The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-09-15

|, and though he kept UP a running
fire of taunts and gliding llings at the
marksnen, l could hear the srittlng
oaths aside when they pinkcd him.
Notwithstanding, the worst of these
miscasts fell to my lot. A Ratchet,
sped by the clumsiest hand of all.
missed it's curving, turned, and the
helve of it struck me fair in the sto,n-
ach. Not all the parting paEgs of
death, as | fondly believe, will lay a
heavier toll on fortitude than did this
gripping -stroke which / must endure
standing erect. IT'S no figure of speech
to say that ] would have given The re-
version of a kingdom. n a crown to
boot. for leave to double over and groan
out the agony of it.
Happily for us, there We're no women
with the band. so we We're spared the
crueler refineinents of these ante-burn-
Ing tornents: the tiaying alive by inch
bits. and the sticking of Blazing splints
of pitch-wood In the flesh to make
death a thing to be prayed for. There
was naught of this, and firing Of the
markSman play, the Indians made
ready to burn us. Some ran to recover
the spent weapons; others made haste
to heap the WOOD in a broad circle
about our trees: and the chief. with
three or four to help, renewed the deer
thong hastings.
Twas in the rebinding that this
headnan, a right kinsly looking savage
as these barbarians go, thrust a bit Of
paper into my hand and gave me time
to glance its message out by the light
OF che fire. Twas ii line from Mar
gerry. and this is what she said:
, Dear Heart:
Though you must needs believe my
love is pledged to your good friend and
mine, tits yours. and yours alone, my
lion-hearted one. l am praying the
good God to give you dying grace, and
me the courage to follow . quickly.
MaIEery.
This by the hand OF Tallachama.
For one brief instant a wave of joy
caught and flung me upon its highest
crest, and all these savage tormentors
could do to me became as naught. Then
the true meaning of this, her brave Ave
atque vale, smote me like a space-flung
ocean of despair to cngulf me in its
blacklist depths. The letter was never
meant for me; twas for Rich
ard Jennifer, who, as she
would think, must know the story OF
her marriage to his friend and must be-
lieve her love went with the giving Of
her hand. And she named him Lion
Heart because he was brave, and true,
and strong, like that first English Rich
ard of the kingly line.
L thrust the message back upon the
bearer of 1t, begging him in dumb show
to give 1t quickly to my companion. l
knew not at the time ii he did it. be-
ing SO crushed and blinded by this
fresh misery. But when the indian
drew off to ring us in a chanting circle
for the final act, l would not let the lad
see my face for fear he might fathom
the heart-break in me and know the
cause of 1t.
Twas at this crisis. when all was
ready and one had run to fetch the fire.
that | heard a smothcred oath from
Dick and saw the ndian who was COM
ing up to fire the wood heaps drop his
brand and tread upon If.
'Ecod." said Il voice. courtier-like
and smoothly modulated. "'Tis most
devilish lucky that l came. Captain
%Ireton. Another moment and they
would have grilled you in the Kings
uniform-a rank treason. to say naught
of poor Jack Warden left without "a
clout to cover him."
1t needed not the glance aside to
name mine enemy. But l would not
pleasure him with an answer Neither
would Richard Jennifer. He stood si-
lent for a little space. smiling and nurs-
ing his chin in one hand, as his habit
was. hen he spoke again.
Il came to bid you God-speed, gen
tlemen. You tumbled braveiy into my
little trap, I made no doubt you'd fol-
low where the lady led. and SO you
did. But you'll turn back from this,
l do assure you, if there be any virtue
in an Indian barbecue"
At this Richard could hold in no
longer.
Curse you'll" he gritted. do you
mean that you kidnapped Mistress Stair
to draw us out of hiding?"
Truly Sid this arch-fiend, smiling
again. Most unluckily for you, you
both stood in my way-you see, l am
speaking Of 1T now as a thing past
and | CHANGED upon this thought CT
killing two birds with the one stone;
nay, three, l should say, If you count
the lady in"
Have done!" choked Richard, in a
voice thick with impotent rage. Give
place. you hound. and let your savages
to their work."
AT your pleasure. Mr.. Jennifer.
have no fancy for funeral baked meats
hot or cold. though they be made, as
now, to furnish forth a marriage sup
per. l bid you good night, gentlemen
I'll go and make that call upon the lady
which you were so rude as to interrupt
a little while ago" And with that he
turned his back pom us and STROBE
away, forgetting to tell his re%dskinnec
myrmidons to strip me of that kings
uniform he was so loath to nave me
burned in.
The Cherokees waited till the maste1
ex%ecutioner was out of sight among
the trees. Then they set UP their in.
fernal bowling again, and the fire.
lighter ran to fetch a fresh brand.
Courage. lad! twill soon be owe
now" said I. hearing a groan from m,
poor Dick.
His reply was a chattering curse. no
upon Falconnet or the Indians, but up
OIL his malady, the tertian fever.
Nov, by all the fiends! I'm chillin,
again. Jack!" he gasped. IF thes,
cursed wood-wolves mark it, they'll Sc
1t Town to woman ~cowardice and tina
will break my heart"
Again l bade him be of good cour
!, age, assuring him, not derisively. as /
:. looks when tbs written out that tn
fire would presently medicine the chill
! ing. In the middle Of the saying tn
lighted brand was fetched and thrus
) among our fagotings, and the upwar
: curling smoke wreaths, made me gas
! and strange at the finish.
i For a little time after the sucking i
!. of that first Observation-Disclosures
anodyne for II of her Door creature
: doomed to die by fire. saw and hear
less clearly n suffered only by antici
9 patton. But to this day the smell {
burning pine WOO is like a sleepin
potion to me, and the sleep 1t brings
: full of dreams vaguely troubled.
e. So, while the Indians danced an
. leaped about us, brandishing the
weapons and chanting the captive