Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-02-19

self up and gazed in wonder around
Slowly, and one by one, l recalled the
incidents Of the preceding day, bu! could
not understand how / had arrived at this
spot for indeed C-ville was in plain
sight, and my mustang was picketed
near by. Ny arms panied me a little,
and that called 10 mind the larlat that
had been wrapped around them, and
then 1 remembered beng pulled from
my horse. Ny revolyers, and the sew
eral slugs which were in my packet,
were all intact. approached my horse
to mount but, TO my surprise and hor-
ror. my saddlebags were gone.
That night as was sitting soTowful-
ly in my cabin, there came knock at
my door, and upon opening it, one Of
the party entered.
HALO he exclaimed, heard you
got lariated last night He then went
on and told me what the party had ac-
complished, and to my amazement ]
found that they had been TO exactly the
same place 1 had. He described min
utely the trail, the house, the barn, and
everything OH the premises, but lie
said there wasn't soul there
what, 1 exclaimed. no one there p
Ne he replied; then very signif.
cartly:
They must have got wind that we
was comm, for things looked mighty
like as if they'd cleared OUT
felt sick.
who do YOU suppose lived there p
asked, with a sinking heart.
why, Morengo, Of course was the
confident answer.
What proof did you fnd?' l asked
quickly, grasping at the straw.
WELL SAID he. we found about a
dozen mail-hags, and as many broken
express boxes in the barn. Isn't thai
proof enough?'
1 thought 1 was dreaming; I could
not speak.
Another knock at the door aroused
me somewhat, and another Of the party
entered and said The agent would Ike
to see me. FASTENED to the stage Office,
where the remainder of the party were
assembled. Not word Of greeting die
I receive frem one of them as l entered
The agent was the first to speak.
Il believe you said you lost your sad.
dlebags yesterday?'
Yes I replied.
well, the boys found pair abouI
three miles this side of Morengo's. Are
these yours p he asked, holding them
up.
seized them, and plunged my hands
into the pockets. The note was gone
Then said the agent. while his and the
eyes Of the whole party were fixed upon
me:
is this yours ?? holding up an unseal-
ed note.
Yes said I, and, in a rage, de-
manded: who opened this note''
Nobody said one Of the party
'twa'n't sealed
unfolded it quickly, and read these
words, traced IN the same matchless
hand that the stanzas I had read the
previous day were:
Compliments of Juanita Morengo.
AS the agent saw the different expires
sions of my face, he said:
This is very remarkable p
gazed blankly at the sheet; again
were the incidents Of the previous day
recalled; remembered with vivid
distinctness the fathers remark Of his
daughters proficiency IN the use Of the
lariat. l remembered the soft white
hand that had touched my face as H.
hailed the fumes of the opiate; thought
of the deserted house, the mail bags,
the express boxes. My eyes grew dim
my knees shook; my heart seemed to
be forcing itself up into my throat;
was suffocating. II was all plain now
Yet as 1 staggered out into the open
air. repeated the words the agent hat
uttered:
'Yes-it-:s-yery-remarkable.'
L. II. CUMMINs.
| Co, Ero,cjyco October ISIS