l9
TtHB UNKNOWN GJRA.VB.
concluded
THE NEBRASKAN.
When Moyne turned to go back, a name
less horror filled her soul which she could
not understand. She put spurs to her
horse and urged him on faster and faster.
When she had readied the top of the hill
overlooking the valley, she glanced in the
direction of the ranch and her heart sank
at the sight she saw. A bright column of
smoke was seen rising from the group of
pines that surrounded her cabin home. On .
she flew, sinking her spurs deeper and
deeper into the sides of her favorite steed,
who seemed to catch fresh inspiration from
her frantic appeals. The truth dawned up
on her then, that even while her father had
talked to her of her love affairs the red
devils had been at the ranch burning her
home, running oft their stock and perhaps
murdering her brothers. With these thoughts
came a feeling of loneliness and helplessness
that caused her erstwhile brave young heart
to sink. Her head fell forward on her
bosom and she reined her horse to a stand
still. She looked long in the direction of
the ruin that had been wrought and in her
loneliness and dispair she prayed for the
presence of her lover, and the strength that
his presence would give. And while she
thus prayed this lover was approaching.
He had seen the work of destruction that
had been accomplished, and was thinking of
his loved one and meditating revenge. New
life came into his soul when he saw her, but
his face paled visibly when he beheld the
look of utter desolation and despair that op
pressed her. With a frontierman's keen
perception he saw it all at a glance and ask
ed no questions. He Simply said "The
Sioux are gone, Miss. They did their work
in no time aind cleared out. Let me help
you down and give your horse a rest, he's
about done for, and if you don't look out he'll
not be able to carry you home."
"Home," said the girl with a voice of
chocked emotion that went like an arrow to
his heart,, "home, home, I have no homp,"
and she buried her face in her hands and
gave herself up to tears.
"There's no use of crying Miss, it won't
bring them back," said Harry. "We can't
catch the Indians today, but must get ready
to follow them tomorrow and then make such
an example of them as will prevent such
business in the future."
He stoped talking, though his heart was
full, but he suddenly thought how tame and
meaningless were his efforts at comfort to
that silent and horror stricken woman before
him, whose whole soul seemed engrossed in
a struggle with the awful calamity that had
befallen her. He led the two horses a little
to one side and for a few moments devoted
himself to reviving the one she had ridden
so near to dea'rfk's door. He turned present
ly to where she stood and saw that she had
fallen into a heap upon the ground. He ran
to her assistance, unloosened her clothes,
rubbed her hands, dashed some brandy in
her face and presently forced a few drops
between her lips. After a few moments the
color came back to her cheeks,-but she lay
as limp and motionless as if dead. He took
a blanket that he always carried with him
for extra protection against a storm and
made her a bed upon the ground, using the
saddle for a pillow, and placed her upon it.
After filling her canteen with fresh water
from the river, he left it within her reach, and
then walked some distance to stand guard
and await the results. He whistled to keep
up courage, for a man always grows weak
under such conditions. His strong and pas
sionate nature had gone out to this woman long
ago, and now that she had been bereft of
home and brothers and father too, he
thought, and was alone in the world, his
