Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-02-19
She had scarcely finished speaking

4
brows. a full black beard and long flow
ing black hair entered the room, aud
after the formalities of an introduction
were over we sat down and as his
daughter withdrew from the room, in
subdued tone, he commenced;
Violet informs me that you are at
ter Morengo.' ,.,'.
Violet! She bore the name Of my
favorite flower; and oh! hsw we'll 1t
Htted her, thought I.
Yes, sir,' I replied; and any in
formation you corld give me would be
greatly appreciated. Am / on the right
track?'
Yes he answered, i think you
are.' 1 listened intently.
But you should have left the trail,'
he continued, some three miles back
There Is a little clearing there. Didn't
you see it as you came along?'
Yes Ireplied, 4 remember it,
We'll, SIR he continued, Il have a
suspicion which haye never yet COM
municated to any living being, not even
to my daughter, and that is that some
where about that clearing Morengo and
his men live.'
But said I, in surprise, are you not
afraid of your liYes, living in sach close
proximity to such dangerous bandT
Did you ever hear,' he replied, sig
nifcantly, of Morengo attacking a
houseY
No, never had
i And let him dare to attack this
house. he continued, with considerable
spirit that girl of mine and I could give
them a pretty rough deal, 1 reckon
why exclaimed, what could she
do?'
DO! he replied, well, now, she can
swing a rifle just as lively as the next
bushwhacker.'
1 was astonished.
And l never saw horse so fast
he added with apparent pride, that she
couldn't lariat on the keen jump
1t is unnecessary to say was amaz-
ed. A lady, thought 1, who possessed
so many and such varied accomplish
ments-whose sweet voice could now
hear in the adjoining room as she hum
med a familiar song while busying her
self about her duties-was wonder
indeed.
The door opened, and supper was
announced in readiness.
After supper was over and the table
vacated 1 again essayed to leave, when
the father met me with the words:
'Oh, you musi stay over night. Your
party will be along in the morning my
daughter informs me, and yeu can join
them them
1t was just getting dark, and I insist
ed on going. although nay heart did not;
so my horse was ordered, and as took
the proffered hand of the fair creature
who had in such a short time alched
my heart from me, I gave it pressure
which brought the crimson dye to her
fair cheek; and the father, seizing my
hand with vice-like grasp, repeated
the warm invitation of his daughter to
come again, which L assured them [
shonld.
The moon was shining brightly, as l
rode slowly away, and thought 1, what
can equal the hospitality of Californ'
ians Aud as l was about to leave the
clearing took one last look at the
house where my divinity dwelt, and was
surprised at seeing a fern approaching
me. Could it be she? l stopped and
waited. Sure enough it was she. l
dismounted, and as the fair creature
drew near she said
4 Il forgot to caution you. Itisa very
dangerous road ysu have TO travel, and
especially at night
[ looked into the dark eyes before me.
Could it be possible that I had awaken
ed the same feeling in her heart that
she had IN mine!
/ DO not give yourself a moments
alarm about my welfare replied. /
have travelled roads thousand times
moro dangerous than this trail.'
OH said she, 1 do not apprehend
any danger, but, you know, word OF
warning is sometimes better than an
ounce Of steel. And then added arch
Ily: 'Lssk out for Juanita Aorengo.
i laughed, and told her that I had
never ct met woman whom thought
could worst or take me at a disadyant-
: age. With a merry little laugh she ex-
tended her hand and at the same time
handed me note, requesting me to
take it to C-ville, and promise me,
t she added, as she looked me full in the
eyes, that you will not look at it TILL
you arrive there. 1 think L can trust
you.' 1 promised by all that was holy
that l would not violate her trust, and
at the same time deposited the note in
a pocket of my saddlebags. l then
raised to my lip the little hand that had
laid 50 confdingly in mine and imprint
} ed a kiss upon it, and was soon on my
; way again.
1 had proceeded thus about two miles,
, and as neared the clearing, which was
new my objective point, 1 unwilllngly
, expelled the pleasant thoughts from my
mind and became more cautious. en'
tered the clearing by sharp turn OF the
trail, and hearing = slight rustic in the