The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-07-31
nLUSTRAIED6r D.J.LAVIN
(O1N2G7T AchfecZLh?G s. Co, MS

the end of some private feud. His
only desire then would be to get away
safely, to escape unseen. Brady would
learn all this, and he would be back
presently.
| do not know how long time
passed, only had circled the house
twice skirting the edge Of the woods
in my rounds, keeping well in the
blacker shadows, and moving noise
lessly, every nerve alert. Back OF the
house | discovered mound OF eartn, J
heaped as a roof, over an opening IN |
the ground, evidently cellar OF some |
kind. So far as | could discover, by |
cropping In the darkness, there was
nothing concealed within, but the en-
trance offered good hiding place, ana
sat down there where | could see IN
every direction, with my rife across
my knees. The stars yielded a spec
trail light, and no one could move
across the clearing unobserved. / sat
there for ten minutes, seeing and near
ing nothing, gradually growing droWsy
in the silence, my head sinking back
against the earth mound. Yet | re-
manned awake and watchful, although
when first perceived figure fitting
out of the black fringe OF woods, nall
believed it a dream. But it was no
dream, and | sat up suddenly, my
heart beating like a triphammer, and
stared. | could see little, not enough
to determine whether the intruder was
savage or white, merely perceiving an
indistinct form, crouching low, yet ad-
vancing directly toward me. There
was no hesitancy, no evidence of fear,
but merely the natural caution of one
travelling alone in the wilderness. At
first | believed it to be Brady return
ing, yet hesitated to step boldly forth,
for the figure appeared small and I'M
natural, barely perceptible against the
darker background of earth.
To render myself more secure drew
cautiously back a step within the eel
lar entrance, and waited breathlessly,
bracing myself to meet either friend
or foe. could no longer see the in
truder, and the caution of his ap-
proach made me certain the man must
be an enemy. Surely Brady, even
while exercising every precaution'
would never hesitate like this, and
grope kis way forward inch by inch.
| | felt the hot blood leap in my veins;
then the fellow, still crouching low,
but with rife barrel advanced, ap-
peared around the edge of the pile OF
earth, scarcely two yards distant. All
saw clearly was a hat with feather
in it, an indistinct outline Of form,
and the black rifle barrel. My rifle
came I'D to the shoulder, and | slipped
into the open.
Stop where you are!" l ordered
sharply. Drop your gun, and stand
up"
heard quick breath Of surprise
almost an exclamation; the stock OF
the rife sank to the ground, but the
hands still chung to the barrel, as the
startled figure Strengthened up.
could not distinguish the face, only
the white outline Swallowed by the
hat, yet the short, slender form was
that of boy. The relief at this dis
covery brought laugh to my lips.
What does this mean, lad?"
t asked. Have children gone to war
Come, answer me; you are no say
] age"
) "'Tis not a lad with whom you
Z deal, Monsieur Hayward" replied
5 soft voice, trembling bit neverthe
less, though attempting holiness
. You know me now?"
I She flung the concealing hat int
the grass, the silvery. light of thu
e stars on her face.
/ "You here! you!" exclaimed II
q swift surprise at this unexpected de
movement, and feeling the hot bloo'
J. flush my face. You came witt
Y Girty?"
q She ventured to laugh lightly a
e my tone and manner.
d I'VE travelled together-yes. VIVA
of that, monsieur? The wilderness
o is not a parlor where we can choos
!. associates. Did not warn you
| would come with him when yon re
.. fused me? An you think ! did wha
# was wrong?
q ~" puzzled by her direct question
q What is it to me, mademoiselle? 70
g would not care what / think. Ye
Il were you sister Of mine would spea
# plainly enough; We all know what s
s. mon Girty is
"Oh. no, monsieur, the American
l. do not" and her voice rung wit
a. earnestness. He is to them an el
4 envy. a fiend. He wars on the othe
W side, and as the Indians make wa
10 Why not? He has lived in our VII
n vans, and sat at our council fires Il
h. belongs with US, save for the brit
d mark of white skin. To me he
r. not enemy, but friend | have know
n him always, from childhood; thel
ID is no fear in my heart; did he desir
10 he would not dare harm mel am
III Wyandot.
le The swift words we're defiance.
~ challenge.
! I 4