Part 38 (1/2)

”Little gal, things are jest as they must be The blaun when I had the chance But, howsum, Parker's a hefty man He ken think an' act quick We're ready, far as we ken be”

Rosebud dried her tears Never in her life had Seth appeared to her as he appeared now The steady, unruffled purpose of the man exalted his he roused in her lifted her out of her wo devotion, but she did not realize it She only felt that she, too, must bear her part in whatever fortune had in store for thee herself beside this man and share in his success or failure

If it were to be failure she was ready to die at his side If it were success--a great exultation swept over her at the thought She went no further Success at his side would be worth--everything

”Tell !” she cried Her tone was low, but it rang with a note the man had never heard in it before There was a joy in it that startled hiht My blood is running like fire Tell me what I am to do”

It was a fewhard He knew she could do reat pride was his as he contemplated the small face with its wonderful eyes out of which looked such steadfast courage He, too, thrilled at the thought of fighting at her side, but he tried to tell hi of her Perhaps Rosebud saw the drift of his thoughts in his face, for she gave hiht I understand Nohat else? Can't I reconnoitre, or--or so in the meantiuess not But----”

”Yes, yes----”

”See, Rosie, ant time I kind o' think it's to-reaves We ht here, I'm due back here by two o'clock sure If I'm not here by ten ht back o' the barn 'bout a hundred paces; on the hill are two bunches of stuff piled up, one's wood, t'other's dried grass an' stuff You go right out an' kindle 'enals to the settlers around Guess ther's eyes watchin' for 'eit right back and rouse Rube an' Ma

I'll git back later--sure An' ther'll be others withmore?”

”Nope I 'lows I'll saddle up”

They walked back to the barn in silence Seth saddled his horse and brought hiate of the stockade They still reate the ht, stood beside hi the horse's silky neck Her face was anxious but deterreat eyes were full of appeal There was no wavering in her gaze, nothing but sincerity and appeal

”Seth, dear,” she said in a steady voice, ”be careful of yourself--forto the distant reflection of the fires, ”Real,” the ether repress ”So long”

The horseti had left her Now that Seth had gone she was a prey to every womanly anxiety And her anxiety was solely for hi in the house entered into her thoughts Her care was for this one e filled her heart At that reat love Even in her anxiety her thoughts were not unhappy ones

At last she moved away, and with the action came a desire to do Unknown to her the spirit of her dead father and , but strong with an invincible courage which had been handed down to her from those two brave souls of whoedy of the parents should fall upon the child

Quietly she stole up-stairs to her bedroo

She opened a chest of drawers and drew out an old leather belt filled with a a pair of revolvers These had been a present from Seth in the old days She loaded both weapons, and then secured them about her waist Then she closed the drawer, and crept noiselessly down-stairs again

Sheout of the stockade she located the exact position of the beacon-fires The forethought in their arrangement pleased her She understood that the wood-fire was for night, and the grass and dung for day The shtest sunlight She caates, and sat out on the verandah with a san

The time crept by Twelve, one, two o'clock Seth had not returned She gave hirace Then, her face pale and a little drawn by the unaccustomed strain, she went out and lit the beacons She obeyed i hard in her bosom as she came and went, but it was not with fear

Finally she roused Rube and Ma Returning to the verandah she was in tiates To her disent and Mr Hargreaves had brought their woirl with a quiet announcenificance by the easy manner in which it was made

”They're out, Rosie,” he said And a ates were closed behind the party