Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1911-06-15

Il
| gone. Nobody knew me, for I was an
old man. hunted from settlement to
settlement. In my madness / became
a Mormon, for vengeance--in hope OF
| finding her. was rich, and became
powerful. | was made an elder be-
cause of my gold. Then found|
| A moan trembled on the old mans
lips.
they had forced her to marry
the son of a Mormon"
| He stopped, and for moment his
eyes seemed filling with the glazed
| shadows of death. He reused himself
almost fercely
"But he loved my Jean. Nat-he
| loved her as loved her and he was
a good mani" he whispered shrilly.
"Quick-quick- must tell you-they
had tried to escape from Missouri and
the Danites killed him--and Joseph
Smith wanted Jean and at the last
moment she killed herself to save her
| honor -Marion-was going-to-
do, and she left two children"
He coughed and blood fiecked his
| lips.
She left-Marion and Neil!"
He sank back. ashen white and still.
and with cry Nathaniel turned to
the lieutenant. The officer ran for
ward with flask in his hand.
Give him this!"
The touch OF liquor to Obadiah's
lips revived him. He whispered
weakly:
The children, Natl tried to find
them-rand years after-I did-in Maui
VOC. The man and woman who had
killed the father in their own house
had taken them and were raising them
as their own. ] went mad! Ven.
geance-yengeance- lived for it,
year after year. l wanted the chill
dren-but If | took them all would be
lost. ! followed them, watched them.
loved them-and they loved me. I
would wait-until my ven
geance would fall like the hand of
God, and then | would free them, and
tell them how beautiful their mother
was. When Joseph Smith was killed
and the split came the old folks fol.
lowed Strang-and IL, too"
He rested a moment, breathing
heavily.
II brought my Jean with me and
buried her up there on the hill--the
middle grave, Nat, the middle grave
Marion's mother"
Nathaniel pressed the liquor to the
old mans lips again.
My vengeance was at hand-I was
almost ready-when Strang learned a
part of the secret" he continued with
an effort He found the old people
were murderers. When Marion would
not become his wife he told her what
they had done. He showed her the
evidence! He threatened them with
death unless Marion became his WIFE
His sheriffs watched them night and
day. He named the hour Of their
doom--unless Marion yielded to him
And to save them, her supposed par
ents-to keep the terrible knowledge
OF their crime from Neil-Marion-
was --going-to-- sacrifice herself
when"
Again he stopped His breath was
coming more family
Il understand" whispered Nathan
lei. Il understand"
Obadiah's dimming eyes gazed at
him steadily.
II thought my vengeance would
come-in time--to save her, Nat. But
1t failed. knew of one other way
and when all seemed LOST took 1t.
killed the old people-the murderers
of her father-of my Jean. | knew
that would destroy Strangs power"
In sudden spasm of strength he
lifted his head His voice came in
hoarse, excited whisper.
You won't tell Marion--you won't
tell Marion that | killed them"
'No-neyer
Obadiah fell back with relieved
sigh. After moment he added.
In chest In the cabin there liz q
letter for Marion. 1t tells her about
her mother--and the gold there's
for her-and Nell"
His eyes closed. A shudder passed
through his form.
Marion" he breathed. "Marion!"
Nathaniel rose to his feet and ran
to the cabin door.
"Marion!" he called.
Binding tears shut out the vision
OF the girl from his eyes. He pointed.
looking from her. and she, knowing
what he meant, sped past him to the
old councillor.
In the great low room in which oba.
diah Price had spent SO many years
planning his vengeance Captain Plum
waited.
| After q time, the girl came back.
There was great pain in her voice
as she stretched out her arms to him
blindly. sobbing his name. is Nls
Gone..gone-they're all gone now
but Neil!'' I. y;
Nathaniel held out his arms.
Only Neil."-he cried "nnlv Nafl