Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-20

VE canO. Out of it's rocky sum Esas;gsTTsN EEsa;.ssSTsN init and into the quiet air of SssSSsg the May morning was rising a straight blue column of smoke.
 A flag wigwagged from the southern lookout station to herald the phenome non, and in moment the post was agog. Keen sighted scouts hurried tC points of vantage, where they studied the mounting plume. Far reaching glasses were trained, amid lively sur. mise from the galleries fronting the parade, while at barracks. blocking the windows and through the porch, the eager troopers gossiped and craned.
 But in the stockade interest reached Its highest pitch. Braves, sQuaws and children were strung along the upper end of the incloSure breathlessly watch 1 ing the vapor thread. Each swarthy face had dropped the mask of listless- ness. Each figure was rooted. Not an eye forsook straight line to the | belching mountain top.
 For full three minutes the distant fire sent up steady pillar. Then fort | and stockade saw that pillar suddenly wabble, as if caught in the vagaries | of q fitful breeZe-saw it wabble, thicken, break and disappear, when the butte again stood, a jagged tooth, against the sky. Above it, innocently white, fioated a hands breadth of cloud
 And now the trumpet rang. Obey l ing it, two detachments mounted. One spurred away down river, keeping close in the lee of the bluffs; the other boarded the ferry and was landed at the cut north of Shanty Town, from where it made toward the Norwe- giar's. Behind an envious but fever ishly happy garrison set about putting an extra polish on its arms. The grass was too short for a war pony. Active duty had not been expected within the month, yet the time of dreary waiting was up at last. for here : within striking distance were the hos i tile reds
 The warriors in the stockade knew better. Like so many whipped dogs. : they were scattered to cover, there to hide their bitter chagrin. No war par 1 ty was come to harry BrannOn. to lure | the troopers into battle, to free the captive village. 4, lone Indian-the | looked for messenger famed that i signal fire on the mountain. and by q wave of his blan:et he had told them evil news.
 l To Colonel Cummings the seeming early boldness of the enemy gave an l inklirg of what might he eZpec ted lat i eI Uu-In the sOr1ri7C-, . nen rnere would be good grazing and a smaller ! force at the post. Already he feared for the safety of the settlers living within sight of the garrison flag. The l detachment landed at the cut was or 1 dered to warn two of them. The third was Evan Lancaster. To him the com manding officer sent David Bond.
 But it was Dallas whom the evangel- ist sought. He found her at work up- on the plowed strip. cross dragging it in preparation for the planting of the corn. As she drove up and down she ! walked hatless in the sun. Her hair was down and hung forward in two l braids. She wore the snug jersey that had been her mothers. Her skirt was tucked up. back and front, to he out of the way. It disclosed no red fan mel petticOat. however.
 Not far away was Simon. starling riding him to gObble the greenheads as they bit The bull was revolving sulk- fly on his picket rope and shedding his long winter coat upon the new grass. In difference to his inbo-n dislike Dal- las was wearing an underskirt of blue.
 Though the evangelist had never seen her trudging behind the mules. he had often spoken of it pityingIy. Yet as he came toward her now he felt only an unbOunded pride in her unself- ishness and in her brave efforts 10 wrcst a living from the soil.
 "A splendid Ruth" he murmured, advancing: "a splendid Ruth tOlling fin the fields-'
 Seeing him. she gave a swift. tTOu- hled glance at the shack. Then. avoid ing his eyes and without spea king. she pulled up Ben and Betty and held out a hand.
 When he took it the pride of a mo- ment before changed to compassion He remembered that he must tell her what would alarm. for in her face he saw traces of many a sleepless night and of a sapping wOTTy-
 Daughter. you are iI- he declared and kept q tight hold on her fingers
 ~No; there ain't anything the matter with me OnIy--stTIl avoiding his eyes. she turned to survey inc harrOved land--o1Iy I'm some put cut This srT--
 -Nerer mind the sod ke said grave Iy. I want to aSk-dd yOH see the r0antafng- He I07sed her fingers and pointed an arm 10 the s5uth-
 She Isuz5eI following his pointing ~Ye I cEi Books as f claims are -etffng sezrFs- don't EtE Wben a nest q has to Esz D there