The Oklahoma Ledger. (Sterling, Okla.), Vol. 11, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 13, 1916 Page: 2 of 8
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THE STERLING LEDGER
a tale or civii strife
randall parrish 'f
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SYNOPSIS.
Confederate Sergeant Wyatt Is sent
■b a spy to his native county on the
Green Hrlar. He meets a mountaineer
named Jem Taylor. At a house beyond Hot
Springs they meet Major Harwood. Wyatt
Is srtit to bed. He becomes suspicious,
and finds that Taylor has murdered Har-
wood and escaped. Wyatt changes to IT.
6. uniform, and to a detachment of Fed-
eral cavalry Identities himself as Llou-
tenant Raymond. Third U. S. cavalry.
Captain Kox finds Harwood's body. The
detachment Is ambushed. Wyatt escapes
to the Green Hrlar country and goes to
Harwood's home, where he finds Noreen
Hnrwood. He Introduces himself as I.leu-
tenant Raymond. Parson Nichols comes
to the house and tells Noreen of her fa-
ther's death. Wyatt forces Parson Nich-
ols to confess that he has been sent In
advance of Anse Cowan, who proposes to
tnarry Noreen nt once, and so quiet title
to the land In *'•'>>'lte between the Cow-
ana and Noreen ■ >.] father. Anse Cow-
nn and Ms giinc -rlve and tlnd the
preacher bound In <t closet. Wyatt and
"onsen have concealed themselves In the
attic. The Cowan gang ransacks the
house, but falls to find the hidden couple,
wyatt tells Noreen who he They re-
turn to the second floor and await the
next move of the gang, forcing the preach-
er ti} silence.
CHAPTER XI—Continued.
She left ua quietly, crouching close
against the wall, until she could safe-
ly peer out from behind the fold of a
chintz curtain. The glow from without
reddened the entire room. Nichols be-
gan to groan, and mutter, but whether
the words were those of prayer, or not,
I was uncertain. That the fellow's
brain tottered on the brink of total
collapse was evident, and I was too
fearful he might create alarm to de-
sert my guard. Eager to learn what
had occurred I called across to the
girl:
"Is it the stable, Miss Noreen?"
"Yes," with a quick glance back-
ward. "The whole west end Is ablaze.
I think there are horses picketed be-
yond in the orchard, but am not sure
—yes. there are men there with them.
The fire, as it blazes up, gives me a
better view."
"Can you tell how niu^y?"
"No, but I didn't suppose Anse Cow-
an had so many with him, did you?"
"Why, really I cannot tell, for I
havo no conception either way. There
must havo been a dozen altogether in
the house, and doubtless others were
on guard without. Hasn't it ceased
storming?"
"Yes; I wonder what time It is; why
I actually believe the sky is becoming
lighter in the east already."
She stared out intently, and then
6ank to her knees.
"Come over here quick! They are
getting ready for something."
1 swept my eyes over Nichols, who
lay motionless, his arms folded across
'his face. To my mind the fellow was
acting a part, and was not half as bad-
ly injured as he pretended to be. How-
ever, he could do us no great harm at
present, and I stole silently across the
room, and knelt beside her. She held
the curtain aside, leaving just space
enough for my eyes. For an Instant
the glow of the burning building blind-
ed me, and intensified the surround-
ing darkness. I shadowed my eyes
with my hand.
"Where are the men you saw? To
the left?"
"Yes—back under the trees, close
to the first negro cabin; see! just
where I point."
Once located I could perceive tho
Bhadowy outline, which grew more dis-
tinct as 1 gazed. There were men
there beyond doubt; it seemed to me
twenty or thirty, although it was im-
possible to judge the number. But
the shadow seemed to be disintegrat-
ing. Even as my eyes focused it. a
section moved to the right, and then
another swung into the open, circling
along the orchard fence.
"There is a slew of them," I mut-
tered unthinkingly. "Anse meant to
have company at his wedding."
"Oh. hush!" her hand caught my
sleeve. "They—they are coming back
to tin house now."
CHAPTER XII.
A Marriage by Duress.
Daylight was coming; the gang
meant to search the house again, per-
haps fire it as they had the stable,
and then ride away before the Federal
garrison at Lewlsburg could receive
the alarm. 1 turned away from the
window to perceive Nichols sitting up
on the edge of the bed.
"What's afire?" he asked.
"The stable," I answered, crossing
the room. "Get down In the corner
where you cannot be seen from the
windows Oh. yes you can; you are
cot so badly hurt. Miss Noreen, la
there any other place better than this
In which to hide?"
She shook her head.
"Well, then we must fight It out
here if they come; you have your re-
volver—ah! the squad Is already be-
low; listen!"
We stood side by side, scarcely
breathing, close to the bolted door.
The flames of the burning stable were
dying down, yet there was sufficient
light to render every object in the
room plainly visible. Intent as I was
on every^slight sound below and with-
out, I kept my eyes on Nichols, seated
dejectedly In one corner. Feet tramped
noisily back and forth in the lower
hall, and the sound of voices reached
us, the words Indistinguishable. There
was an echo of splintered wood, the
crash of lishes, and a loud laugh. The
fellows .5- emed to be looting the kitch-
en and t antry, destroying whatever
they couli' not use. Suddenly there
arose a sound of smashing glass at the
front of the house, and the tinkling of
a piano as if some rough hand swept
across the keys. Noreen pressed
closer, lifting her eyes in appeal.
"They—they are searching the
house." she whispered, her voice shak-
ing, "and—looting it. Do you bear
that? They are even tearing the car-
pet from the floor. Some of them will
come up here."
"I am afraid so—but you must not
lose your nerve. We shall have to
fight!"
"Fight? yes; but what use?" and
she grasped my arm with both hands.
"I—1 would not be so afraid, only for
that man. I cannot fall into his power.
I will kill myself first! You do not
know Anse Cowan; but I do. I would
rather die than have his hands touch
me. I hate and despise him; he is an
incarnate brute—and—and he is here
after me!"
"Hush," 1 urged, holding her tightly,
her slight form trembling. "Do not let
go yet: they may not even come up
the stairs."
"But they will," she insisted. "I tell
you I know the man. He—he swore
he would marry me two years ago; he
told me so, and I laughed at him. He
stopped my father on the road, held a
rifle to his head, and boasted that some
day he would make me pay his debts.
This Is no mere incident of war—it is
revenge! I—I would not be frightened
bit for that—that awful alternative.
Tell me—tell me what to do!"
She stared pleadingly into my face,
but, reading no answer there to her
wild appeal, sank to her knees, and
buried her face in her hands. All that
was strong about the girl seemed
swept away by sudden uncontrollable
terror—by dread of Anse Cowan. A
hoarse, strange voice roared out an
order, seemingly from the very foot of
the stairs.
"That's enough of that, Samuels!
Here, take your men up above. Be
lively now, and don't let a rat get
away."
The girl lifted her head; then got to
her feet, clinging to the bedpost. I
could see the glitter of a pistol In her
hand. A thought swept through my
brain—so daring, so reckless, I gasped
at the mere wildness of the sugges-
tion. Yet it might answer; It might
succeed! But would she consent; even
in her desperation, In the extreme of
her terror, would she grasp at such a
straw? There was nothing else—not
another chance. This might not be
one—yet it would Burely serve to de-
lay; It would place me in between
her and Anse Cowan. She could not
legally marry him, if she were once my
wife! Only tho girl whose eyes Just
then met mine—
"I—I have thought of one way," I
said eagerly, the words coming forth
almost incoherent. "That Is if you will
listen to what I propose. There Is
nothing else feasible so far as I can
see. They—they are in the front
rooms now—hear them! We haven't
a moment to lose. Will you—will you
consent to marry me?"
She shrank back a step, staring at
me with wide-opened eyes, breathing
heavily.
"Marry! marry you?" she faltered
wildly. "Why what can you mean! I
—I do not understand!"
"Of course not—the conception is
wild, lmpractl ;al, perhaps. It must
seem so to you—yet listen. It Is the
one way left open to save you from
Anse Cowan. You can trust me? You
do trust me. do you not?"
"Ye-es—but—"
"This is no time to question. They
are coming here now, those fellows
with Anse Cowan a', their head. You
know what for. The question la not
do you wish to marry me; but do you
trust me more than you do Anse Cow-
an? Listen! It will be a form only—I
am not conceited enough to believe you
desire me for your husband. But you
know who I am; you have confidence
In my honor. He cannot marry you
if you are already my wife—"
"He—he could kill you."
"Yes, there are enough of them;
but that might happen anyway. No
doubt It would, for otherwise I should
tight to the end. I do not think being
yonr husband will add In the least to
my danger—and It will possibly, le-
gally, protect you." f
"But how can I? Will It ne legal?"
"Noreen, don't stop to argue, or
doubt." I urged, grasping her hand in
eagerness. "We haven't time. Listen
to those voices in the hall! Of course
It will be legal—Nichols Is an ordained
minister, and no license is required. I
shall never attempt to hold you,
Noreen, and any court will set you
free the moment you tell the story.
The one, the only thing, for you to con-
sider now, is escape from Anse Cow-
an."
"You do this to—to save me?"
"To keep you from falling helpless-
ly Into the clutches of a beast—tell me
yes! My God, girl, there they are now
trying the door! Answer—will you?"
"Yes—yes, Tom Wyatt—"
With one leap past her I had Nich-
ols by the collar, the muzzle of my re-
volver at his head. A heavy foot
crashed against the locked door, and a
voice without gave utterance to an
oath.
"Marry me to this girl," I command-
ed sternly. "Come now, not a word;
don't wait to ask a question. Noreen,
take my hand—"
"Open up in there or we'll break
down the door!" came hoarsely from
the hallway.
My eyes never left Nichols' face.
What he read of threat I knenv not,
but his lips began to stumble through
the form, though I could scarcely dis-
tinguish a word. His face was gray
with terror, and I dared not look aside
at the silent girl—only I vaguely
realized that the hand held in mine
trembled, and once, when she had to
speak, the two words uttered were al-
most a sob.
Never surely was there a stranger
marriage in all the world. The dying
embers of the stable fire shot red
gleams of flame over us through the
unshaded windows, giving Nichols a
"And Now I Pronounce You Man and
Wife."
ghastly look, and glowing on tho steel
barrel of the revolver I held poised at
Ills head. His voice faltered and broke,
and clotted blood rendered hideous one
side of his face, while his hands shook
as if with palsy. All the sneaking
coward In him was manifest. Outside
a dozen voices roared, one rising gruff
above the others shouting orders. Once
a single shot crashed through the up-
per panel of the door and broke the
glass of a window opposite. The girl,
startled, reeled against me, and the
preacher stopped, gasping for breath.
"No firing, you fool!" roared a deep
voice angrily. "We don't want any dead
ones—beat down the door!"
"Go on!" I ordered grimly, and
thrust the black muzzle hard against
his cheek. The preacher choked, but
tho usual words of the ritual—sound-
ing almost like mockery—dropped me
chanically from his tongue.
"And now I pronounce you man and
wife, and whom God hath joined to-
gether, let not man put asunder.
Amen."
She gave vent to a little sobbing
cry, half stifled in her throat, and
shrank away from me. I knew that
her face was buried In her hands, yet
had no time to look that way. or utter
a word. Rifle butts were crashing in
the panels of the door; I could per-
ceive already dim figures revealed
through the jagged openings made In
the light wood, a vlsta of faces, a
gleam of weapons.
"Hit lower down!" yelled the same
gruff voice of command. "There la a
bolt that holds fast—reach In, Saun-
ders!"
"Get back—beyond the bed." 1
called, pushing her behind me. and
bracing myself for the first shock.
The door gave, sagging aside on its
hinges, and half falling Inward, and
through the opening men tumbled for-
ward, carbines gripped in their hands.
The red light gleamed ghastly across
their faces and revealed—the blue uni-
form of Federal cavalry.
CHAPTER XIII.
Before Lieutenant Raymond.
The headlong rush stopped in star-
tled amazement at sight of us, and I
stood there staring at them, unable to
speak, my revolver lowered. In that
Instant of pause, an officer thrust the
men aside and faced me, sword in
hand.
"Wliat does this mean, sir? Who
are you?" ho question j, sweeping his
glance over my uniform, and then be-
yond me at the two others.
"I would ask the same question," I
returned, not yet assured as to whom I
confronted, and suspecting some trick.
"We believed ourselves attacked by
guerrillas. Are you soldiers?"
"Well, rather," with a short, grim
laugh. "These are Pennsylvania cav-
alrymen. My name is Raymond, and
I demand to know, first of all, where
you got possession of that Third U. S.
cavalry uniform."
Perhaps in his excitement be had
not really recognized her before; but
these words were scarcely out of bis
mouth when the lady stood beside me,
facing him. I caught one swift flash
of her eyes as though warning me to
silence. Whatever fear she had for-
merly felt seemed to have left her in
this crisis, for she stood erect, her
cheeks flushed, her eyes frankly meet-
ing those of the surprised officer.
"You will, however, recognize me.
lieutenant," she said pleasantly, and
extended her hand, "and if you will
listen I think I can clear up the mys-
tery."
"Miss—Miss Harwood," he mur-
mured, slightly embarrassed, but still
belligerent, his glance wandering
from her face to mine. "Certainly—
we hoped to find you here. It was to
rescue you we came—at least It was
that hope which led me to request tho
sending of troops, and to accompany
them. This outrage has been commu-
ted, 1 believe, by Cowan's gang, and
this man here—"
"Is my friend." she Interrupted
quietly. "Lieutenant Raymond, if
you will kindly order your men to re
tire I will gladly explain his presence
in the house."
"You wish to speak to me alone?"
"Not necessarily; but I certainly
prefer greater privacy than this. You
are in command?"
"No; Captain Whitlock Is below."
He turned toward tho crowd blocking
the doorway and I grasped the oppor-
tunity to breathe a hasty word of
warning Into the ear of Nichols. The
girl never glanced again at either of
us.
"Take the men back into the hall,
sergeant," the lieutenant ordered,
"and look through whatever rooms
have not been visited. Request Cap-
tain Whitlock to join me here."
We waited motionless, the lieuten-
ant's hand on the butt of his revolver,
as though he half suspicioned treach-
ery. Twice he endeavored to open
conversation with the lady, but her
response was not encouraging, and he
evidently did not feel safe except with
his eyes on me. Raymond fronted me,
a tall, well-proportioned fellow, with
Incipient mustache, black and curled
at the points; a rather long face, and
eyes sternly serious. There was about
him an appearance of force—a bit of
a bully I should say—and his uniform
was new, and carefully fitted.
A man stood in the doorway, bow-
ing, his mild blue eyes surveying us
nervously. He sported a light beard,
closely trimmed, the top of his head
scarcely reaching to the lieutenant's
shoulder. Miss Noreen greeted him
with a welcoming smile, and he
stepped gallantly forward, bending low
as he accepted her hand.
"So pleased, so delighted, Miss Har-
wood, to find you safe and well. We
were, indeed, greatly worried at the
thought of your being here alone,"
he exclaimed, a slight lisp in bis
voice. "You have not suffered. I
trust?"
"Not seriously, Captain Whitlock;
the guerrillas were outv ltted—"
"Ah! do not attempt to explain, I
beg. We understand what you have
passed through, as we have captured
two of the villains. You sent for me,
Lieutenant Raymond?"
"Yes, sir, I did," the young officer's
expression exhibiting clearly the con-
tempt he felt for his superior. "I pre-
ferred that you decide what shall be
done with this fellow." pointing at
finger at me. "Miss Harwood vouches
tpr him. but I fall to understand how
he comes to be in the uniform of my
regiment."
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
No Smok-d Without Fire.
There can no great smoke urlae, bt-t
there must be some fire.—John l^yiy.
mdmional
SMtSomol
Lesson
(By H. O. SELLERS, Acting Director ot
Sunday School Course of the Moody
Bible Institute, Chicago.)
(Copyright, 1916, Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR APRIL 16
PETER AND CORNELIUS.
I.ESSON TEXT-Acts 10:1*211.
GOLDEN TjSXT—There '3 no distinc-
tion between J "W and Greek; for tho
eame Lord Is Lord of all. and Is rich unto
all that call upon him.—Rom. 10:12.
Thus far Christianity had to do with
Jews and Jewish proselytes only. Now
Its circle begins to widen so as to in-
clude the Gentiles. The central fig-
ure of this lesson, Cornelius, was a
captain commanding one hundred men
in the Roman army. The chasm be*
tween blacks and whites, which so
widely exists in America, is nothing
compared to that which divided the
Jew and Gentile. We take tho whole
story of Cornelius In today's lesson
and consider the Easter utory next
week.
I. A Prepared Convert (vs. 1-8). (1)
His position. Caesarea was on the
great sea and was the political capital
of Judea. It was about seventy miles
from Jerusalem and thirty from Joppa.
Cornelius, who was captain of a band
of men born in Italy, was a Roman
citizen, and perhaps had been connect-
ed with the great Roman general
Scipio. (2) His character. He was a
man of promptness, appreciation and
obedience, (v. 33). He was also a
God-fearing man, whose piety included
his whole household. He was a maa
of prayer and generosity (vs. 31, 32),
for he gave "much alms" to both Jews
and Gentiles. The result was that he
was honored greatly by all, especially
by the Jews. It does not seem that-
Cornelius was a proselyte to the Jewieh
faith (vs. 28-11:3), and he certainly
was not as yet a saved man (11:13,
14). Cornelius was a man of a vision,
not of dreams or of trances, for this
vision came in the open daylight (v-
30), when an angel, looking like a man,
appeared unto him. His fear was
calmed and he was informed that hia t
prayer, for he was a "seeker after
God," had been heard. The "memorial"
(v. 4) spoken of was that part of the
| meal offering which the priest burned
upon the altar and which ascended un-
to the Lord as a sweet savor (See
also Mai. 3:16). Cornelius is put to
a strange test. He is to send for an
j unknown man to receive instruction,
j The angel was not to enlighten him, as
j it is man's province to witness for
God. There is not a recorded Bible
conversion without some human in-
strumentality. Cornelius, soldier that
he was, at once obeyed instructions
and sent out two devout retainers
after Peter. Man alone could finish
the work of the angels.
II. The Prepared Preacher (vs. 9-23).
Tanning was considered an uncleau
occupation, but in Simon's house was
the man God wanted to use on this
occasion. No matter how poor a
preacher, or unlikely the situation, if
wo obey God we can preach better
than Gabriel. God laid, as it were, his
right hand on Cornelius, and his left
upon Peter, and drew them together.
Again God uses a dream, linking the
natural and the supernatural. A hun-
gry man dreams of food, a very com-
mon occurrence, and God gave super-
natural direction to a natural dream.
God knows the right time to do the
right thing. We do not need dreams
for our guidance as we have a full and
sufficient revelation in the Word for
our guidance.
III. The Prepared Ones Meet (vs.
23-33). Cornelius had his whole house-
hold ready when Peter arrived (v. 24),
perhaps more people than on the day
of the first great Pentecost. He said.
"We are all here present in the sight
of God to hear all tffe things that have
been commanded thee of the Lord."
This is a great statement if we con-
sider its full content. Peter refused to
accept worship, that alone belongs to
Christ (v. 25) and he explained how
God had thrust him outside of the cir*
cle of Jewish believers. He then re-
hearsed what God ha« done and as-
serted that "He is no respecter of per-
sons," and that in response to those
in every nation who work righteous-
ness God had sent forth Jejus for the
salvation Of men, (1) That men might
have peace through him (v. 36); (2)
That he might be Lord over all; (3)
That he had been anointed with the
Holy Spirit and power; (4) That he
had been crucified (1 Pet. 1; 13, 19;
£•'24); (6) That God had raised him
from the dead; (6) That he is to be
the judge, and (7) That because of
what ho had done—"through the name
of Jesus"—all that believe shall have
"remission of sins." (This Is a good
sermon outline.) Following this won-
derful sermon, there occurred the Gen-
tile Pentecost (vb. 44-46).
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Seay, R. R. The Oklahoma Ledger. (Sterling, Okla.), Vol. 11, No. 18, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 13, 1916, newspaper, April 13, 1916; Sterling, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc155394/m1/2/: accessed March 28, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.