The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-06-29
CHAPTER XXX.
The Red Death.


--16--
The Red Death.
SO they were left, these two-the
East and the West-alone upon the
mighty pyre OF the jumbled peaks
Only the forbldding spine Of the Hog
Back, running like a great thin blade
high between the red surf creeping at
Its base, carried a passage out OF the
roaring death. Siletz had planned
that the splendid black should make
It first.
Now she turned back to the two
men 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 knelt beside
the other Her eyes were dim with
the old look OF emotion. She barred
the white face and gazed long upon
T. The call OF blood had ever held
her to this man mysteriously, though
both were ignorant of the vital tie
Between them. the Preacher because
I the 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
20 its own, even at its cost He had
loved her mother and had tried to
make her Indian, though she was
white. waif OF the old frontier, and
he had seen her break her heart and
die.
Therefore. after silent hours by the
Great Waters be had accepted the
mandate OF Destiny and had taken the
babe Of the Broken Sign and given
her to the only white woman he would
trust, Ma Daily, who took her with
few questions when she saw he would
not tell Ter history. So now Siletz
looked for the first 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 loomed like fearful ghosts
in the smoke, and sat down beside
him, tucking her feet with the age-old
motion Of the blanketwearers 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 semblance to itself.
raised his eyes to her she was calm
as the hills before the fire He looked
st her. raising himself on his elbow
looked long while knowledge was
born In him.
So this was the West, the world he
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 a kiss, who asked
nothing, who stayed by him to die be-
cause she loved him. Who still be-
heved 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 II was
here beside him, its feet tucked under
H. 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 s1etz!" he said brokenly,
"oh. Little Sletz! What am that you
should have done this thingl"
She looked down at him and the
rare smile curled 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 the valleys, the path to
the feet Of God Only have lost my
footing thereon"
A tender wistfulness 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 qulvering
with the mighty emotions that swelled
his heart to bursting and his scorched
and blackened hands clung. trembling,
10 siletz skirt.
See, little one! come at last TO
your God above the seal Take my
hand that we may go together. and
pray"
But the girl rlised a calm face to
the unspeakable heavens-a face in
which all struggle had been stilled,
where there was neither hope nor fear
only great content.
mo " she said. 81 cannot pray for