The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-08-06
purse, and wager thirty more that they

will hold it down."
( A slight cheer went up from the crowd
and the handsome reprohate turned smi-
ling upon the youth.
"Ah! Is that yourself, Senior 1glean 7
he exclaimed extending his hand. "You
must be one OF the disappointed ones :"
The young man blushed deeply, for 1t
was generally known he once sought the
hand Of the girl who stood so near the
altar.
"Whether I am or not, it does not at
feet the wager," he replied, nettled some.
what by the Mexican's words. "1covcrI
your purse thus, Marmsjo. These senors
are our witnesses, and Jose, here, the
stakeholder
Isl, Senor." K4
isGood! Now, Jose, let US have tbe
best liquor your house supplies." |"
The wager was sealed in draughts Of
tolerable liquor, and Benito Marmajo
withdrew from the convivial company,
and remounted his lithe-limbed steed.
"Day after Tomorrow, senors," he
said, with smile to the few who were
able to wish him adios from the porch OF
the house, and touching his horse gently
with the spurs he was soon beyond the
boundaries OF the town.
One by one the drunken jewellers left
the drinking place with brains too befud-
died to think Of the covert threat lilly
concealed by Mafmajo's wager. They
did not dream of the blow that was
hanging over the head of the young
Northerner who had entered the Terri
tory and won, over the alterations oi
many native beaux, the hand Of the beau.
tiful Senorr Inez. aeaa .lssge s-
Beautiful, wealthy and good, the mai.
den, descendent of one Of Cortez's
mailed followers, had long been the belle
Of the country about Taos. Her. fathers
large hacienda, svarming with cattle and
boasting of silver mines Of great value,
would in the course of time become hers
Thus she was the richest heiress in the
To all her admirers, save Richard
Compton, from the States, she turned Q
deaf ear. The handsome Marmajo had
courted her smiles in vain, and The
youthful Iglean had poured the story ol
bis passion into her ears, while she
thought of the American who had won
her heart And it was to be grand
wedding, The brides father had invited
the officers of the territory, and the
wealth and beauty of the country were
expected to grace the occasion. But
Marmajo, the disappointed suitor, bad
wagered thirty ounces Of gold with Ig-
lean that the American would not kiss
Inez on the wedding night.
. - = %
1t was getting dark on the night ol
the wedding when. mounted man drew
rein under the branches of q tree that
stood at the edge of narrow Mexican
road. He wore q broad brimmed som
brero that shaded his face, bnt the DARK
mustache that almost touched his shoul,
ders, and his hands, small as a woman's
proclaimed his identity.
1t was Benito Marmajo. 1T gs
The coil Of his lariaf hung from bill
saddles pommel, and he seemed to bt
awaiting the approach of some person
from the southeast. Immoyable as /
statute. and speaking not, be sat uprigh
in his saddle; but bis eyes were restless
and full of anxiety and expectancy. He
was not far from the home OF the happy
Sonora. A few moments gallop woult
have brought him to the house already
ringing with the laughter Of wedding
guests; but the Mexican did not inteni
to visit the marriage board.
At last be started and ancoiled the lar
lat. Then the tread Of horse was dis
tinctly audible, and minute later an Oh
ject appeared in the moonlight that slum
bered, in the road not far away.
"Alonew muttered the watcher, aston
ished, and then. with the lariat dangling
from his hand, he said, ut is we'll. Nov
fof the thirty ounces Of gold which Ig
lean staked."
| The horseman continued to approach
apparently unconscious of the presenc,
of the dare-devil Adonis of New Mexi
co, whose, eyes we're fastened upon hin
with the glare Of the basilisk's orbs.
81 know It's he-the hated America
mol" Kissed Marmajo as he hastily pre-
pared his lariat for the throw. "Woul,
| to Jesu that Leon were here to see thi
deed The boy always prided himsel
on the use of the cord"
Leon was the speakers brother, bo
whom he had not seen for several years
but whose image was enshrined on hi
heart as the only person whom he ha
ever loved.
| Nearer and nearer came the lassoer'
victim, galloping slowly over the narro,
road, now in the moonlight and no,
Iagain almost lost among the shadows
Ian at once the lariat described a circl
above Marmajo's sombrero. Then q
shot toward the horsenan and droppe
lover, his head like a moose of death.
Tie next minute the Mexican Is stee
1darted forward andthe victim was jerke
violently from the saddle as the excls
mation "Jesu, pity" fell from his lips.
/ The Internal moose had pinionad hi
arms to his. sides, and smile Of NAL
cious triumph crossed Marmajo's face o
The looked over his shoulder and saw th
object which bounded over the groun
at his horses heels. Through the char
Iparel and into the unobstructed moor
light the Mexican urged his steed, whic
seemed eager TO escape, as it we're, th
dreadful thing the lasso dragged benin
him.
| s'The thirty ounces are mine" the Ia.
soer exclaimed, looking back. and the
he laughed. s.Marmsjo knew when h
bet that the Americana would not kis
the Sonora tonight" rH
His horse did not seem TO tire. Owe
the gently undnlating country and in th
golden light OF the moon he bore b
reckless rider, whose heart beat fast wit
a devilish triumph. The spurs, jinglin
4 in their sockets, ever and amor touche
the blood stained rowels, and the vino
sang through the riders wanton hair
Bouncing over the ground like a ball,tt
lassoer's victim following in his wax
stained the stones a dreadful crimso
that looked CHASTITY in the weird light
No cry welled from the bruised lips
they had long been SILENT and the hand
which few moments since had resen