The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-16
BRET HARTE'S NEW STORY.
ELIP-1 CALIFORNIA ROMANCE
Concluded
PART uI.-CHAPTER V.


cracked in harsh. uneastic nbres on hillside
and meadow. Some OF IL had disappeared in
the palpable smoke by day and fiery crcsts by
night OF burning forests. Tho bcsieging fogs
on the Coast Range daily thinncd their hosts.
and Mt last vanished Tho wind changed from
northwest TO southwest The salt breath OF
the sea was on tho summit And then one day
the staring unchanged sky was family touched
with remote mysterious Clouds and grew
tremulous in expression. The next morning
dawncd upon a newer face in the heavens. on
changed woods. on altered outlines. on vanished
erests. on forgotten distances. 1t was rainingl
Four weeks of this change. with broken
spaces OF sunlight and intense blue aerial
islands, and then a storm set In. All day the
summit pines and rcdwoods rocked in tho
blast. AT limos the onset OF the rain seemed
to be held back by the fury Of the gale. or was
visibly seen in sharp waves on the hillside
Unknown and concealed watcrcoursos sud
denly ovcrfowed tho trails, pools became lakes
and brooks rivers. Hidden from the storm.
tho sylvan silence Of sheltered valleys was
broken by the impctuous rush of waters: even
the tiny strcamlet that travorsed Flip's retreat
In the Gin and Ginger Woods became II cascade.
The storm drove Farley from his couch early.
Tho falling of n largo tree across the trail. and
the sudden overflow OF a small stream beside it.
counter what was to him a more dsagroeablc
objcct-a human figure, BY the bedraggled
drapery that tapped and nuttcred In the wind.
by the long, unkempt hair that hid the face and
eyes and by tho grotesauely misplaced bonnet.
the old man recognized ono of his old trespnss-
ers-an Indian squaw.
Clear out 'er thatl Come. make tracks. will
yer" the old man screamed; but here the wind
stopped his voice and drove him against a hazel
bush.
Mo heap sick" answered the sQuaw. SILVER
Ing through her muddy shawl
IN make ye heap sicker II ye don't
vamose tho ranch" continued Farley. ad-
vancinG.
Me wantee Wangee girl. Wangee girl give
me heap grub said the suuaw without moving.
You bet your life" groaned the old man to
himself. Nevertheless an idea struck him.
"Ye amt brought no presents hev yer" he
asked cautiously. "Ye amt got no pooty
things for poor wangee erl2" he continued.
tnsinuatingly.
Ne got heap cache nuts and berries" said
the squaw.
oh. in course! in counsel That's just it,"
screamed Farley; you've got 'em cached only
two mile from yer. and you'll go and get 'em
for half dollar cash down."
Me bring Wangee girl to cache" replied the
Indian. pointing to the wood. Honest Injin."
Another bright idea struck Mr. Farley.
But it required some elaboration. Hurry
ing the squaw with him through the pcltng
RAIN he reached the shelter of the corral.
Vainly tho shivering aborigine drew her
tightly bandaged papoose closer to her square.
fat breast. and looked longingly toward the
cabin; the old man backed her against the
palisade. Here he cautiously impaired his
IN inf tn nj bar To oh
and ward over the rancho, and especially over
Its young mistress" clear out all the tramps
'ceptn' yourself. and I'll keep ye in grub and
rum" Many and deliberate repetitions OF this
offer in various forms at last seemed to affect
the squaw; she nodded violently. and echoed
the last word rum" Now" she added. The
old man hestated; she was in possession of his
secret; he groaned. and. promising an immed-
ate installment of liquor led her to the cabin.
The door was so securely fastened against
the impact Of the storm that some moments
elapsed before the bar was drawn and the old
man had become impatient and profane When
II was partly opened by Flip he hastily slipped
In. dragging the squaw after him. and cast one
single suspicious glance around the rude apart
ment which served as sitting room. Flip had
apparently been writing. small inkstand was
still on the board table. but her paper had evil
IDENTIFY been concealed before she allowed them
10 enter. The sauaw instantly squatted before
the adobe hearth, warmed her bundled baby.
and left the ceremony OF Introduction to her
companion. Flip regarded the two with calm
preoccupation and indifference. The only
thing that touched her interest was the old
sQuaw's draggled skirt and limp neckerchief.
They were Flp's own. long since abandoned
and cast off in the Gin and Ginger Woods. Sc
erets again." whined Farley. still cycling Flip
furtively. Secrets again. in course-in course
-jiss 30. Secrets that must be KEEP from the ole
man. Dark doin's by ones own flesh and blood
Go onl go onl Don't mind me-" Flip did not
reply. She had even lost the interest in her old
dress. Perhaps it had only touched some note
IN unison with her revery.
Cant ye get the Door crltter some whis-
keyp" he queried. fretfullv. "Ye used to be
peart enuff before" AS Flip turned to the
corner to lift the demijohn. Farley took occa-
sion to kick the squaw with his foot. and indi-
cate by extravagant pantomime that the bar
gain was not to be alluded to before the girl.
Flip poured out some whiskey in o tin cup,
and. approaching the squaw. handed il to her.
It's like ez not" continued Farley to his
daughter, but looking at the squaw. that
she'll be huntln' the woods off and on. and
kinder looking after the last pit near the
MadroHos; yell give her grub and Ticker or she
likes. Well. dye hear. Flip2 Are ye moonin'
agin with yer secrets What's gone with ye Z"
II the child were dreaming it was delicious
dream Her magnetic eyes we're suffused by
strange light as though the eye itself had
bIushed her full pulse showed itself more in
the rounding outline OF her cheek than in any
deepening of color; indeed. II there was any
heightening Of tint. 1t was in her freckles,
which fairly glstened like tiny spangles. Her
eyes were downcast. her shoulders slightly
bont but her voice was low and clear and
thoughtful as ever
" One o the big pines above the AairoHo pit
has blown over into tho rum" she said. Z" It's
choked up the water. and it's risin' fast Like ez
not it's pourin' over into the pit by this time"
The old man rose with fretful cry. And why
In blazes didn't you say SO first 2" he screamed
catching up his axe and rushing to the door,
" Ye didn't give me n chance" said Flip.
raising her eyes for tho first time. With an
impatient mprecation Farley darted by her
and rushed into the wood. In an instant she
had shut the door and boltcd 1t. In the same
instant the squaw arose, dashed the long hair
not only from hor ayns hut from har haod fora