The Portland daily press., 1874-05-02

up your mead and let me look at you! I've
known only what men are let me see what
traitor looks likep'
He recoiled more from-her wild face than
her words. He saw tor the first that her
hollow cheeks and hollow eyes were blazing
with fever. He was no coward, but he would
have fled.
''You are i'll. Jenny" he said; ''you had
best return to the house. Another time"
.'Stopr' she cried, hoarsely; "move from
this spot and III call for help! Attempt to
leave me now and I'll proclaim you the as
sassin that you are"
1T was fair fight" he said, doggedy.
"Was it fair fight to creep behind an un-
armed and unsuspecting man? Was it fair
fight to try to throw suspicion on some one
else? Was it fair fight to deceive me Liar
and coward that you arer'
He made stealtDy step toward her with
evil eyes, and wickeder hand that crept
within his breast She saw the motion, but
it only stung her to newer fury.
'Strike!' she said, with blazing eyes, throw
her hands open before him. Strike! Are
you afraid of the woman who dares you?-or
do you keep your knife for the backs of I'M
suspecting men? Strike! 1 tell you! No:
Look, thenr' With sudden movement she
tore from her head and shoulders the thick
lace shawl that had concealed her figure and
stood before him. ''Look!' she cried, pas
SiOnately, pointing to the bosom and should
ers OF her white dress, darkly streaked with
faded stains and ominous discoloraton.
Look! This is the dress l wore that morn
ing when l found him lying here-here-
bleeding from your cowardy knife. Look
Do you see? This is his blood-my darling
boys blood lone drop of which, dead and
faded as it is, is more precious to me than the
whole wing pulse of any other man! Look
come to you tonight christened with his
blood and dare you strike-dare you to strike
him again through me and minge my blood
with his! Strike! l implore you'll Strike! if
you have any pity on me-fOr Gods sake
Strike! if you are man! Look Here lay
his head on my shoulder; here held him to
my breast, where never-so help me my God
another man-Ah -
She reeled against the fence, and some
thing that had flashed in RANGES hand
dropped at her feet; tor another flash and
report rolled him over in the dust, and across
his writing body two men strobe and caught
her ere she fell.
''She has only fainted,' said Mr.. McClos-
ky. Jimmy dear, my girl, speak to mep'
What is this on her dress ?" said Ridge
way, kneeling beside her, and lifting his set
and colorless face. At the sound of his voice
the color came family back to her cheek; she
OPShSu hOI CyCo anu SLuucQ
tits only your blood, dear boy,,' she said,
''but look little deeper and you'll find nv
own"
She put up her two yearning hands and
drew his face and lips down 10 her own.
When Rdgeway raised his head again her
eyes were closed, but her mouth still smiled
as with the memory of kiss.
They bore her to the house still breathing
but unconscious. That night the road was
filled with Gathering horsemen, and the sum-
moned skill of the country side for leagues
away gathered at her couch. The wound,
they said, was not essentially dangerous, but
they had grave fears of the shock to system
that already seemed suffering from some
strange and unaccountable nervous ex-
haustion. The best medical skill of Tuo-
lumne happened to be young and observing,
and waited patiently an opportunity to ac-
count for it. He was presently rewarded.
For toward morning she rallied and looked
feebly around. Then she beckoned her
father toward her, and whispered, "Where is
he?'
''They took him away, jimmy dear, in a
cart. He won't trouble you agin." He
stopped, for Miss Jenny had raised herself
on her elbow, and was dwelling her black
brows at him. But two kicks from the
young surgeon, and significant motion to-
ward the door, sent Mr. McClosky away NUT
tering, GLOW should know that he meant
Ridgeway." he said apologeticaly, as he went
and returned with the Young gentleman.
The surgeon, who was still holding her pulse,
smiled, and thought that with-a little care
and attention-the stimulants-might be
ed-and-he-might leave-the pa
tient for some hours, with perfect safety. He
would give further direction to Mr.. McClos-
ky-down stairs.
II MA - 4
half an hour later Mr.. McClosky entered the
room with a preparatory cough, and it was
with some disappointment that he found
Ridgeway standing quietly by the window,
and his daughter apparently fallen into a
light doZe. He was still more concerned
when. after Ridgeway had retired, noticing
pleasant smile paying about her lips, he
said softly:
s'You was thinking of some one. jimmy ?''
"Yes, father'-the gray eyes met his stead
iy-"of poor John ASLEEP
Her recovery was swift. Nature, that had
seemed to stand jealousy aloof from her in
her mental anguish, was kind to the physical
hurt of her favorite child. The superb phys
ique which had been her charm and her trial,
now stood her in good stead. The healing
balsam of the pine, the balm of resinous
gums and the rare mendicaments of Serran
attitudes touched her as it might have touch
ed the wounded doe. So that in two weeks
she was able to walk about, and when at the
end of the month Ridgeway returned from
a flying visit to San Francisco and jumped
from the Wingdam coach at four O'Clock in
the morning, the Rose of Tuolumne, with
the dewy petals of either cheek fresh as
when first unfolded to his kiss, confronted
him on the road.
With a common instinct their young feet
both climbed the little hill now sacred to their
thought. When they reached its summit
they were both, think, little disappointed.
There is fragrance in the unfolding of pas
SIGN that escapes the perfect flower Jenny
thought the night was not as beautiful; Ridge
way, that the long ride had blunted his per-
ceptions. But they had the frankness to
confess it to each other, with the rare delight
of such confession and the comparison of
details which they thought each had forgotten.
And with this and at occasional plying refer
ence to the blank period when they mad not
known each other, hand in hand, they reach
ed the house.
Mr.. McClosky was awaiting them impa-
tiently upon the veranda. When Miss Jenny
had slipped up stairs to replace collar that
stood somewhat suspiciously awry, Mr., Nc
Closky drew Ridgeway solemnly aside. He
held large theatre poster in one hand, and
an open newspaper in the other.
Il allus said," he remarked slowly, with
the air of merely renewing suspended con-
versation, 81 allus said that riding three
horses to onct wasn't exactly in her line. 1t
would seem that it amt! From remarks in
this yer paper it would appear that she tried
it on at Marysville last week and broke her
neck"
NOTICE.