Tombstone epitaph., 1917-05-06
CHAPTER xxIIi.-continued.

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 She shrank away from his filthy hand in unutterabie loathing and threw herself face downward in a par oxysm 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 less socket over a lapful of groteSque amule.s, mutterins incantations to himself.
 Glrty passed his hand soothingly over the trembling shoulders of the giii, and patted the tangled, silken cloud of her hair.
 -I kain't blame ye. my dear, fuI not takin' likin' to sech a ugly ole --rit- ter as be. but I've he'd a hart, fife, my dear, hard life. l been oraery. I'll grant ye. been ornery, but been obleeged to be. They's lot e pesky mean men in this world, my 1sa an I've he'd to fight hard sgin 'em. I've been waitin' fur a likely young gal uke you so es kin go into the settle ments on the Canady side and live quiet, like a king. I'm askin' ye quiet to go with me- ye seeT'
 Toiuette only sobbed.
 "Ain't thet fair, es I put 1t to ye? What kin be fairer nor thet? I kin see thet es pretty es picter-me an you s-settin' in front of the fire, me s-readIn' in the Book about the bles- sed Lamb O God. Oh, ye may know I was es good es any on 'em when I was leetle devil. he'd a good old nother!"
 TOinette wondered to hear him name his mother. She made TO reply, and he suddenly burst in a string of the foulest oaths, curSing and blasphem- ing. But he offered her no violence. He still hoped to find some officer in Maiden who would pay a rich price for her. And such a purchaser would demand her physically sound. For this he had seen to 1t that no war rior had harmed her: and he meant to claim his money in the end.
 The drums had begun again, loud, defiant; but instead of drawing nearer their music passed farther and farther away, fainter and fainter. Elkska- taws stole cautiously from the tent. Sucde,:'y there swept over Toinette the realization that Girty had lied the flies were playing an air that red coats never marched to-the stirring swing Df ''The Presidents March .' She leaped to her feet. her eyes blaZ- ing. Fainter and fainter came the air to which she unconSciously fitted the triumphant words:
 who fought and bled in Freedoms
 cause. And when the storm Of war was past
 'Listeni" she cried. Iris the men from home!" She faced Girty, and all her days of dread. all her hours of suffering were forgotten. T have prayed to God and he has answered me-
 For moment Girty was silent be- fore the white radiance of her faith; but he threw of his hesi:ancy with | a sneering laugh.
 "A pretty lot of good thet handful | O sheep kin do." he snarled. By sun down tomorry we'll bring ye ever one | of their wet skelps fur ye to play | weth." He stepped hastily outdoors, | and assuring himself that the troops | had defiled from view, he returned, | and, seizing Toinette's arm, dragged l her roughly from the tent. As she ! passed out lnso the raw November | wind. Toinette shivered. -Ys kin see fer yerself they hain't | any on yer precious sogers brave :; enough ter fight a papOose, let alone |, all these braves" he said suntingly. | The innulnerabie warriors of the . Prophet, hideous in war-paint, stalk Ing to and fro among the tents of the village, contemptuous of the cautious whites. lent support to his boast. Toi- nette looked heipiessiy from side to side, seeking some avenue of escape. and hope died in her eyes.