Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-07-26
TEoTA.
s@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@@aag

w should be decidedly blue when
% the boys are away on the range
Il 1t weren't for your visits"
Ned Torsythe smiled at the Indian
girl who was bending over his bunk
and took her little brown hand in his
large one, which looked strangely
white after his months imprisonment
A rich color came into her dusky face
and her big brown eyes mellowed and
softened at the sound Of his voice.
"You have saved my life twice
Leota-flrst when you rescued me
from the prairie fire, and then again
by your nursing. What can ! do, little
one, to thank you?"
IF the white man lives Leota asks
no more, and he will live for the sake
Of Leota," she said in accents so hope
ful that the man lying there in pain
and fever wondered what had disturb
ed her usual stolid calmness. Before
his mind had solved the problem, the
girl herself, by swift kiss as she left
him, awakened him suddenly to the
fact that 1t was love, not pity, that
had rescued him and whiled away the
weary hours of his enforced quiet.
For a moment he was dazed. The
thought of his having so unwittingly
gained this little savage's love, when
another, stately and fair, had turned
from him In misfortune, caused him
to smile in ironical amusement. She
whom he loved was as cold and stern
as Leota was warm and tender, and
yet-and yet! It was her face he pic
tured, as he rode that terrible day
through the prairie fire; it was hel
voice he heard as he pushed or
through flames and smoke, and it was
her name he uttered, when his little
broncho stumbled and fell, and to-
gether they lay, man and brute, each
with a broken leg, threatened with q
terrible death. 1t was the name OF
Alice that fingered on his lips, but II
was Leota who came galloplng over
the prairie, urging on her pony to the
rescue. 1t was her brown arms that
raised him tenderly to her own seat,
where, mounting beside him she
brought him to the ranch.
"Where did you learn such gentle
ways, .Leota?" Ned asked one day
when she was arranging his pillows
and smoothing the blankets on his
bunk.
"They taught us to make beds at
the Mission" she replied, "but no one
aver called me gentle before"
'Leota," would you miss me IL /
went away?" he asked musingly.
''Nay, speak not so. The Great Spir-
It will not take you away" she an
swered with eyes full Of tears.
IL am not speaking Of death, Leota.
think my chances Of going to your
Happy Hunting Grounds are over for
the present. I was thinking Of going
30 the Southland. There is much talk
Of war among the white chiefs. Should
st really come, I shall go, If am well
enough to pass muster"
The child, for so she seemed to him,
turned her face away and stood mo.
4ionless.
"Why don't you speak, little one"
IF the white man goes to the war,
Leota will die"
"But I would come back"
ITO me" she asked TREMENDOUSLY.
ITO you," he replied.
"Do you swear by the Great Spirit
that you will come back to me-" she
demanded almost fiercely.
II give you my solemn word that I
will come back to you, If 1 live," he
answered gravely; "but, child, the war
as not yet declared, so this is idle
talk"
Still, the war came. Ned Joined
Roosevelt's famous rough riders, and
the parting was such that he could
never forget. Leota's silent, heart
broken good-by remained with him
until the roar Of battle drove away all
thoughts save those of the moment.
Lying wounded at San Juan Hill, in
the shade of a great tree, where a
eomrade had placed him, Ned dreamed
Of woman's face bending over him.
Amid the war-like clatter he seemed to
hear gentle voice and murmured,
"Alice."
Like an echo from behind him, came
ahe words, "Alice, where art thouT"
"Whose voice was thatY asked Ned,
yoused to consciousness. AS he raised
himself, he groaned in pain.
Lille still, old man. We are both
IN the same FIX, l guess, though l
fear your case is worse than mine, for
you were raving a inmate ago, and
whispering woman's name. 1t hap
Dened to be the same as my sisters. II
sounded very sweet to me and I am