Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-06-15

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and. by the clear starlight, Martinez
recognized Ruy domez and Conehita
He heard aud saw enough TO cause
his heart 10 leap into an unendurable
fire OF jealousy and, turning upon hiS
heel, Ia iew strides he regained tho
piazza
"a word, Pedro" and he led tho way
into the fesplendent saloon.
Pouring out q bumper OF sparkling
burgundy, he drained II to tho dregs,
his companion following his example,
"You saw themY" said Alyafado,
with light laugh,
"Yes. ! saw them."
"Well
"To-morfy night shall carry her
OF. Once at Saa Anita Ill got priest
to marry IN, IN II will save trouble with
her, and then lot Ruy iomez meet mo
In orange groves, u lao cares to. You'll
SEQ TO tho horses"
"Yes."
"And what reireshment may DO need
oil on tho ride, We shall have TO strike
across country q little, and take tho
ford ut Apizaco, II we attempted Al
amanda, our tracks wonld give ~ away,
You know what TO do"
"How about tho girl mean about
getting her away"
"Sho meets him every night IN the
grove. They reach the fountain by
different routes; she takes the garden
path on far ~ tho lake, l shall station
myseli behind that large eucalyptus,
leap ont on her aud mulllo her cries In
q rebozo, You'll have tho horses at
But come, we'll 60 over tho ground,
, Alvamdo, Toss of that wine, amigo
miO,"
Tho following night was as glorious
~ its predecessor,
The stars throbbcd in tho bluc.black
vault, aud the hrenics tangled in sil.
vcrn braid.
Conchita, her cool black hair orna.
mentcd by q single blood-rod blossom,
stepped out upon the piazza, and, hay
ing spoken gracious but rapid word to
half dozen Of the caballcros who indo.
lently loungcd around after their liba-
tions, stepped into the periume.glowing
garden, and disappeared like vision
into the semi obscurity.
"Gomcz is late TO his tryste tonight
laughed Enrique Complido. "Sce how
he hurries by the cactus hedge. Is Juarez
blind TO those nocturnal meetings"
"Blind Catch weasel asleep.
Gomez, although one OF us to-day, may
be the richest ranchero in all Mexico to.
morrow. know who he is, and 80 does
Juarez," responded u cut-throat-looking
villain, with the form vi q Roman gladia-
tor.
"Was that shrek ?" observed q
young fellow, assuming n listening atti'
tudc.
"Of Rio ratP'
"No. Hush |"
But no sound camc to their attentive
ears.
at must have beon rat, but 1t was
like the cry Of woman"
"Some Indian girl drawing the ma
cheta on her lover"
A couple of hours later and Ignacio
Juarez asked for Jago Martinez
He hal been seen early in the even.
ing with Pedro Alvarado. No one
could say where he was. Later still,
Juarez sought his daughter; he wanted
a song. She was not to be found. As
he was making further inquiries, Ruy
Gomez appeared on the piazza.
"Haveyou seen Conchita% demanded
her father.
"No, senorI"
"Nol Has she not been at the
fountain in the orange grove9"
"Not tonight" responded Gomez,
growing crimson.
~ saw her going toward the grove"
interrupted Enrique Complido. $50
did Jose, here
As the girl was not in the villa
Juarez became alarmed, and ordered
an immediate search through the
grounds In an instant everybody was
on the alert. The search proved
fruitless. Suddenly Ruy Gomez, who
was half distracted, uttered great cry,
coupled with IN execration.
Martinez Where's Martinez By
heaven, he is ut the bottom of this l-he
and that cursed Alvaradol Where are
they-where are their horses"
The mustangs were not in the
stables, and Estella, Conchita's favorite
mare, was also missing.
"He has carried off my child |" yelled
Juarez. "The knife shall drain the
villains hearts blood Away and after
them Ten thousand pesos to the man
who first plunges macheta into Mar
tinez's body"
+
The plan proposed for the abduction
of Conchita Juarez had succeeded. The
girl, hurrying to bide tryste with her
lover, passed along the garden path and
sped lightly onward, humming an aria
from that sparkling Spanish opera
bouffe, "Il Barbarilla de Lavapiez."
She had Just reached the trunk of the
majestic eucalyptus, when rebozo, the
scarf or mantle used by Indian women,
very strong and very soft, was flung
over her head.
cutter sound and you diel" Kissed
Alvarado into her ear, as he lifted her
in his arms and placed her, all strug,
Cling, on the saddled Estella, whose
bride was held in Jago Martinez's left
hand.
"Awayi"
Putting spurs to their mustangs, Al