The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-03-09

story, which, with its surroundings,
filed me with CONSERVATION, and made
an impression on my mind which can
only be effaced by dealh:
cat the age of fifteen I left England
and went to Florida to live with a
wealthy uncle. Adjoining my home re-
sided q widow lady with daughter
Laura. Laura and myself were fire.
quently thrown into each others So
ciety, and passion strong and deep-at
least on my part-sprang up between u.s.
"We were inseparable, and when
reached the age of twenty, she being SIX
teen, we had sworn only to live to be
united. We read classic tales to each
other and when the Sorrows of Werther'
were traced line by line, she would shed
tears of grief. Ours seemed an ecstasy
of love and passion that could never die.
"My uncle concluded to give me pro-
fessional education, and babe adieu to
Laura and all I loved in Florida,
and went to Philadelphia, where l
studied with ardor two years, and re-
turned to my home O doctor.
without asking any questions left
for Laura's house, full of love and hope
full anticipation. On reaching there l
saw Laura's face looking from a window
that was edged with honeysuckles and
crowned with morning glories. Her
face, with long black hair hanging negli-
gently before her breast, seemed the
fairest on earth to me. l tried to clam
Der up the vines as saluted her with
kiss from my hand.
when she saw me her face grew paler
and she looked at me with a cold stare,
saying:
"'You come too late, am married to
your enemy. Do not let your sorrows
be as deadly as those of poor Werther.'
''She laughed low, knocking laugh as
her face disappeared from the window,
and thought l heard fall
'"That was my death-wound. l fled
back over the hommocks of grass that
edged the swamps, and at the door met
my little niece-Jessica-w an armfnl
of mulberry leaves. She said, in her
child tones:
Uncle, 1 go to feed the silk worms;
they are hungry
II went to my room and sat with my
face to q great bay window that opened
upon a meadow slope. The moon rose
as bright as it is now, as brooded over
my terrible loss. Suddenly saw
Jessica, led by Laura, at the window.
The child tapped upon the glass, saying
~ have fed the elk worm"
"Then Laura put her white face to the
window, and with a cold smile, as be-
fore, said:
"Do not let your sorrows be as deadly
as the sorrows of Werther!"
II sprang to my feet and dashed into
the meadow. No one was there. l
went to the chamber of Jessica. She
was slumbering in her little bed. My
superstitions were aroused. Again l
crossed the hommocks, and as I neared
the house of Laura met my enemy,
who hoarsely said, as if he menaced me:
"Lanra is dead. She spoke last to
you. Why did you come here?"
II turned on my heel and walked
away. They said Laura fell dead after
she told me not to let my sorrows be as
deadly as those of Werther.
"Since that day my life has been
broken one. At times the agony has
been so deep in my heart that take my
pistol thus"-and Fairfax raised his
weapon, cooked it, and put the barrel to
his temple-"and feel like ending my
sorrows as Werther did his"
A loud report followed; blood flowed
from Fairfax's right temple, and his fine
face, distigured with powder and blood,
was turned toward the stairs.
I leaped to my feet. The Mexicans
we're moving, alarmed by the shot, and
sparks of fire few into the bright moon
light, as the brown thieves rode toward
me and my dead companion over the live
embers of their camp fires.
It was the work of moment. Selling
my gun, gathering in close folds my hair
lariat, I spring into the saddle, and, with
Fairfax's horse following me, sped along
the bank Of the Arroyo Colorado and
into the saline basins that for months
had lain dry and frosty under the heat
of the sun. No spectacular display
could equal the scenes that stretched
before me, as basin after basin of saline
capitalization came up in panoramic
form through the speed OF my fleet
horse.
Looking back, saw in the distance
the diamond. like flames that came from
my pursuers as the horses feet ploughed
over the cleaning domain. They seemed
to be gaining on me, when in shriil
tones heard the challenge:
"Haltl Who goes there?"
In moment / was with my compan-
ions. A volley from their rifles checked
the head-long speed of the guerrilles,
who were soon squirting their horses in
the direction of the Rio Grande, which
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