San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-01-25
next bushwhacker.

Twas astonished.
q And I never saw horse SO fast, he
added, with apparent pride, that she
couldn't lariat on the keen jump"
1t is unnecessary to say I was amazed.
A lady, thought I, who possesses SO
many and such varied accomplishments
whose sweet voice I could now hear
in the adjoining room as she hummeda
familiar song while busying herself
about her duties-was wonder indeed.
The door opened and supper was an
nounced in readiness.
After supper was over and the table
vacated Iagain essayed to leave, when
the father met me with the words:
"Oh, you must stay over night. Your
party will be along in the morning, my
daughter informs me, and you can join
them then"
TWAS Just getting dark, and I insisted
on going, although my heart did not;
SO my horse was ordered, and, as I took
the proffered hand of the fair creature
who had in such short, time filched
my heart from me, I gave it o pressure
which brought the crimson dye TO her
fair cheek; and the father, Selling my
hand with d vise-like grasp, repeated
the warm invitation of his daughter to
come again, which assured them I
should. . l7.a1
The moon was shining brightly as I
rode slowly, and, thought I, what can
equal the hospitality Of a Californian?
And as I was about to leave the clear
ing I took one last look at the house
where my divinity dwelt, and was sur
prised at seeing form approaching me.
Could it be she? Istopped and waited.
Sure enough, it was she. I dismount-
ed, and as the fair creature drew near,
she said:
81 forgot to caution you. It is a very
dangerous road you have to travel, and
especially at night"
Hooked into the dark eyes before
me. Gould it be possible that 1 had
awakened the same feelings in her heart
that she had in mine?
"Do not give yourself a moments
alarm about my welfare" I replied. 81
have travelled roads a thousand times
more dangerous than this trail.
"Oh," said she, 81 do not apprehend
any danger, but, you know, a word OF
warming is sometimes better than an
ounce of steel" And then added,
archly: "Look out for Juanita Meren-
gov' r.
1 laughed, and told her that I had
never yet met woman whom l thought
could worst or take me at a disadvant-
age. With merry little laugh she ex-
tended her hand, and, at the same
time handed me a note, requesting
me to take it to C-ville; ''and prom
Use me-" she added, as she looked me
full in the eyes, "that you will not look
at it till you arrive there. I think !
can trust you" promised by all that
was holy that I would not violate her
trust, and at the same time deposited
the note in a pocket Of my saddle-bags.
1 then raised to my lips the little hand
that had laid so confdingly in mine,
and imprinted kiss upon it, and was
soon on my way again. s r .s.s
1 had proceeded thus about two
miles, and as L neared the clearing,
which was now my objective point,
I unwillingly expelled the pleasant
thoughts from my mind and became
more cautious. I entered the clearing
by sharp turn of the trail, and hear
ing slight rustic in the underground
close by I stopped my horse and listen
ed. All was silent. I had proceeded
but little farther when I suddenly
heard whizzing sound similar to that
made by whip in cutting through the
air, and at the same instant 1 felt my
arms pinioned to my side as though q
rope were wrapped around my body
Quick as fash of lightning the
thought struck me: CA lariat 4 am
lassooed," and at the same time made O
desperate struggle to seize the knife
which 1 carried in my belt to sever the
strands of the lariat that encircled me