The Columbus journal., 1909-11-24

UIOIl1u IlhluO
seemingly . million buffalo, the situa-
ton ives appalling. Benton proceeded
to do. what other boys would have
done under like circumstances. He
broke down and cried till the tears
and the alkali dust formed . thick
paste on his cheeks.
Benton Vas still hopeful, and coz.
tinued to use every available means of
resuscitation, with no perceptible
results. Finally Departing he built
fire, made . cup Of coffee and after
drinking it in great detection, resumed
his watch over the unconscious girl.
ut Was we'll along in the afternoon,
and Benton was trying to determine
whether it would be possible to reach
civilization with his dead companion
and give her Christian burial or
whether he should make . box out of
the side boards of his wagon and bury
her ii the desert, when he was aroused
from his gruesome thoughts by feeble
voice from within the depths Of the
blankets. A.
Rejoicing At this reassuring evil
dence that his comrade was alive, he
bounded to her side. Taking some
water from the camp key, he gave it to
her. As soon as she regained com.
plete consciousness he turned his team
to the river and within half an hour
had gone into camp, during which
time he had fully decided that he
would not betrsy to the little girl his
knowledge of her sex. After Len had
partaken of a strong cup Of tea and q
camp supper she fully regained hez
natural strength and vivacity, and NO
camp fire ever built ON the Republican
river was ever more thoroughly en-
Logged than this one was by Benton
and Len.
I'm the winter of 1872 Benton was
in Washington. the guest of Senator
and Mrs. Samuel c. Pomeroy of Kan
sas Mrs. Pomeroy was a brilliant
society woman and during his two
weeks stay she gave several Dime,
parties, at one of which Miss Ames Of
Boston, Miss Holiday Of New Yorl
and Miss Pierrepont, from Southern
state, were guests. Half an hour ate,
dinner Benton and Miss Pierrepont
found themselves in the library, when
the conversation drifted to topics Of
Western life.
"Miss Pierrepont, who was laboring
under most intense mental excitement,
turned suddenly to Benton and, with
her breath full in his face, her eyes
dancing with the light of her tense
nature, said in suppressed but meas
ured tones:
"1 am Lem
"'You are Len? I don't under
stand, exclaimed Benton.
az am Len who accompanied you
across the plains. Who was thrown
from the pony and whom you left at
Fort Riley. 1 am Len-Lenore
Ridgeway Pierrepont-then as now
"Great Godfrey put in Benton Is
he grasped her hand and drew her
towards him. of course 1 know you.
That is I know you now, but I never
dreamed it,
"'And now for the first time Miss
Lenore hesitated. And did you know
did you discover that was not a
boyr
az did, the night you were thrown
from your pony
"'I knew it. she said.
"'How did you know itr asked Ben
ton.
"'Because from the moment / re-
gained consciousness until we parted
you were as kind to me as if were
your little sweetheart
"'Yes, l recall that stopped
swearing at the oxen after that
Besides, you must remember that
at our parting at the fort you put your
arms around me and drew me to you
and would have kissed me had the
officer not been present. After you
had started to go you returned and
taking . plain gold ring from your
finger, you put it on mine and your
last words we're: Keep it always or
until m rnnot soa;nO