Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-12-07
A STRANGE RELEASE.

In 1880. Charlie Page was in OLE
Mexico, engaged in herding cattle. No
from the love of wild life, but because
he could earn hard dollars. and later Oh
because his heart had gone out TO Zaret'
Hernandez, the daughter of old Herman
DEE on the Mexos.
That he loved the girl was no wonder
for she was noted beauty even among
the many beautiful Spanish women
who lived in that section, but that he
poor Charlie Page, the American
should have won Zareta's love in return
when a score of the richest rancherOe
both Mexican and Spanish, were literally
at her feet, might have been thought
strange.
'Such, however, was the condition
of affairs, and despite the objections OF
her family and the interference of some
of her other lovers, the girl had become
solemnly engaged to Charlie and
promised to marry him in the fall.
And those who knew her best were
satisfied that at this point opposition
must cease, for if Page lived, Zareta
would be his bride at the time agreed,
or in her grave.
hematch was consequently consider
ed in the best light possible by Zareta's
family, and Charlie allowed the freedom
of future son-in-law. AS the old man
put it:
"Ze boy is no re Spaniard, an not as
l choose; but, Santa Martial re girl is re
Spaniard, an she choosel'
That told the whole story. Zareta
was Spanish maid, and would do as
she would do. Let those oppose who
might dare.
The Rubicon once passed, matters
moved on more smoothly, and nothing
seemed to fret the course of true love
except-there is always an except-the
applicability and ugliness of one of
the girls discarded lovers, who would
not consent to be cast aside after the
manner of men. but ragged and threat
ened. daily growing worse.
This man was Dion Combra, a half
breed, but a man of wealth. person
Of furious and ungoverned tenn
per, who swore the match should not 20
on.
Page occasionally met this scowler,
but no words had passed between them
until one evening, late in August,
when he surprised his persistent rival
delivering passionate lecture to the
mother of Zareta, quiet little wom-
an. who could only tremble before the
profane rage Of the half-breed.
Instantly conceiving the cause of
the scene, Charlie sprang forward, and,
thrusting himself before the other.
be cried:
"Draw back, you houndl Why do
you brighten womanp / am here TO
answer for Zareta Hernandez. and her
mother is my mother. Another insult
ing word and I'll ding you into the river
yonderp
For an instant the half-crazed Com
bra stood speechless; then shrieking
out an oath. he tore a knife from his
bosom and flung himself upon the
only to be met with a sud-
den blow, that hurled him senseless to
che GROUND, while Page took the little
mother of his sweetheart quickly from
the scene.
Impressing Madam Hernandez with
the necessity of secrecy with regard to
this unpleasant transaction, the young
lover himself forgot it for the next
three hours, within the sweet shelter
of two warm arms. and gazing into
liquid eyes that were filed with yield
ing love; but the matter was suddenly
brought to mind again, as he rode
homeward through the misty moon
light, by the whiz Of knife hurled
from chaparral by the roadside. and
the sight Of dim figure leaping down
the river bank toward waiting boat.
With a sudden touch of the SUR the
young man followed, but too late. The
light skiff fed from the shore like a
shadow.
"That cowardp muttered Charlie, as
he drew rein at the waters edge, che
would have killed me in good old Span
ish style-a knife in the dark. l must
look out for this bravo. That cursed
blade came closer
From that time ON the American
found it necessary to guard himself
constantly, for the jealousy and hatred
of the half-breed, now thoroughly
aroused, was terrible; and his attempts
upon the life of the other were so fire.
quent that Page became at last con-
WINGED that the werld was not wide
enough for his enemy and himself, and
he determined to 20 armed at all mo.
ments, and to preserve his own safety
even at the expense of the life of Com
bra.
A bond to keep the peace would have
been as waste paper to the infuriated
ranchero, and Page knew it. His only
safety lay in eternal vigilance.
The days were drawing toward fall.
and the conf & of her wedding festival
now filed the heart of Zareta; but in
the midst of all, she saw and felt some
1.-THE Of the danger that threatened her
lover, and 1t made her warm blood run
cold.
Once she spoke to the young Amer
lean of it, but he scoffed, and much as
she loved him the girl could not endure
that 80 she determined to say nothing,
but to watch.
Even though Charlie denied the dan.
ger, she felt assured of it. The fierce
rush of passion in her own heart taught
it better than it could her lover what
Combra must feel.
"He'll kill my darling, II he can,
Zareta whispered to herself. Il mus
guard him."