Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1912-06-06

awhile. aBut listen. don't forget
II do not have my pay voluntarily
in the way | ask shall some day col
lect It in my own fashion"
When finally our entire party had
been got across the Platte and we had
resumed our westward journey the
routine of travel was for the time bro
ken and our line Of march became
somewhat scattered across the low,
billy country to which we presently
came.
1t was early in the afternoon when
heard her horses feet coming up be-
hind me as rode. She passed me at
gallop. laughing back as though in
challenge. and SO we raced on for a
time until we quite left out of sight be-
hind us the remainder of our party.
Ellen Meriwether was Virginia girl
with western experience. and 1t goes
. without saying that she rode well--of
course in the cavalry saddle and with
the cross seat Brown as her face was
now becoming one might indeed at
little distance have suspected her TO be
rather a daughter of the plains than
belle Of civilization made some com
ment on this. She responded by sit.
ting the more erect in her saddle and
dra wing long. deep breath.
Il think shall throw away my
gloves" she said. and hunt up some
brass bracelets. grow more Indian
every day. Isn't it glorious. here on
the plains?"
1t so seemed to me, and so advised
her. saying wished the western jour
ney might be twice as long.
''But Mr.. Orme was saying that he
rather thought you might take an es-
cort and 60 back down the river
II wish Mr.. Orme no disrespect," /
answered. "but neither he nor any one
else regulates my travel. | have all
ready told you how necessary it was
for me to see your father. Colonel
Meriwether.'
began to hum to myself the words
of an old song. then commonly heard:
.'Oh come with me and be my love!
For thee the 1ungle's depths I'll rove.
And the tigers cub I'll bind with chain.
And the wild gazelle with the silvery feet
I'll give to thee for playmate sweet.
Poets" said |. .can very well sing
about such things. but perhaps they
could not practice all they sing. They
| always
"Hushr' she whispered, drawing her
horse gently down to walk and final
~ to a pause. Look! Over there is
one of the wild gazelles."
/ followed the direction of her eyes
and saw peering curiously down at us
from beyond the top of a little ridge
something like a hundred yards away
the head, horns and neck of prong
horn buck. standing facing US and
seeming not much thicker than knife
blade. Her keen eyes caught this first,
my own, fancy. being busy else
where. At once l slipped out Of my
saddle and freed the long, heavy rifle
from its sling heard her voice, hard
now with eagerness. caught a
glance at her face. brown between her
braids. She was a savage woman!
"Quickr' she whispered. He'll run. :"
Eager as she. but deliberately.
raised the long barrel to line and
touched the trigger. heard the thud
of the ball against the antelope's shout
der and had no doubt that we should
pick it up dead. for it disappeared. ap-
parently end over end, at the moment
of the shot. Springing into the saddle,
raced with my companion to the top
of the ridge. But, 10. there was the
antelope 200 yards away and going as
fast on three legs as our horses were
on four
"Rider' she called. "Hurryr' And
she spurred off at breakneck speed in
pursuit, myself following.
We should perhaps have continued
this chase until one or the other of
the horses dropped. but now her horse
picked up pebble and went some
what lame She pulled up and told me
to ride on alone. After pause slow
ly approached the top Of the next ridge
and there, as more than half suspect
ed. saw the antelope lying down. its
head turned back. Eager to finish the
chase. / sprang down. carelessly neg
lecting to throw the bride rein over
my horses head. Dropping fat. rest
ed on my elbow and fred carefully
once more. This time the animal roll
ed over dead.
Alas for our Joy OF victory! Our
success was our undoing. The very
motion Of my throwing up my hat,
boyish as it was. gave fright to my
horse, already startled by the shot. He
flung up his head high, snorted and
was off fast as he could go. follow
ed him on foot rapidly as could, but
he would none of that and was all for
keeping away from me at safe dis
lance. This the girl saw. and she rode
up now, springing down and offering
me her horse.
stay here" i called to her as
mounted. 'I'll be back directly" And