The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-01-02
CHAPTER XVIII.

The walls OF the cottage were all that
| was left of the building; and these, black
ened by smoke, and stripped of their
! piazzas and ornaments. were but dreary
memorials of the content and security that
had so lately reigned within. The roof
had tumbled into the cellars. The early
| flight of the SINNERS left the dragons
at liberty to exert themselves in saving
much of the furniture. The captain. after
placing Sarah on sofa that had been
hurled from the building by two of his
men, retired, that the ladies might sue
ceed him in his care. Miss Peyton and
her niece few to receive Sarah from the
trooper; but the vacant eye and flushed
cheek restored them instantly to their rec
objection.
Sarah, my child, my beloved niece"
said the former, folding the unconscious
bride in her arms, you are saved, and
may the blessing of God await him who
has been the instrument"
"See," said Sarah, gently pushing her
aunt aside, and pointing to the glimmering
ruins, "the windows are Illuminated in
honor of my arrival. They always re-
| ceive a bride thus-he told me they
would do not less; listen, and you will
hear the bells"
THE shock has destroyed her mind"
cried Miss Peyton; my child, my beau
teous Sarah is a maniac!"
Come" said the surgeon, ''the night
air can do no service to George, or these
ladies, and it is incumbent on us to re-
move them where they can find surgical
attendance and refreshment. Here is
nothing but smoking ruins and the mias-
ma of the swamps."
Captain Lawton made his dispositions
for the march. Miss Peyton, her two
nieces and Isabella were placed in the
chariot, while the cart of Mrs. Flanagan,
amply supplied with blankets and bed,
was honored with the person of Captain
Singleton. DIR. Sitgreaves took charge Of
the chaise and Mr.. Wharton. What be-
came Of the rest Of the family during that
eventful night Is unknown. for Cesar
alone, Of the domestics was to be found,
IL we except the housekeeper.
Compared with the simple elegance and
substantial comfort of the Locusts, the
Hotel Flanagan" presented but dreary
spectacle. In the place Of carpeted floors
and curtained windows, were the yawning
cracks of a rudely constructed dwelling,
and boards and paper were ingeniously ap-
piled to supply the place of the green
glass In more than half the lights. The
cnre Of Lawton had anticipated every i'm
provement that their situation would al
low, and blazing fires were made before
the party arrived. The dragons who
had been charged with this duty had con-
veyed a few necessary articles of furni-
ture. The mind Of Sarah had continued
to wander during the ride, and. with the
ingenuity of the insane, she accommodate
ed every circumstance to the feelings that
were uppermost in her own bosom.
at is impossible 10 minister to mind
that has sustained such a blow" said
Lawton to Isabella Singleton "time and
Gods mercy can alone cure it; but some
thing more may be done toward the bodily
comfort of all. You are a soldiers daugh-
ter, and used to scenes like this; help me
to exclude some Of the cold air from these
windows"
Miss Singleton acceded to his request
and while Lawton was endeayoring, from
without. to remedy the defect of BROKEN
panes, Isabella was arranging substi'
tute for curtain within.
| II hear the cart" said the trooper, In
repiy to one OF her interrogatorics. "Bett,
ls tender hearted in the main: believe ma