The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1882-03-09


boasting of silver miues OF great
wealth. would in course of time bo-
come hers. Thus she was tho rich.
est heiress in tue territory.
To all Of her admirers save Rich
ard Compton, from the States. she
turned deaf ear. Tho handsome
Na.maj had courte1 her smiles 10
vain, aud tho youthful Iglean had
poured the story Of his passion into
her ears, while she loved the Ameri-
can who had won her heart The
bride father had Invited officers Of
tho territory, and the wealth and
beauty Of the country we're expected
to grace tic occasion. But Mar
moio the disappointed snitor. had
wagered thirty ounces OF gold with
CLEAN that the American would not
kiss lnez on the welling night.
.
1t was getting dark on tho night
Of the Wedding when mounted
nan drew rein under tho branches
of tree that stood Mt the edge II u
narrow Mexican road. Ho wore II
broad .brimmed sombrero that shad-
I'd his face, but the dark mus,ache
that almost touched his shoulders,
aud the hands small ns woman y
proclaimed his identity. 1t was
Beuito Marmajo.
The coil of lariat hung from bis
saddles pommel, aud he seemed to
be awaiting the approach OF some
person from tue southeast. Immov-
able as statue, and speaking not.
he .at upright in his sid,lle but
his eyes were restless aud fall OF
anxiety aud expectancy. He was
not far from the home Of tho happy
seuorta. A few moments gallop
would have brought him to the
house already ringing with the
Mexican with Spanish blood dill not
intend to visit the marriage board.
At last bs started and uucDiled
his lariat. Then the tread Of Il horse
became distinctly audible, aud n
minute later an object app1trcl in
the moonlight that slumbered IN the
road not far away.
"Al me - mu,ters the watcher. a.
toni.hcd, aud then With the la,iat
dangling from his hand, ho said, 1T
is we'll. Now f,r the thirty ounccs
which Igleiu staked."
The horsamtn continued to mp
Iproach, apparently unc cDnScioos OF
the presence Of the dare devi
Adouis of New Mexico, whose eyc'
were fastened upon him with the
glare OF the hasilish's otbs,
II know It's ile--the hated Ameri'
cano :" hissgd Marina >, as he has'i
Is prepared the llriat FIR the throw
Would To JOSH that Leon was here
to see this deed. The boy always
prilel himself on the use Of the
cord"
Leon was the speakers brother, I
boy whom he had not seen for sev
eral years, but whose image was Gu
shrined on his heart as the only per
son whom he had ever loved. Near
er aud nearer cnmo tho lassoei
victim, galloping slowly over th
narrow road, now in the moonlight
; and now again almost lost anon;
the shadows. All at once the laria
described II circle above Marnajo'
somberero, then ii was shot towar'
the horseman aud dropped over hi
head like moose of death.
The next minute the Mexican
, steed darted forward, aud the victim
: was iorked violently from the sal
die, as the exclamation 'Jesu, pity
fell from his lips.
The internal moose had pinione
his arms to his sids, anl smile o
3 malicious triumph crossed Mar
maju's face as he looked over hi:
shoulder and saw the object whicI
, bounded over the grouul at hi
: horses heels. Through the chappt
. raj aud in the unobstructed moon
5 light the Mexican urged his steel
which seemed eager to escape, as
were, the dreadful thing the lassc
' dragged behind him.
< "rhe thirty ounces are mino
! the lsssoer exclaimed. looking bick
, aud then he laughed "Marmaj
Q knew when he bet that the Amer
cauo would not kiss the sonora L
= night"
a His horse dii not seem to tir
Over the gently uu lrlating couutr