The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1878-09-26


great wealth, in the course oftlmewoutd
become hers. Thus she was the richest
heircss in the whole country.
To all her admirers, save Richard
Compton, from the States, she had
turned deaf ear. The handsome Mar
moio had courted her smiles in vain,
and the youthful Tglean had poured
the story of his passion into her ears.
while she thought Of the American that
won her heart. And it was to be a
grand wedding. The BRIDES father had
invited the officers Of the territory, and
the wealth and beauty of the country
we're expected to grace the occasion;
But Marmajo one of the disappointed
suitors. had wagercd thirty ounces OF
gold with Iglean that the American
wonld not kiss Inez on the wedding
night.
x
It was getting dark on the night of
the wedding when mounted man drew
rein under the branches of tree that
stood near tho edg of narrow Mexl-
can road. He wore a broad brimmed
sombrero that shaded his face, but the
mcnstache that almost touched his
shoulder, and the hands, small as a
woman's proclaimed his identity.
It was Benito Marmaio.
The coil of lariat hung from his
saddles pommel. and he seemed to be
awaiting the approach of some one from
the southeast. Imuovable as statue,
and speaking not, he sat upright in his
saddle. but his eyes were restless and
full of anxiety and expectancy. tie
was cot far from tho house Of happy
Seoora A few moments gallop would
have brought him to the house already
ringing With the laughter of the we'd
ding guests. but the Mexican with his
Spanish blood did not intend to visit the
marriage board.
At last he started and uncoiled the
lariot. Then the tread of horse be-
came distinctly audible and minute
later an object appeared in the moon
light that slumbered in the road not tar
away,
Alone muttered the watcher, as
tonished, and then, with the lariat
dangling from his hand, he said;
1T is we'll. Now for the thirty ounces
which Tglean saked.'
The horsman continued to approach,
apparently upc&pscious Of the dare
devil Adonis of New Mexico, whose
eyes were fastened upon him with the
glare Of the bullock's orbs.
Il know it's He-the hated American
hissed Marmsjo, as he prepared the
lariat for q throw.
Would to Jesu that Leon were here
TO see the deed. The boy always
prides himself on the use of the cord
Leon was the speakers brother,
boy whom he had not seen for several
wears, but his image was enshrined in
his heart as the only person he had
ever loved. Nearer and nearer came
the lassoer's victim, galloping over the
narrow road, now in the moonlight, and
now again almost lost among the
shadows. All at once the lnriat de-
scribed a circle around Marmajo's SOM
brero. Then it shot towards the horse
man and dropped over his head like a
moose of death.
The next moment the Mexican's
steed darted forward and the victim
was irrked violently from the saddle,
as the exclamation 'Jesu pity fell
from his lips.
The internal moose had pinioned his
arms to his siedes, and smile of mali
cious triumph crossed the Mexican's
face, as he looked over his shoulder
and saw the object which bonded over
the ground at his horses heels. Through
the chapparol and into the unobstructed
moonlight the Mexican urged his steed,
which seemed eager to escape, as it
were, the dreadful thing that the lasso
dragged behind him.
The thirty ounces are mine" said
the lassoer, looking hack, and then
laughed. 'Marmajo knew when he
be. that the Americana would not kiss
the sonora to night
His horse did not seem to tire. Over
the gently undulating ground and in
the golden light of the moon he bore
his reckless rider, whose heart beat fast
with deviliah triumph. The spurs,
lingling in their sockets, ever and anon
touched the blood stained rowels, and
the wind sang through the riders
wanton hair. Bouncing over the ground
like ball. the lassoer's victim followed
in his wake, staining the stones a
dreadful crimson color that looked
CHASTITY in the weird light. No cry
welled from the bruised lips. They
had long been silent, and the hands
which few moments since had re-
sembled Marmajo's had been battered
into a bleeding pulp.
"On, still on Was the 6end never
going to draw rein ?
The wind blew back the frotb that
dropped from the horses mouth and
now and then it fell like snow fakes
upon the victim Of his masters revenge.
As Marmsjo could not ride to the end
of the world he stopped at last. Upon
the border of stream that ran through
the country to the more pretentlous
Gila the reprobate drew rein.
The moon, high up in the heavens
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