Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1916-11-30
CHAPTER xxIlI.-cOntinued.

She shrank away from his filthy
MaRd in unutterable loathing and
ehrew herself face downward in a par
4SxysJH of weeping. The music of the
drums and flies had ceased. Outside,
the camp buzzed with activity. The
Prophet bent the red cup of his eye
$esS socket over a lapful of grotesque
an1uIets, muttering incantations to
himself.
Girty passed his hand s%Oothingly
aSver the trembling shoulders of the
1rE, aud patted the tangled, silken
CLOUD of her hair.
fI KANT blame We, my dear, fur not
1ealEfn' a likin' to sech a ugly ole crit
Ter as 1 be, but I've he'd a hard life,
EHy dear, a hard life. l been ornery.
Nh grant We, l been ornery, but l been
aNeeged to be. They's a lot O. pesky
ateaii me in this world, my dear, an
I've bed to fight hard agin 'em. I've
}heen waitin' fur Il likely young gal
1soe you so es 1 kin go into the settle
xaeats on the Canady side and live
quiet, like q king. I'm askia' We quiet
shs go with me, We sect"
Z Toznette only sobbed.
SAINT tibet fair, es l put 1t to We?
What kin be fairer nor tibet? 1 kin
sssae tibet es pretty es a picter-me an
yga a-settin' in front of the fire, me
aFeadin' in the Book about the bles-
sssf Lamb o. God. Oh, We may know
ri wss es good es any on 'em when l
Eszs a leetle devil. / he'd a good old
EEMsy6f1eri I"
T7fnette wondered to hear him name
Aais mother. She made no reply, and
Gfe suddenly burst in a string of the
&SSulest oaths, cursing and blasphem-
9Ha- But he offered her no violence,
He still hoped to find some officer in
MaEtIen who would pay a rich price
Nsr her. And such a purchaser would
demand her physically sound. Fol
EAaEs he had seen to it that no war
acissr had harmed her; and he meant
as claim his money in the end.
Tbe drums had begun again, loud
defiant; but instead of drawing nearer
d2zeir music passed farther and farther
sau7ay, fainter and fainter. Elkska'
aTga stole cautiously from the tent
Suddenly there swept owe TOinette
ETEe realization that Girty had lied
&SLe flies were playing an air that red
Gasafs never marched to-the stirring
swing of ""The Presidents March! ]
She leaped to her feet, her eyes blaz
sHg. Fainter and fainter came the all
ia which she unconsciously fitted the
sEIuzaphant words:
+-IRRa fought and bled in Freedom
cause.
1Aza when the storm of war was past
&Ldstent I" she cried. "'Tis the mel
Erum homer She faced Girty, an(
EdI her days of dread. all her hours o
suffering we're forgotten. 81 have
glrayed to God and he has answered
zna -
F0r Il moment Girty was silent be
fore the white radiance of her faith
1sut ne threw off his hesitancy will
IA sneering laugh.
Il IEell9 iOl VI SOOu Ilel u1lllulu
~ sheep kin do" he snarIed. "By sun
dawn tomorry Wen bring We ever on,
slf their wet skelps fur We to pla,
Teth-" He stepped hastily outdoors
and assuring himself that the troop
llad defled from view, he returned
and, Selling Toinette's arm dragge,
lrer roughly from the tent. AS sh
PASSED out into the raw Novembe
9IEnd, Toinette shivered.
aye kin see fer yerself they hahn
ANY on yer precious sOgers bray
enough ter fight a papOose, let alOn
all these braves" he said tauntingly
The innumerable warriors of TIL
Prophet, hideous in war-paint, STALL
lag 10 and fro among the tents Of til
Village, contemptuous of the caution
WRITES, lent support to his boast. To
1aeEte looked helplessly from side
side. seeking some avenue of escape
GHd hope died in her eyes.