The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-01-09


You do not sigh too much for your
brother ?''
81 try to be patient, as 1 promised
Boone would; but it is dull being with
out his Do you think he will be safe
in Arizona ." she asked, with much
earnestness, as IL expecting him to
know.
'I hope so, indeed. We have heard
nothing of the Indians lately, and your
brother has experience of travel in that
country. l wish him safe home for your
sake. did so enjoy your visit 10 me,
which you will not repeat until your
brother comes"
Judith did not expect this reference to
the occasion Of her holiday-ride, and it
pleased her because it seemed TO remove
the suspicion that anything Of disa-
greeable nature had happened in conse-
quence of it. a less delicate mind
might have sought to prove or disprove
the rumor on the spot; but to Judith
such an attempt was impossible. Sc
eretly rejoiced as she was, she took care
to correct Mr.. Shultz's speech, by say
ing with mirthful air of denial:
81 did not visit yOt-at least not in
tentionally. That remained long time
on your hands was not n,y fault, but
Boone's and yours"
'T understand-I understand" he
hastened to explain; "but 1 shall be
very glad to have you on my hands very
often if it could be. And now must go;
the meeting will be all over before get
there. Goodnight"
Goodnight"
Judith watched him, as she had
watched her father, plunging farther
and farther into the uncertain, waver-
ing distance, and only when his shape
had entirely vanished, returned into the
house and closed the door. Physically
weary, and with brain too excited to re.
turn to books, she aroused the slumber.
ing Katie and assisted her staggering
ascent to their little bedroom in the loft
where, seeing the child once more
asleep, she eXtinguished the light and
sat down by the low, square opening
which served for a window, and gazing
tout upon the moonlit plain, waited fol
her father.
As the night advanced, the mists oi
early evening cleared away, and the at.
mosphere became so cloudless that every
ray of light fell unobstructed upon the
earth, which had it been in its autumn
soreness would have reflected it almost
undimmed, but which now in its spring
greenness absorbed so much of the vel.
low rays as to leave the landscape look
ing dim and shadowy in the fullest
light, making it impossible to distin'
Peering into this half-Obscurity with
thoughts wandering from the scene be
fore her, Judith saw come riding out o
the shimmering distance a figure at frs
formless, but which on nearer approach
might have been mistaken for some de
generate follower of the god Pan. The
horse it bestrode was one of the nativ,
breed-small, sleek and nimble. Tn,
lower limbs of its rider were envelopeC
in a hairy suit Of calf-skin, hair
vest extending over the shoulders an,
chest. Great Mexican spurs jingled a
, his heels, and a head-peice so out o
shape that it required but little imagin
; alton to furnish it out with horns anC
pointed ears, added TO the grotesquenes
of the creatures appearance-faun
: centaur or satyr-whatever it might be
t Judith's educated eye soon detecte
the nature Of the apparition, which sh
+ knew to be one Of the native Califor
: nian vacqueros, probably belonging (
{ the Spedden estate. But as their dispc
S sitions were often as diabolical as thei
o appearance, and as this one seemed to
accommodating the premises, in whic
e ne could have no lawful interest, Judit
- began to tremble for her lonely and ur
d protected situation, though the self-dt
d pendent training of her whole life ha
: made her anything but coward. A
she recognized in the stealthy moyi
S ments Of the vacquero some secret an
e undoubtedly evil purpose, she regrette
|, not accepting the guard her father ha
e proposed; yet as his object for that tim
Y seemed more q reconnaissance than
d positive act OF criminality she resolve
5 to keep watch upon him with view
z finding out his motive, rather than
prepare for present peril.
o As the yacquero approached clOsel
d to the house he slackened the gait Of h
;, horse to a slow walk, evidently that h
y footballs might not be heard. Passir
It to some distance, he returned, passiI
z, the house again in the same silel
D. manner, looking and listening, but ey
g IDENTIFY unsatisfied with the result Of b
it observations. For more than an ho
= this scrutiny lasted, the spy passing
e. intervals OF eight or ten minutes.
" length the approach of horsemen ridiI
ie rapidly and conversing in loud ton
Dc caused the mysterious watcher to wit
ly draw to a distance from the road, ey
as IDENTIFY to allow them to pass undisco
u cred, and Judith heard with joy &
voices of her father and Mr.. Shultz d
l cussing, rs usual, the land values, Al
b, all the old questions productive of not
" ing but controversy.
ii at is the very best thing you can do
so she heard the agent say; 'you and 4
rs the other cattle-raisers, is just to S
s. out and go farther back in the fo'
| L IL