The Lincoln County herald., 1872-12-04

never seen. 1heu seeing the strange
lock in his eye, the hesitation 10 his
manner: But you are glad to see us,
Eugene2 Say that you are glad to see
US p
Before he could answer, a lady tall.
stately and elegantly attired-advanccd
from the inner room and stood with
heaving breast, cheeks crimsoned with
emotion and great flashing black eyes,
fixed in wonder upon them.
"What means this intrusion ?" she
said, with slight foreign accent "Eu-
gene, my husband, please send her away
Or, she may be insane have her cared
for, tenderly cared for, but send her
away her presence pains me-"
"Your husband u aud Mrs Dela6eld
started back, with pale cheeks aad quiv-
ering lips "Your husband ? That can
not be Eugene DelufeId is my husbah1
and the father of my child. Eugene,
dearest, who is this poor lady, and what
does she mean by claiming you as hers p
"Pobrita Yes, she wanders in her
mind but send her away; please send
her away; my heart aches to see her"
And tears dimmed the uster of her mag
nificent dark eyes.
The way Of the trans sgressor is hard" ="
and SO Eugene must have found it, US he
stood confronted by these two beautiful
women, both of whom he had wronged
For moment he hesitated, then, advanc
ing toward his wife, he passed his arm
around her an drew the beautiful head
till her face was hidden on his breast
Maria T. he sal 1, confusedly, II have
wrouged you deeply, irrsmedably. This
lady is my wife. | married her before
coming to California"
Donna Maria stood as if trans6xed
At last she said, slowly and painfully:
That lady is your wife; who, then,
am |? You suors at Gods altar, iu
presence Of the holy Father. to be my
true and faithful husband. Can q man
have two wives? Who and what am
I?'
Eugene, bowed down with shame aud
humiliation, could only answer, Yes,
Louise is my wife l married her first; |;
she is my true wife.
And Donna Maria swept quietly and
gracefully from the room. Like one
walking in a dream, she passed through
the long passage, down the broad stairs,
and out to the darkness Of the unlightcd
streets-anywhcre, she cared not WHITTIER
so that she left him behind her. And
this was the meeting with her husband
that Louise Dela6pld had SO fondly an
ticipated.
After repeated inquiries We were at
length on the track Of Dona Maria, for
Mrs. Dalafeld could not rest while she
thought her innocent rival was wander
ing alone and unprotected through This
wild and dangerous country, The rains
had swelled the mountain streams, aud
they rushed turiousl through the canons
bearing On their way uptorn trees and
other debris that they had encountered
in their tumutuous path down the
mountains side.
We were encamped for the night on
the high ground at one side of the love
Lest valley in the Coast Range, called
by the Caifornians by the neuphoneous
name of Shirt Tail Canon. We ar
rived there late at night, and at once
lighted our campfire, and made prepara
tons for our evening meal Another
party had encamped on the opposite side
Of the canon; but they had arrived
earlier, and now seemed to be slumber
ing around the fire, with tho exception
OF one, who, wrapped in a Mexican
poncho, was seated on log, his elbow
resting on his knees, and his face burieu
in his hands.
IAN njuu, you may bet your life, "
said Missouri Ben. "See his long, black
hair. Now, stranger, thar's no use
talkiu', but that ar party Of derned red
skins is goin to give US trouble"
DeIa6eld turned wearily in tho diuc-
ton indicated just then, the supposed
Indian arse, threw off the poncho, anG
stood in the full light of the blazing
pine logs. 1t was woman. and Della
field grasped my arm till the pressure
was painful. He recogdizsd Donna Maria
"Whee eew," whistled Missouri Ben
"Ef that ar lnjun amt woman, afte'
all. Who'd a thought it; and she
looks as pretty as one of them stone
images you see at Frisco"
For Donna Maria was standing quietly
her hands clasped, anu her graceful hsac
bowed on her breast.
"She DO look like them stone 6sgors
sure" continued Ben, forgetting, in tn.
admiration of the graceful and stately
figure, the supper that he was cooking
for us before the FIRE. snow I've beer
on these mountings, man and boy, fol
nigh upon thirty years, and I've nevs
.ccn aiore this a sight half so purity
But 1 say-Hslloa, thar, Boss Wha
ar ys doin' (; you'll be drowned sure
Thar amt hoss in all Californy cal
ford that slough"
Dels6eld had hastily unpicksted on'
Of the horses, sprang upon its back, an'
was now on the edge Of the dark, rush
ing stream in the canon, va'nly strivins
to force his horse to enter the madly
rushing water. Donna Maria ran to tn,
edge Of the precipics and ben. over