The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-02-16

ringing with the laughter of wedding
guests, but the Mexican with Spanish
blood did not intend to visit the marriage
board.
At last he started and unooiled the
lariat. Then the tread of horse became
distinctly audible, and minute later an
object appeared in the moonlight that
slumbered in the road not far away.
"Alone?" mutters the watcher, aston
ished, and then, with the lariat dangling
from his hand, he said, ut is we'll. Now
for the thirty ounces which Iglean
staked."
The horseman continued to approach,
apparently unconscious of the presence
of the daredevil Adonis of New Mexico,
whose eyes were fastened upon him with
the glare of the basilisk's orbs.
II know It's he, the hated Americana"
Kissed Marmajo, as he hastily prepared
the lariat for the throw. "Would to Jesu
that Leon we're here to see this deed.
The boy always prided himself on the
use of the cord"
Leon was the speakers brother, boy
whom he had not seen for several years,
but whose image was enshrlned on his
heart as the only person whom he ever
loved. Nearer and nearer came the
lassoer's victim, galloping slowly over
the narrow road, in the moonlight, and
now again almost lost among the shad-
ows. All at once the lariat described a
circle above Marmajo's sombrero, then
it wss shot toward the horseman and
dropped over his head like a moose of
death.
The next minute the Mexican's steed
darted forward, and the victim was jerked
violently from the saddle, as the ex-
clamation, "Jesu, pity" fell from his
lips.
The Internal moose had pinioned his
arms to his side, and smile of malicious
triumph crossed Marmajos face, as he
looked over his shoulder and saw the
object which bounded over the ground
at his horses heels. Through the chap
paral and in the unobstructed moon
light the Mexican now urged his steed,
which seemed eager to escape, as it were,
the dreadful thing the lasso dragged be-
hind HIM.
"The thirty ounces are mine!" the
lassoer exclaimed, looking back; and
then he laughed, "Marmajo knew when
he bet that the Americana would not kiss
the sonora tonight"
His horse did not seem to tire. Over
the gently undulating country, and in
the golden light of the moon, he bore
with develish triumph. The spurs,
jingling in their sockets, ever and anon
touched the blood-stained flank. and the
winds sang through the riders wanton
hair. Bouncing over the ground like q
ball, the lassoer's victim followed in his
wake, staining the stones a dreadful
crimson, that looked CHASTITY in the weird
light. No cry welled from the bruised
lips. They had long been silent, and
the hands which few moments since
had resembled Marmaio's had been bat
tered into bleeding pulp.
On, still on! Was the devil never going
to draw rein?
The wind blew back the froth that
dropped from the horses mouth, and
now and then it fell like snowfakes upon
the victim of his masters revenge.
As Marmajo could not ride to the end of
the world, he stopped at last. Upon the
borders of stream that ran through the
country to the more pretentious ella,
the reprobate drew rein.
The moon, high up in the heavens
when he flung his lariat, was now near
the rim of the horizon; but its beams fell
upon the water and the wild flowers that
beautified the banks.
Marmaio dismounted, and with o
fiendish look walked toward the victim.
"Well, my love-making Americana"
he exclaimed, 81 fancy Senorita Inez
would not see much beauty in your face
where she to look at you now"
A dreadful sight met the lassoer's gaze
when he stood over the man whom he
had dragged at his horses heels for
twenty miles. The emblance of hui
mainly was all that withstood the jour-
ney, and over this the Mexican stopped
with wild cry. He had
discovered that the lariat had dropped
over the wrong man. But another and
more terrible discovery was yet to come.
Upon the breast, torn by the rocks and
briars, glistened something that attracted
Marmaio's attention. Snatching It
eagerly, he held locket in his hand.
One glance at il, and he staggered TO his
feet with . piercing shout-one long,
loud CRY Of thrilling agony.
For q moment he swayed 10 and fro.
then with cry Of Leon, my brother!'
hs fell forward upon his victim and
pressed his lips TO the battered face. He
had mot only lassoed the wrong man, but
his boy brother, Leon.
In the agony Of the moment the joyful
past came over the Mexican's mind, and
the moons last beam fell upon him in
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