davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
CHAPTER Xxx

That winter Erskine made his clear
had picked out for him, and in the
center of it threw up a rude log hut
In which to house his mother for his
remembrance of her made him believe
that she would prefer to live alone.
He told his plans to none.
In the early spring, when he brought
his mother home. she said that Black
Wolf had escaped and gone farther
into the wilderness-that Early Morn
had gone with him. His mother
seemed Ill and unhappy. Erskine, not
knowing that Barbara was on her way
to find him, started on a hunting-trip.
In a few days Barbara arrived and
found his mother unable to leave her
bed, and Lydia Noe sitting beside her.
Harry had just been there to say good.
by before going to Virginia.
Barbara was dismayed by Erskines
absence and his mothers look Of SUI
fering and extreme weakness, and the
touch of her cold fingers. There was
no way of reaching her son, she said
he did not know of her illness. Bar
bara told her of Erskine's giving her
his Inheritance, and that she had come
to return It. Meanwhile Erskine,
haunted by his mothers sad face, had
turned homeward. To his bewilder-
ment. he found Barbara at his -ooth-
er's bedside. A glance at their faces
told him that death was near. His
mother held out her hand to him while
still holding Barbara's. AS In a dream,
he bent over to kiss her. and with
last effort she joined their hands,
clasping both. A great peace trans
formed her face as she slowly looked
at Barbara and then up at Erskine.
With a sigh her head sank lower, and
her lovely dimming eyes passed into
the final dark.
Two days later they were married.
The woodsmen, old friends Of Frs
kine's. were awed by Barbara's dainti-
ness. and there were none Of the rude
jests they usually flung back and
forth. With hearty handshakes they
said goOd-by and disappeared into the
mighty forest. In the silence that fell,
Erskine spoke of the life before them,
of Its hardships and dangers. and then
Of the safety and comfort Of Virginia.
Barbara smiled:
"You choose the wilderness, and
your choi.e Is mine. We will leave
the same choice = She flushed
suddenly and bent her head.
ITO those who come after M" I'm
ished Erskine.
1.-THE ENID
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
The Procrastinator,

Nose and Sam were digging q
trench over in France. Although not
in an especially safe spot, for q time
they were unconscious of their danger.
Then a shell new over their heads and
exploded Just leyond. Others followed.
At the fifth explosion Nose asked In
quiringly:
"Sam, dom yo-all think it's about
time we-all dune got religionf'
'Chuffw replied Sam sc0rnfully..
"Mose. yo' suttenly Is tho1y shiftless'
boy. Me. done got religion when d
fust bomb bust."-American LegioA-
Weekly.
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06

hees had got word that the whites
were coming, and their women and
old men had fed or were fleeing. all
except in village he had Just left
he paused and pointed toward the
east where few wisps OF smoke were
rising. Erskine turned: "Do you
know Kahtoo?'
"iie Is In that village"
Erskine hesitated: "And the white
woman-Gray Dove"
"She, too, is there"
And Early Morn?"
YES grunted the savage.
what does he say?" asked Clark.
lhere Is white woman and her
daughter In village, there" said
Erskine, pointing In the direction of
the smoke.
Clark's voice was announcing the
tact to his men. Hastily he selected
twenty. See that no harm comes to
them." he cried, and dashed forward.
Erskine In advance saw Black Wolf
and a few bucks covering the retreat
or some fleeing women. They made a
feeble resistance Of a volley and they
too turned to fee. A white woman
emerged from tent and with great
dignity stood, peering with dim eyes.
TO Clark's amazement Erskine rushed
forward and took her in his arms. A
moment later Erskine cried:
My sister. where Is she?"
The white wOman's trembling lips
opened, but before she could answer,
a harsh. angry voice broke In haught-
lily, and Erskine turned to see Black
Wolf stalking In, prisoner between
two stalwart woodsmen.
EARLY Morn is Black VOLTS
squaw. She Is gone" He waved
one hand toward the forest.
The insolence of the savage angered
Clark, and not understanding what he
said, he asked angrily:
"Who is this fellowT
"He Is the husband of my half-sis-
ter" answered Erskine gravely.
Clark looked dazed and uncompre-
hending:
And that woman?'
"My mother" said Erskine gently.
Good Cod" breathed Clark. He
turned quickly and waved the open
mouthed woodsmen away, and Erskine
and his mother were left alone. A
feeble voice called from a tent near
by.
"Old Kahtoo!" said Erskine's moth
er. He is dying and he talks of
nothing but you-go to him!" And
Erskine went. The old man lay
trembling with palsy on buffalo
robe but the incredible spirit in his
wasted body was still burning in his
eyes.
my son." said he. Il knew your
voice. l said l should not die until
l had seen you again. 1t is well .
it is WE'LL" he repeated, and YEARLY
his eyes closed. And thus Erskine
knew it would be.
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
CHAPTER XVIII

Yorktown broke the British heart,
and General Dale, still weak from
wounds. went home to Red Oaks. 1t
was not long before. with gentle In
Quiry. he had pieced out the full story
Of Barbara and Erskine and Dane
Grey, and wisely he waited his chance
with each phase of the situation.
Frankly he told her first Of Grey's
dark treachery. and the girl listened
with Mortified silence, for she would
as soon have distrusted that beloved
father as the heavenly Father In her
prayers. She left him when he
finished the story and he let her go
without another word. All day she
was In her room and at sunset she
gave him her answer, for she came
to him dressed in white. knelt by his
chair. and put her head In his lap.
And there was rose in her hair.
II have never understood about my
self and-and that man." she said,
land never WILL"
Il do" aid the general gently. land
understand you through my sister
who was - like you. Erskine's father
was as indignant as Harry Is now
land am trying to act toward you as
my father did toward her" The girl
pressed her lips to one OF his hands.
II think I'd better tell you the whole
STORY now" said General Dale, and
he told of Erskine's father. his Wild
ness and his wanderlngs, his marriage
and the capture Of his wife and the
little son by the Indians, all Of which
she knew. and the girl wondered why
he should be telling her again. The
general paused:
"YOu know Erskine's mother was
not killed. He found her." The girl
looked up amazed and incredulous.
eyes," he went on. 'the white woman
whom he round In the Indian village
was his mother"
father She lifted her head
quickly, leaned back with hands
caught tight IN front Of her. looked up
lnte his face-her own crimsoning
and palinS 40 she took In the full
meaning Of Il all. Her eyes dropped.
~Thsn," sAs said slowly, "that In
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
CHAPTER XIX

On the summit Of Cumberland gap
Erskine Dale faced Firefly to the east
and looked his last on the forests that
swept unbroken back to the river
James. 1t was all over for him back
there and he turned to the wilder
depths, those endless leagues Of shad-
Owy woodlands, that he would never
leave again.
At Boonesborough he learned from
the old ferryman that, while the war
might be coming to an end In Vir-
ginia, 1t was raging worse than ever
in Kentucky. There had been bloody
Indian forays, bloody white reprisals,
fierce private wars, and even then the
whole border was In q flame. Forts
had been pushed westward even be-
You'd Lexington, and 1882 had been
Kentucky's year Of blood. Erskine
pushed on, and ever grew his hopeless
ness. The British had drawn all the
savages of the Northwest into the war.
AS soon as the snow was off the
ground the forays had begun. Horses
were stolen. cabins burned. and wom-
en- and children were carried off cap
tive. The pioneers had been confined
to their stockaded forts, and only
small bands of riflemen sailed out to
patrol the country. Old Jerome San
ders' fort was deserted. Old Jerome
had been killed. Twenty-three widows
were at Harrodsburg filing the claims
Of dead husbands, and among them
we're Polly Conrad and Honor San
ders. The people were expecting an
attack in great force from the In
dams led by the British. At the Blue
Licks there had been successful am
bush by the Indians and the whites
had lost half their number. among
them many brave men and natural
leaders Of the settlements. Captain
Clark was at the mouth of Licking
river and about to set out on an ex-
pedition and needed men.
Erskine, sure of welcome, Joined
him and again rode forth with Clark
through the northern wilderness. and
this time a thousand mounted rifle
mon followed them. Clark had been
stirred at last from bis lethargy by
the tragedy of the Blue Licks and
this expedition was one Of reprisal
and revenge; and 1t was to be the
last. The time was autumn and the
corn was ripe. The triumphant saw
ages rested In their villages uDsus-
Meeting and unafraid. and CLARK fell
upon them like a whIrlwind. Taken
by surprise, and startled and dis
mayed by such evidence Of the quick
reblrth of power in the beaten whites,
the Indians of every village fled at
their approach. and Clark put the
torch not only to cabin and wigwam
but to the fields Of standing corn. AS
winter was coming on. this would be
a sad blow, as Clark intended, to the
savRges.
ErskIne had told the big chief or
his mother, and every man knew the
story and was on guard that she
should come to no harm. A captured
shawnee told them that the Shaw
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06

The blades flashed like tiny bits of
lightning. Erskine's face, grim and
memorable. brought the sick fear back
into Grey's. and Erskine saw his enc
ny's lips open. He lunged then, his
blade went true. sank to the hilt. and
Grey's warped soul started on Its way
with a craven cry for help. Erskine
sprang back into the shadows and
snatched his pistol from Ephraim's
hand:
Get out Of the way now. Tell them
did it."
Once he looked back. He saw Bar
bara at the hall door with Old nanny
behind her. With a running leap he
vaulted the hedge. and. hidden in the
bushes, Ephraim heard Firefly's hoOfs
beating ever more family the sandy
road.
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
Greatly Interested.

1.-THE milkmaids of Jamaica aBe one
Of the wonders Of the island" report
ed prominent Bradford (Pa.) bust
ness man. after a stay In MontegO Bay,
Jamaica. B. w. I. They can carry
large cans II milk from mountain
ranges to markets on their heads, and
never even move the cans az they sell
and pour out the milk. They 60 up
stairs and down, and are SO adept that
when they start up a Night they can
begin to all their pitchers. measuring
the amount by the number Of steps
taken. watched them many times
with great interest and delight.
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
Good Portable Lock.

A portable door and window lock
that can be carried In the pocket and
applied anywhere without nails OF
screws has recently been invented by
B. N. Wickwire Of Carbonate, Pa.
1t consists of wedge that is placed
between the door and the doorjamb.
The wedge carries a series of fine
teeth that are brought lightly into con.
tact with the wood by pressure upon q
lever. II anyone attempts to open the
door the movement wedges the lock
into the jamb and the teeth grip SO
firmly that the entire door frame must
be torn away. the inventor declares
before the lock can be forced.
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
Erskine Dale Pioneer

dian girl-Early Morn-is b,s hole
sister. On, obi" great pity eoodad
iier heart and eyes. "Why didn't Ere.
kline take them away from tba In.
dians?" Az
his mother wouldn't leave them Z"
And Barbara understood
POOR Erskine" she whspered and
her tears came. Her father I.anad
back and for moment closed bic
eyes.
lhere is more" he said finally
Erskine's father was the eldest
brother-and Red Oaks"
Inc girl sprang to her feet, startled
aeohized, shamcd: Belongs to Frs.
klne,' she finished with her face in
her hands. God pity me-" she wbis-
pered, II drove him from his own
home"
NO." said the old general with a
gentle smile. He was driving the barb
deep' but sooner or later 1t had to be
done.
Look here!" He pulled an old
piece OF paper from his pocket and
handed 1t to her. Her wide eyes fell
upon rude boyish scrawl and rude
drawing Of buffalo pierced by an
arrow:
1T make me laugh. I have no use.
give hole dam plaatashun Barbara"
"Oh! gasped the girl and then
where Is he7"
waiting at Williamsburg to get his
discharge" She rushed swiftly down
the steps. calling:
"Ephraim! EDhraim!"
And ten minutes later the happy,
grlnning Ephraim. mounted on the
thoroughbred. was speeding ahead of
whlrlwind of dust with a little
scented note In his battered SLOUGH
hat:
You said you would come when
ever l wanted you. l want you to
come now. BARBARA"
The girl would not 90 to bed, and
the old general from his window saw
her like some white spirit of the night
motionless on the porch. And there
through the long hours she sat. Once
she rose and started down the great
path toward the sundial, moving
slowly through the flowers and moon
light until she was opposite giant
magnolia. Where the shadow of it
touched the light on the grass, she
had last seen Grey's white face and
scarlet breast. With a shudder she
turned back. The night whitened
A catbird started the morning chorus.
The dawn came and with it Ephraim
The girl waited where she was. Eph-
rain took off his battered hat
"Marse Erskine done gone, Miss
Barbary," he said brokenly. He
done gone two days"
The girl said nothing, and there the
old general found her still motion
less-the torn bits OF Erskine's scrawl-
Ing deed scattered about her feet.
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
Little Albert's Hint.

Albert was in the habit of coming
over to the ice cream parlor, where I
work, every evening, and asking for
a cone.
One night when mother brought him
home she scolded him for it and for
bade him to ask for any more cones.
The next time he came over to the
store he said to the proprietor: Il
shouldn't ask for anything. but If you
want to give me anything be sure it's
q cone."-Exchange.
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
This Way Out.

Il want my money back" /.
"What's wrong?"
"The Autographs In front Of your
movie house made me think ] waa
going to see shocker on the screen
fell asleep"
ibid your nap refresh your
Il suppose So"
You are welcome. Kindly step
aside and let the lady get up to thA
ticket window" -Birmingham Ago-
Herald.
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
cuticura Comforts Baoy's Ski,

Cuticura Comforts Baoy's Skin
When red, rough and itching. by hot
baths of Cuticura Soap and touches of
Cuticura Ointment. Also make use
now and then of that exquisitely scented
busting powder. Cut:cura Talcum. one
Of the indispensable Cuticura Toilet
Trio.-AdvertfSement
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
Nv John Fox, Jr.
CsOynss. :, Charles sere''''' Sons
CHAPTER xVll-Continued.
-17-


~
crey was cautious at hrst, trying
49,, his opponent's increase In skill:
"you have made marked improve
ment." r.,.,
.vour wrist is much stronger"
.NaturalIy." Grey leaped backward
.rd married. just in time a vicious
.hrust that was like dart of light
ming. ..,. ,
that" -,
"A Frenchman taught me all the
little ! know. 7
II wonder If he taught you how to
meet this"
HE did" answered Erskine. parry
tho easily and with an answering
.brust that turned Grey suddenly
.nxious. Constantly Grey Unanswered
N Keep his back to the moon, and
iust as constantly Erskine easily kept
him where the light shOne fairly on
both. Grey began to breathe heavily.
~ think, too" said Erskine. that
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
The "Scratch-MY-Racks.n

Rather neat is Johnny Weaver's re-
tain literary clique In New York. He
says their song ought to be. "Merrily
we roll log."-Boston Transcript.
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06

Most picturesque slang comes froU
a rich idea in possession Of some one
poor in vocabulary.
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06

Women will never love each ofhew
as they do their fellow men.
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06

Honesty is the best policy. but to
refuse to be cross-questiOned has
merit.
The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-12-06
At Our Hospitarium

At Our Hospitarium.
Head Nurse-'Decisions do not al
ways decide" Foot Nurse-"But In.
cfsiOns are always inside"
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-10

Boyd have gone to st. Louis to attend
the graduation exercises. Their
grandson, DIN Boyd, jr. is a member
of the class. -. William Rummel is
going with the Mobiles of the Mystic
Shrine from indianapolis to attend the
semi-annual session of the Imperial
Council which meets at San Francis
co, June H.. Mrs. Gertrude Horse
man, after spending few weeks at
home, has returned to her work as
nurse to Mrs. Bowen at Cedar Grove
-. Mrs. Elizabeth McGrew Of Hunt
ing arrived Wednesday and will spend
few days with Miss jimmie McGrew.
-. Miss Marie Danner is home from
the State university for summer vaca-
ton. Mrs. Uriah Bertsch was host
ess to the Neighborly club on Tues
day afternoon. :. Mrs. F. W. Banner
and Mrs. Charles Loeb entertained n
company of ladies at the home of
Mrs. Danner Wednesday afternoon in
honor of Mrs. G. F. Wright of Indian
apolis.. d. Rev. A. F. Hogan, of the
First NJ. z. church will preach a
Mothers Day sermon next Sunday
morning. There will be special mu-
sic by the choir. The Children's Day
program will be held in the evening
at 1880. The official board will meet
Monday night, June II, at the church.
REV. Lyman Hoover, First Chris
tan church, will preach Sunday morn
ing. No evening service. =. The Jun
for Christian Endeavor society of the
First Christian church held a picnic
supper following regular study on the
lawn at Creitz's Mill Thursday. Miss
Julia P. Kiese was the guest Of honor.
There were SO present and the affair
was pleasant one. Mrs. r. L.
Scott, Mrs. Edna Haughtey. Miss Vir-
ginia Barnett, Miss Marie Boyd, Mrs.
Thomas Bird, Mrs. Louise Kreps, Mrs.
Sanford, Mrs. Pearl Evans and daugh-
tiers, Helen and Alta attended the COM
mencement at the college of missions
at Indianapolis Wednesday.
WILLIAMSBURG, Ind. - Milton
| Wooley and family had as their guests
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-10

obligations and to discuss various
counter claims which they set up. But
this belated willingness to meet a por-
ton of the conditions which we named
as essential to our recognition is in
itself sign of other factors which are
a sufficient present reason for us to
be cautious about extending recogni-
ton now. The Russian government is
willing to recede and to discuss and to
compromise only because it is des-
perate. 1t Is close to the end of it's
rope.
If we were to recognize the present
Russian regime now, we should be
merely giving a few months more
lease Of life to system that is DOOM
ed. The inconestable fact is that that
Immense and picturesque experiment
in the negation of private property
and the negation of obligations, which
has been attempted in Russia. is a
failure. The men who initiated that
experiment and who are now respon-
sible for it, know it is failure. They
are trying to get away from it, but
are trying to conceal their retreat by
something like the familiar device
of old time horse thieves, who put the
shoes on abe horses hind-end fore
most in order to conceal the direction
IN which they were going.
If We were to recognize Russia now,
we should merely be giving help to
this deceit. At best, any recognition
which we might extend to the Russian
government now, probably would mere.
ly prolong the life of the present
regime for that period. 1t is hardly
possible that by the aid of recognition
from other governments, and by the
aid of money they are trying to Dor
row from outside, the present Russian
regime might be able, with sufficient
adroitness, to perpetuate themselves
for a considerable period. They might
complete their abandonment of com
nunionism and adopt the economic
system which they call capitalism
with sufficient dexterity to tide over
their crisis.
But the better couse is to let this
experiment in communism go on tC
its destined end. If this experiment
IN communism had been destined tc
success, the world would have beer
the beneficiary Of the lesson. If com
,nunism is not a success and cannot
be made a success, it is best for thS
world to learn that fact. If this pres
ent Russian experiment in communism
goes on to acknowledged failure, thu
human race may be the beneficiary
of the lesson of that failure for many
generations TO come. If the expert
ment in communism must be a fail
ure, it is best that that failure SHOULD
he acknowledged and incontestable
no give help to the present regime il
Russia, to accept their belated pro
posals for compdomise and to ait
them in camouflaging their retrea
from communism, would be merely Il
deprive the world of the benefit o
the plain lessons of failure.
| Copyright, 1922, by the New Yorl
Evening Post, Inc.)
The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-06-10
BEST COURSE
Continued from Page one)

simple shape the American people
would understand it more readily.
But at this point the Russian govern
nent SAYS, IN effect: We want to
trade with America. We have great
many resources to be developed, a
great many things to sell, and, in
particular. a great many things to
buy. We want recognition from you
In order that we may trade with you.
Reply to Appeal
To this appeal to our cupidity the
American reply is that there is no
profit to be had out of trade with Rus
STA: that the economic system which
the new Russian government has
adopted makes production impossible;
that as a result of it, Russia is an
economic vacuum; and that, in short,
we are not in the least moved by this
appeal to our cupidity.
Further than this, we point out that
under the economic system which the
Russian government believes in and
Is attempting to enforce there cannot
BE normal production nor normal trade
This latter portion of our position
about recognizing Russia is not essen
tial, but it has gone hand in hand with
what is essential in such way as tc
confuse the issue. We are not in the
position of saying to the Russian gov
eminent that we will not recognize
them merely because their trade is not
worth while. That part of our position
is merely our answer to their appeal
to our cupidity.
The essential principle in our re
fusal to recognize the present Russian
regime is that we will not recognize
any regime of any government which
refuses to recognize its country's OBJ
legations, or to keep its country's
promises, or to give compensation tc
our citizens whose property it has
seized.
Begin to Recede
1t is true that just lately the Rus
sian government has begun to recedt
from its refusal to recognize the obi
cations made by its predecessors tc
the American government and to var
ious citizens of America They are
now willing, they say, to discuss these