Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-03-15


But Sandry looked into her blazing
dark face that was like the peaks in
storm. so wild was it. so thrilling. so
beyond comprehension, and shook his
head.
What would yo do?' he asked.
DO? Go down the trail across the
Hog Back. There is room for horse.
If he is sure-footed, and Black Bolt
will go where put him. Comet He's
faded a bit but he'll carry US both"
"And-they?"
She famed from brow to throat with
unholy joy.
Leave themi" she cried savasely.
leave them to burn with their proofs
and their schemes and their wicked
ness! IL is the right law!"
No" he said, "it cannot be. II there
is way you must go-you are a WON
an-and-you must take her with
you"
"What?" cried Siletz in anguish.
That is the way of the outside
world, Little S1etz-the way OF honor
He saw the fires leap and flicker in
her eyes, felt the tension of her hands
upon his arms Here was force as
wild and erratic as the great fires in
the forest. and he knew not how to
handle it, Then came the words of
the Preacher like way out of his diff
ficulty.
THE three bars-of Bondage, of
Faithfulness and of Service.
You are my woman. said the young
man sternly, rs it not so?"
Yes" answered the girl simply. Il
am your woman"
Then / command you to go-and
take her with you"
The girl dropped his shoulders and
arose.
Il will obey" she said.
A change was working in her. The
singing in her ears was growing faint
er. She was coming into the open
country where Sandry lived his life.
even as he had gone for moment
into the Businesses where hers was
laid
Come" she said to the staring
woman. there is a way out. You
need not die"
AS the words forced themselves into
the swaying brain of the other they
stripped her of every rag of civiliza-
ton. With a shrek she threw her
self forward, caught at the saddle.
clawed at its trappings like one de
mented
But Siletz dung her back.
"A gift for a gift" she cried. Il give
you your wicked life. Give me the
| packet"
The woman tore the papers from
| her breast. thrusting them in frenzy
at the girl and gain tried uselessly
to mount Black Bolt. Hampden came
forward, lifted her gently in his strong
arms and set her upon the horse.
She leaned down and snatched at the
reins, but Siletz held them away.
"Quick!" screamed Poppy Ordway.
do you want me to burn. you squaw?''
In silence the girl snapped her fin.
! gers to Coosnah and the mammoth
mongrel crept to her feet. She tied
the end of the long reins securely TO
his collar. Then she turned to Hamp-
den
Go" she said. get up. He win
carry you both and you must hurry.
Coosnah knows the secret trail Urge
the horse and he win take IT. Don't
look down; and hold her. or she will
surely go over Go now"
Sandry, raised on his one knee, be-
held this thing aghast.
"Siletz'" he cried, you disobey?"
She shook her black head.
Il send her out. / stay. 1t is my
great privilege"
She laid slim fingers against the
broken sign beneath her lips.
"A woman serves and is faithful
if she loves" she said softly, "and ]
am your woman
| For a precious moment Hampden
stood in INDIGESTION. But the lure OF the
woman, the glimmer of distant shores,
mayhap with her-who knew?-was too
strong. He turned from the two and
leaped up behind the saddle. striking
a heel into the flank of the melted
black who bounded forward. dragging
| the dog.
But Coosnah hung back upon the
rein. turning anguished. adoring eyes
to his one IDOL The girl stopped and
caught his long ears, lifting his wrin.
killed. face.
Go home!" she cried. commanding.
"Coosnah! Go home!
las you love me. go," she finished
in jargon. and the huge. stumbling.
faithful creature turned from her into
the smoke to disappear toward that
secret trail which only they knew and
which led afar over the rearing spine
of the Hog Back. He strained at his
tether to obey and Black Bolt broke
into stumbling. hUrrying gait. over
burdened. halfblind with smoke.
And the girl turned to the despair
ing man upon the ground.
THE Night Wind is not afraid to
die" she said gently. and she is
Sandry's woman"
"Oh, my Cod" groaned The man,
what have you done,"
RIO BE coNTINUEDJ
Question Of Tongue.