The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1906-11-01
p v.

CHAPTER v.
Giles Rae Beauties His Inheritance.
By eight o'clock the next morning,
out under a cloudy sky, the Raes were
ready and eager for their start to the
new Jerusalem. Even the sick wom-
ans face wore a kind of soft and faded
radiance in the excitement of going.
On her mattress, she had been tender.
ly installed in n of the two covered
wagons that carried their household
goods. The wagon in which she lay
was to be taken across the river by
Seth Wright-for the moment no Wild
Ram of the Mountains, but a softcoo-
ing dove of peace. Permission had
been granted him by Brockman to re-
cross the river on some needful err,
rands; and, having once proved the "a
treme constituencies, not to say irrit-
ability, of those in temporary com,
mand, he was now resolved to give as
little eclat as possible to certain SUI
perior aspects Of his own sanctity. He
spoke low and ~deferentially, and his
mien was that of a modest, retiring
man who secretly thought Ill of him
self.
He mounted the wagon in which the
sick woman lay, sat well back under
the bowed cover, clucked low to the
horses, and drove off toward the ferry.
If discreet behavior on his part could
ensure it there would be no conflict
provoked with superior numbers; with
numbers, moreover, composed of vio-
lent-tempered and unprincipled perse-
cutors who were already acting with
but the merest shadow of legal au.
thority.
On the seat of the second wagon,
whip in hand, was perched Giles Rae,
his coat buttoned warmly to the chin.
He was slight and feeble to the eye,
yet he had been fired to new life by
the certainty that now they we're to
leave the territory of the prosecuting
Gentiles for a land to be the Saints
very own His son stood at the wheel,
giving him final directions. At the
gate was Prudence Corson, gowned
for travel, reticule in hand, her pref
C4uC0o 0uoNOW GU, u1OCl LIZ 0SOOP VI
her bonnet, the toe Of one trim little
boot meditatively rolling a pebble
over the ground.
"Drive slowly, Daddy. Likely I shall
overtake you before you reach the
ferry. I want but a word yet with
Prudence; though'-he glanced over
at the bowed head of the girl-"no
matter if I linger a little, since Broth
er Seth will cross first and we must
wait until the boat comes back. Some
of u people will be at the ferry to
look after you-and be careful to have
no words with any of the mob-no
matter what insult they may offer.
You're feeling strong, aren't you?"
"Ay, laddie, that I am! Strong as
an OK! The very thought of being
free out of this Babylon has exalted
me in spirit and body. Think of it,
boy! Soon we shall be wen beyond
the limits of the United States-in
a foreign land out there to the west,
where these bloodthirsty ones can no
longer reach us. Thank God they're
like all snakes-they can't jump be-
yond their own lenSth!"
He leaned out of the wagon to shake
a bloodless, trembling fist toward the
temple where the soldiers had made
their barracks.
"Now let great and grievous judg.
ments, desolations, by famine, sword,
and pestilence come upon you, genera,
ton of vipers!"
He cracked the whip, the horses
took their load at his CHEEKY call, and
as the wagon rolled away they heard
him singing:
10, the Gentle chain is broken!
Freedoms banner waves on high!
They watched him until the wagon
swung around into the street that fell
away to the ferry. Then they faced
each other, and he stepped to her side
as she leaned lightly or the gate.
tPrue, DEAR" he said, softly, 'ft's
going hard with me. God must indeed
have a great work reserved for me to
try me with such a sacrifice-so much
pain where I could least endure 1t,
prayed all the night to be kept firm,
for there are two ways open-one
right and one wrong; but I cannot
sell my soul so early. That's why
wanted to say the last good-by out
here. I was afraid to say it in there
1 am so weak for you, Prue-I ache so
for you in all this trouble-why, If !
could feel your hands in my hair, I'd
laugh at it all-I'm so weak for you.
dearest"
She tossed her yellow head ever SO
slightly, and turned the scoop Of her
bonnet a little away from his pain