Omaha daily bee., 1874-05-04
THE ROSE OF TuoLuMME.
BY BRET HARTE.
From the New York Times-l


CONCLUDED.
ave have nothing to say that
cannot be said in the moonlight,
Henry Rance she replied, coldly
receding from his proffered hand.
She trembled for a moment, as if
with a chill, and then suddenly
turned upon him: "HOld up your
head and let me look at you! I've
only known what men are; let me
see what a traitor looks like
He recoiled more from her wild
face than her words. He saw from
the first that her hollow cheeks
and hollow eyes were blazing with
fever. He was no coward, but he
would have fed.
"You are ill, Jenny" he said;
.syou had best return to the house.
Another time"
"Stop,n she cried, hoarsely;
ssmove from this spot and I'll call
for help, Attempt to leave me now
and I'll proclaim you the assassin
that you are"
ait was a fair fight to creep be-
hind an unarmed and unsuspecting
man? Was it a fair fight to try to
throw suspicion or some N else?
Was it a fair fight to deceive me?
Liar and cowari that you are!"
He made a stealthy step toward
her with evil eyes, and a wickeder
hand, that crept within his breast.
She saw the motion, but it only
stung her to newer fury.
"Strikew she said with blazing
eyes; throwing her hands open be-
fore him. "Strike, Are you afraid
of the woman who dares yOu?-or
do YOU keep your knife for the
! backs of unsuspecting men? Strike.
L tell you! No! Look then J"
With a sudden movement she tore
from her head and and shoulders
the thick lace shawl that had con-
cealed her figure, and stood before
him. "Lookw she cried passion
ateIy, pointing to the bosom and
shoulders of her white dress, darkly
streaked with faded stains and Omi-
nous discoloration. "Look! This
Is lilc uItSS Il WOiC Tia DlOli lIiS
when 1 found him lying here
here-bleeding from your cOwardly
knife. Look! Do you see? This
is blood-my darling boys blood,-
one drop of which, dead and faded
as it is, is more precious to me than
the whole living pulse of any other
man! Look l come to you to-
night christened with his blood and
dare you to strike-dare you to
strike him again through me and
mingle my blood with his! Strike I!
1 implore you! Strike! if you have
any pity on me-fOr Gods sake!
Strike! if you are a man! Look
Here lay his head on my shoulder;
here / held him to my breast, where
never-so help me my God!-an-
other man-Ah!1"
She reeled against the fence, and
something that had flashed i'm
RANGES hand dropped at her feet;
for another flash and report rolled
him over i'm the dust, and acros his
writhing body two men strobe and
caught her ere she fell.
''She has only tainted" said Mr..
McClosky, "Jinny dear, my girl,
speak to men
"What is this on her dress??" said
Ridgeway, kneeling beside her and
lifting her set and colorless face.
At the sound of his voice the color
came family back to her cheek;
she opened her eyes and smiled.
ats only your blood, dear boy"
she said, "but look a little deeper
and you'll find my own"
She put up her two yearning
hands and drew his face and lips
down to her own. When Ridge
a raised his head again her eyes
were closed, but her mouth still
smiled as with the memory ola
kiss.
They bore her to the house still
breathing, but unconscious. That
night the road was filled with clat-
tering horsemen, and the sum-
moned skill of the countryside for
leagues away gathered at her couch.
The wound, they said, was not es-
sentially dangerous, but they had
grave fears of the shock to a system
that already seemed suffering from
some strange and unaccountable
exhaustion. The best med
ical skill of Tuolumme happened
to be young and observing, and
waited patiently an opportunity to
account 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 ?n
"They took him away, Jimmy
dear, in a cart. He won't trouble
o agin." He stopped, for Miss
Jenny had raised herself on her
elbow, and was leveliug her black
brows at him, But two kicks from
the young surgeon, and a signifi-
cant motion toward the door, sent
Mr., McClosky away m%uttering,
"How should I know that he
meant Ridgway." he went and e
turned with the young gen tleman.
The surgeon, who was still holding
her pulse, smiled and thought that
with-a little care-and attention.
the stimulants-might be-dimin-
ished-and he-might leave-the
patient for some hours, with perfect
safety. Ae would give further d.
rections to Mr.. McClosky-down
stairs.
1t was with great archness of
manner that 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 APP
parently fallen into a light doze.
He was still more concerned when,
after Ridgeway had retired, noticing
a pleasant smile playing about her
lips, he said softly:
"You was thinking of some one,