The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-07-22

this was lost in her sudden alarm a. her com.
panion. looking up. uttered an exclamation
and placed his hand upon his revolver. With
| sinking conviction that tho climax had come.
| Teresa raised her eyes. From the dim aisles
beyond. Low was approachingl Tho catastro-
pho seemed complete.
She had barely time TO utter an imploring
whisper: In the name OF God. not word to
him." But change had already como over her
companion. II was no longer parley with
foolish woman; he had to deal with man like
himself As Lows dark face and picturesque
figure came nearer. Mr.. Curson's proposed
method OF dealing with him was made audible.
18th II mulatto or Thircuth. or both 2" he
asked. with affected anxiety.
Lows Indian phleem was imrervious to such
assault. Ho turned TO Teresa without appar-
| sntly noticing her companion. Il turned
back" he said quietly. AS soon as I know
there wore strangers hero I thought you might
need NO." She noticed. for the first time. that
In addition to his rife. he carried . revolver
and hunting knife In his bolt.
"Ycth." returned Cursor. with an Intellectual
attempt to initiate Lows phsgm. but as
| didn't happen to be a stranger to this lady per-
haps It wasn't necessary. particularly a. / had
! two friends"
Waiting at the edge Of tho wood with led
HOTSO. lut0EEuUteu LOW WituOut huuioobihk
him. but apparently continuing his explanation
to Teresn. But she turned to Low with fever
| ish anxiety.
That's soho 10 an old friend" she gave
quick. implorlng glance at Cursor. :" IN old
| friend who came to help mo away-he IL very
| kind" she stainmsrcd. turning alternately
| from tho one to the other. but told him there
was no hurry--at least to-day-that you-wcro
| very good--too. and--and would hide me q lit
tie longer. until your plan--you know your plan
| -" she added. with u look OF beseechlng sig
nincance to Low. could be tried. And thcn
with helpless conviction that hor excuses.
motives. and emotions were equally and por-
| fectly transparent to both mon. she stopped in
| a tremble.
"Perhapth 18th Jutht ath WE'LL then. that the
gentleman came thralght hero and didn't tackle
my two frisndth when he pathed them." OBJ
served Cursor. half sarcastically.
Il have not passed your friends. nor have I
been near them" said Low. looking at him for
the first time with the same exasreratlng calm.
or perhaps should not be here or they there.
know that one man entered the wood few
moments ago. and that two men and four
horses remained outside"
That's true" sail Teresa to Cursor ex-
cltediy. that's true. He knows ALL He can
see without looking. hear without listening
He-he-" she stammered. colored. and stop
| ped.
Tho two men had faced each other. Cursor.
| after his first goodnaturod impulse. had re-
tanned no wish to regain Teresa. whom he felt
he no longer loved. and yet who Tor that very
reason perhaps. had awakened his chival-
rous instincts; Low. equally on his sidc.
| was altogether unconscious OF any feel
| ing which might grow into passion.
and prevent him from letting her go with
another II for her own safety. They were both
men Of n certain taste and refinement. Yet. in
spite of all this some vague instinct Of tho
baser male animal remained with them. and
they were moved to Il mutually aggressive atti-
tude in the presence Of the female.
ono word more and tho opening chapter Of .
sylvan Had might have begun. But this mod
ern Helen saw 1t coming and arrested 1t with
| IN inspiration OF feminine genius. Without
being observed she dlscngaGed her knife from
hcr bosom and let 1t fall as II by accident It
struck the ground with tho point Of its keen
blade bounded. and rolled between them. Tho
two men started and looked at each other with
a foolish mir. CURSOR laughed.
Il reckon she can take care Of herthelf."
he said. extending his hand to Low. I'm
of. But II I'm wanted sheN know where
to ind me-" Low took the profferod hand. but
neither Of tho two mon looked at Teresa. The
reserve Of antagoni.m once broken. u few
words Of caution. advice. and encouragement
passed between them in apparent oblivious-
ness OF her presence. or her personal respon-
| sibility. As Cursor at last nodded farewell to
her. Low insisted upon accompanying him as
| far as the horses. aud in another moment she
| was again alone.
| She had saved quarrel between them at the
sacrifice OF herself. for her vanity was still
keen enough to feel that this exhibition Of her
| old weakness had degraded her In their eyes.
| and worse-had lost the respect her late re-
.iraint had won from Low. They had treated
| hor like child or crazy woman. perhaps even
now werc exchanging criticisms upon her
| perhaps plying her! Yet she had prevented
quarrel. a nxht-possibly the death OF
either one or the other Of those men who des-
pissed her. for mono knew better than sho the
| trivial beginning and desperate end OF these
encounters. Would they-would Low ever
realize 1t. and forgive her? Her small dark
hands went up to her eyes. and sho sank upon
| the ground. She looked through tear-voilsd
lashes upon the mute aud giant witnesses Of
her deceit and passion. and tried TO draw from
| their immovab!e calm strength and consola-
ton as before. But even they seemed to stand
apart-reserved and forbidding.
Whom Low returned she tried to gather from
| his eyes and manner what had passed between
him and her former lover. But beyond mere
gentle abstraction at times. he retained his
usual calm. She was at last forced to alludo to
! 1t herself with simulated recklessness.
Il suppose I didn't get very good char
actor from my last place 2" she said with .
| laugh.
Il don't understand you" he replied. In evil
dent sincerity
She bit her lip and was silent. But as they
were returning home she said. gently. hope
you were not angry with me for the lie told
when I spoke Of your plan could not give
the real reason for not returning with-with-
that man. But it's not all a lie. l have q plan.
IL you haven't When you are ready to go to
Sacramento to take your place. dress me rs an
Indian boy. paint my face. and Let me go with
you. You can leave ms--there-you know"
:" It's not u bad idea" he responded. gravoly.
I'VE will see."
On tho next day and the next tho rem
conts seemed to DO forgotten. The herb
arium was already filed with raro
specimens. Teresa had oven overcome
har feminine repugnance to bugs" and
creeping things so far as to assist In his