The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-06-29
CHAPTER XXX.
The Red Death.

East and the west-alone upon the
mighty pyro OF the jumbled peaks.
Only the f~orbidding spine OF the Hog
Back, running like a great thin blade
high between the red surf creeping at
It's base, carried a passage out OF the
roaring death. Siletz had planned
that the splendid black should make
II FIRST.
Now she turned back TO the two
mon she loved-the Preacher. silent
under the shielding ferns with his
Bible and his flute, sandry prone upon
the earth. his face In the pine nee.
dies. She passed him and knclt beside
the other. Her eyes were dim with
the old look OF emotion. She barred
the white face and gazod long upon
II The call OF blood had ever held
her TO this man mys eriously. though
both were ignorant OF the vital tie
between them, the Preacher because
OF tho dreamy blank In his mind since
the tragedy OF that far.off day, Siletz
because Kolawmie, wise beyond his
generation. had seen how blood takes
10 It's own. eve at It's cost. lie had
loved her mother and had tried 10
make her Indian. though she was
white. O waif OF tho old frontier, and
he had seen her break her heart and
die.
Therefore, after silent hours by the
Great Waters he had accepted the
mandate OF Destiny and had taken the
babe OF the Broken Sign and given
her to the only white oma he would
trust, Ma Daily. who took her with
few questions when she saw he would
not tell her history. SO o slletz
looked for the frs, and last time con.
sciously upon her own. Presently she
leaned over and kissed him softly. re-
placed the ferns and rose.
Beside Sandry she stopped. stood a
moment gazing around at the pine
boles that doomed like fearful ghosts
In the smoke. and sat down beside
him, tucking her feet with the age.old
motion OF the blanket.wearers beneath
her skirt, so deeply had she absorbed
the ways OF the dusky people whom
she loved
She did not speak.
When at last the man, his face
drawn out OF all semblanco to Itself.
raised his eyes TO her she was calm
as tho hills before the fire. He looked
ct her, raising himself on his elbow.
looked long while knowledge was
born In him.
So this vas the West. tho world no
had once thought so unbearable. this
was the wild. the untaught. the crude
this slim forest creature who served
him without question because he had
bought her with O kiss who asked
nothing, who stayed by him to die be-
cause she loved him! Who still be.
lieved In him despite that others dec.
laration that she was his promised
wife! And yonder went his world.
his cultured. polished East, riding
down to life and safety. her love for.
gotten In the face OF danger! Yonder
went what he had thought the best
blood OF the land!"
Nay. he had been wrong! Il was
here beside him, It's feet tucked under
II IN meekness. the savagery hidden in
Its dim black eyes! The last barrier
went down In Walter Sandry. the last
last strand OF prejudice broke with a
snap. He rolled near and caught the
hem OF her ragged skirt.
Little Sletz!" he said brokenly,
"oh. Little Sletz! What am | that you
should have done this thingl"
She looked down at him and the
rare smile curlod up the corners of the
lips above the sign.
You are my man." she said softly,
The king OF the whole world! You
are the light on the waters, Sandry.
the mist In tho valleys. the path "a
the feet OF God! Only | have lost my
footing thereon"
a tender usefulness rang In her
voice. She fell silent, after her fash.
ION when great emotions stirred her
Sandry's eyes smarted ,under blind.
Ing tears, His chin was quiyerlnr
with the mighty emotions that swelled
his heart 10 bursting and his scorched
and blackened hands clung. trembling
TO Siletz' skirt.
See, little onel I come ut last to
your God above the seal Take my
hand that we may go together. and
pray"
But tie girl raised a calm face "a
the u~nApeakahie h~eavens-a face in
which all struggle had been stilled,
where there was neither hope nor fear,
only great content.
NO" she said. II cannot pray for
have no soul, have lost It as the
PRICE OF love-"
The 10 could not speak and she
answered the look In his face.
we will go together. You have had
no God have forsworn mine. We
will 90 10 hell-it 10 the right law
the sure and just wage OF SIM" she
was falling into the stately Bible Ian,
guage. taking on the simple dignity Of
the Preachers way and manner. but
we will 20 together, l give my SOU
TO you"
Biting his ashen lips Sandry rose on
a " -