Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-05-27
THE RECOGNITION
OF JESSE BADlEIGH
BY H. H. GREEN
BY II. II. GREEN

slppl, Was mOurnlully recltlng-1 he
ballad of his grief, in the ears of an
audience that was strange to the
sound. More frequently the familiar
boot of the owl broke upon the still
ness of the night, giving to Jesse an
opportunity for the display of his
ventriloquial genius or powers of i'm
itation in responding to the call of
the night bird.
For nearly four hours the young
lovers steadily pushed on in the di-
rection they had taken until Fran
ces, becoming exhausted, declared
that she was unable to go any farth-
er, and must rest awhile, at which
Jesse began to accuse himself of
thoughtless neglect of her in his de-
sire to place as great a distance as
possible between them and their
enemies while the night lasted.
At the foot of a great overshadow-
ing elm tree, whose branches were
so dense and dropped so low as to
provide an excellent protection, they
seated themselves, and then after
partaking of food provided for them
by Eowah, Frances, utterly wearied
by the great strain she had been en-
during so long, could keep awake no
longer, and falling into a deep sleep
, became unconscious to all surround
ing objects.
Jesse soon followed her example,
for he also had undergone great ply
steal as well as mental strain, and
, the extreme tension upon his whole
overweight system was so great at
first, as to cause a restless uneasi-
, ness which prevented the quick re-
pose natural to normal state of
body and mind. This did not last
long however, for Jesse was a clean
, healthy young man of good mental
: poise and physical condition, so he
soon fell into sleep as profound
as that of Frances herself
! 1t was long after the morning sun
' had gilded the precipitous bluffs
along the great river; had tinted the
tree-tops to the east with golden
light, and gladdened with his bril-
liant rays the many-hued flowers that
glorified the far-reaching prairies to
the west, ere the protracted slumbers
of the weary travellers came to an
end. Awakened at length by the
early song birds trilling their mathis
from tree and shrub, Jesse's eyes
opened to gaze upon a sight that
gave him a great shock for, standing
over him and peering down upon
him was the sinister face of the half
breed, Niger Godfrey. Jesse sprang
to his feet with an exclamation of
astonishment at the unlocked for
presence of the stranger; he had new
er before seen him and recognized
him only by the description given Of
him by Frank Inness.
Young gentleman" said the
stranger, "comI ose yourself / beg of
, you for l do assure you that no mis-
fortune can befall either yourself or
the young lady who, l perceive has
just been awakened by the altogeth-
er uncalled for connection your un-
advised and needless alarm has Gre
aEed Permit me therefore entire
nous, to inform you that any latent
feelings Of solicitude you may be en-
tertaining at the present moment,
; either on your own account or on
that of the young lady, are altogeth-
er groundless Ma chere?" he con-
tinued, addressing himself to Fran
ces, who was now wide awake and
fully conscious Of the perils of the
situation, ma chere? we have met be-
, FORE
Yes" replied Frances, 1--WE have
met before, and under conditions
that ] have been praying might never
exist again"
Tut, tut! lady charmante, / beg
of you don't mention what has so
recently occurred for do assure you
the effort j have been making to at
ford you an opportunity to see more
of the world than is possible within
the circumscribed limits Of yonder
town, were above all things, meritor-
ious; and therefore deserving Of
your gratitude rather than your CEN
isure
If you have any further remarks
to make Mr. Mr." interpolated
Jesse, you would"
} MY name is Godfrey, young man;
some unfriendly people have presum-
ed to call me Niger" Godfrey,
which they vainly imagine to be a
term of reproach, but what was i
you were about to observer"
Il was about to observe that if YOU
had any further remarks to make,
you had better address them to me
anG not to this young lady, whom
your recent outrageous conduct has
both attended auC al u,oIi