell on the
doorway; and there stood Della regard
ing us.
Joan" said I, hot with shame, taking
her arms gently from my neck; ''Ilssen:
| come because / am chased. Once more
the dragooners are after me-no five
minutes away. You must lend me a
horse, and at once"
Nay" said a voice in the doorway,
1.-THE horse, if lent, is for me!'
loan turned, and the two women stood
looking at each other-the one with
dark wonder, the other with cold dis
dainfulness-and | between them scarce
lifting my eyes. Each was beautiful af-
ter her kind, as day and night; and
though their looks crossed for a full min
ute like drawn blades, neither had the
mastery. Joan was the first to speak.
Jack, is thy mare in the yardT'
Give me thy pistols and thy cloak"
She stepped to the window hole at the
end of the kitchen, and looked out.
Plenty of time" she said, and pointed
to the ladder leading to the loft above
-"Climb up there, the both, and pull
the ladder after. Is it thou they want
Or shef' pointing to Della.
"Gae chiefly they would catch. no doubt
being a man." I answered.
~"Aye-being a man: the worlds full
OF folly. Then, Jack, do thou look after
her, and I'll look after thee" ?
She flung my cloak about her, took my
pistols and e out at the door. AS
she did so the sun sank and a dull shad-
ow swept over the moor.
"Joan!" l cried, for now / guessed
her purpose and was following to hinder
her, but she had caught Molly's bride
and was already astride of her.
Get backr' she called softly, and then,
Il make a better lad han wench, Jack"
leaped the mare through a gap in the
wall, and in a moment was breasting the
hill and gallOping for the high road.
What think you of this for a hiding
placer" asked l, with a laugh.
But Della did not laugh. Instead, she
faced me with blazing eyes, checked her
self and answered, cold as ice:
'Sir, you have done me a many ia
vors. How j have trusted you in return
it were best for you to remember, and
for me to forget"
The dark then drew on. and still we
soft thora hnI,r Sffar hnur silapf anuVy
waiting for Joan's return, Della at the
entrance Of the cottage, chin IN hand,
scanning the heavens and never once
turning toward me; | further inside, with
my arms crossed, raging against myself
and all the world, yet with a sick'ning
dread that Jean would never come back.
She came at last, leading Molly by the
bride. Della slipped away as she tot
tered into the hut.
Jack" said Joan, 'sit down an let
me rest my head 'on thy knee. Oh,
yes, l did it bravely! Eight good miles
an more / took the mare-by the Four
hold Cross, an across the moor past
Tober an Catshole, an over Brown
Willy, an round Roughtor to the nor
west; an there lies the bravest quag-
oh, a black, bottomless bole!-an' into it
l led them; an there they lie, every
horse, an every mothers son, till Judg-
ment Day."
"Dead?"
"Aye-an' the last twain wi a bullet
apiece in their skulls. Oh, rare! Dear
heart-hold my head-so, atween thy
hands"
But Joan, are these men dead, say
your
"Surely, yes. Why, lad, what be four
rebels, up or down, to make this coal
over? Hast never axed after me".'
"Joan-you are not hurt?"
In the darkness / sought. her eyes, and,
peering into them, drew back.
Joan"
Hush, lad, bend down thy head, and
let me whisper. I went too near-an'
one, that was over his knees, let fly wi
his musician Jack, | have but a min
ute or two. Hush, lad, hush-there's no
call! / loved thee so, boy Jack!'
Her arms were drawing down my face
to her, her eyes were dull with pain.
Feel, Jack-there-over my right
breast. / plugged the wound wi a peat
turf. Pull it out, for it's bleeding inward
and hurts cruelly-pull it outr'
As l hesitated She thrust her own
hand in and drew it forth, leaving the hot
blood to gush.
"An' now, Jack, tighter-hold me
tighter. Kiss me-oh, what brave times!
Tighter, lad, an call wi me-'Church
an King!' Call, lad-Church am"
The warm arms loosened, the head
sank back upon my lap.
1 looked up. There was a shadow
across the entrance, blotting out the star
Of night. Twas Della, leaning there and
listening.
CHAPTER XIII.
The day spring came at last, and in
the sick light Of it | went down to the