The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-12-28
Lavender
CreightOn's
Lovers
BY OLIVIA B. STROHM
Copyright, 1905. by Olivia B. strohm,.
CHAPTER XXIV.-CoyTINuED.

CHAPTER XXIV. -CoNTINUED.
At last. with the wind swaying the
trees. the water kissing the pebbles as
accompaniment to her words, she
spoke: To-day, tonight, the doubt is
gone; trust you utterly. But-and
give you fair warning-I may change
again"
She nodded her head merrily. her
mood was, on sudden, strangely llght
almost hysterical. Then, more Sc
riously: Il don't trust my moods late
". they vary so. | may have been
right then-or l may be right now,
but l want to be honest to-night-hon-
est with my heart-and you. And to-
night, for the present all's well"
And, sweet one, fog so much,
thanks. You know the wisest man has
said: There is time to love and
time to hate Let us be happy now IN
the time to trust, the time to love.
Owatoga returned, and at his sug
gestion Boone rose. You are right,
we must press on" he said. and thn
Indian advanced to Lavender "Owa
toga will carry the white maid over the
water; the ford is deep
Lifting her as though she were no
greater burden than the qulVer that
swung over one shoulder, he raised her
to the other and plunged into the river
The others followed but, the oppo-
site side regained, the old pioneer stag
gered and fell, half fainting, in Wins
lows arms.
"You are i'll, sir? Quick, Owatoga!
The brandy" And they worked hard
to revive the old man who lay in
stupor on the sand
IL have felt only tolerable we'll
for a few days, and-and the walk
the walk has-haS tired me. The wa
ter was cold-cold." And he shiv'
cred.
So all night they camped there, Owa-
toga guarding against surprise while
Winslow and Lavender, too anxious
for sleep, watched the pioneer, who lay
helpless with fatigue and sudden cold.
With early dawn he rallied bit, and
they pushed on until, at noon, they
paused in a beautiful, sheltered grove.
Boone smiled like pleased, tired
child. IT shall rest here" he said. Il
think we are secure; they have prob
ably abandoned the trail. At any rate,
l need go no further. st. Charles is
but a few miles due east. You can
easily reach it tonight Good-by."
In vain they insisted upon remain
Ing with him until he was stronger.
NO; for the sake of the girls anx-
ious father-for her sick mother, she
must be brought home at once. Lose
no time. l can soon have cabin here
as good as the one we lest"
They set to work, and in a small ra-
vine, with a palisade of poplars pro-
tecting it, and hedge of pawpaw
bushes all about, they put up a tiny
shelter which the rugged woodsman
declared was fit for kings chamber.
When the time for farewells was
come, Owatoga surprised Winslow by
extending a rudy hand. "Good-by,
he said.
Daniel Boone, too, looked up
amazed. why, how is this?'
But the Indian sturdily retorted:
"Owatoga stays; he will not leave the
old man of the woods"
In vain Boone protested.
HE is right" Winslow declared
"the main road lies just beyond that
ridge. We can easily find it, and the
journey is short Our one regret, sir
is leaving you"
And there were tears in Lavender's
eyes when she bent over and rever
emily kissed the high forehead and
smoothed the long, white hair.
God bless you, girl" he said, weak
ly. IF you never see Daniel Boone
again, think of him sometimes. AND
think of him as the old man of the
woods"
He added this proudly, as though hi
wished no nobler title. Owatoga wen
with them until in sight of the road
a narrow hall in the green pavilion o.
nature, weed-grown gap in the wilder
ness. With few terse directions. anC
a gruff farewell, the guide left them Il
complete the journey together.