The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-05-29


lspoiled travellers were allowed o re-
sumo their places in the coach ant
the driver ordered to proceed on Tho
Journey.
The immunity granted Marie and
her aunt evidently displeased theil
plundered companions, and this
dissatisfaction was openly vented
upon the two ladies.
81 should certainly have begged
the senorita to act as my treasurer
said one of the men, chad 1 known
that she would be exempt"
$50 would l." groaned and growl-
ed each of the others.
Marie's eyes flashed. clad you
tho,spirit of a girl of 10, senors, she
said you would not have given up
your arms, but would have used
them to save your property and
protect two women from insult.
Silence reigned in the coach after
that, and at the next station two
passengers left the vehicle, but were
replaced by two other men one
with coarse, bad face, in strong
contrast with his handsome com
panion. man somewhat past his
prime and showing marks of care,
but with kindly eyes, u courteous
manner, and most fascinating smile.
He sat near the door, and evidently
knew the country by heart, point
ing out every place of interest as we
passed it. Through him conversa-
ton was reviewed, and the who.e
story OF the. robbery rehearsed,
which tale seemed to amuse the
rough stranger beyond measure.
Marie thought the voice of the gen
tie new conner somewhat familiar,
and like that she had heard coming
from the darkness, but the fearless
glance, the honest eyes, the charm
ing manners of the man disarmed
all suspicion ; his attentions showed
that he admired her, and were so
marked that this fact was soon APP
parent to all the company.
In two hours the coach was again
stopped, and a robber presented his
gun and face at the door, request
ing the passengers to alight. The
pleasant stranger near the door just
touched the new visitor on the
wrist: the robber met his eyes,
changed color, stammered, and beg
ged pardon.
"Shall you want to see my pass
port ?" inquired the stranger.
"Pardon, senor," replied the rob-
Der, "no, no."
The coach proceeded without fur
ther annoyance. SIT would have
been fortunate had we had you with
us when we were attached before"
said the man who growled at Marie.
"I wish l had been there" an
swered the polite stranger, with a
smile, while his rough companion
roared with rude laughter, while all
the rest looked on amazed.
By gradual approaches the
stranger and Marie became uninten-
tionally communicative, and he dis
covered that she was the niece of
the rich banker de Navarro in Chill
huahua.
"De Navarra," he cried, "why, he
is an old friend of mine Will you
present him this, my card 3? I am
going to chihuahua myself and
will certainly renew my acquaint-
ances with him.
Marie promised, and performed
in her secluded life she never heard
of Don Carlos Menana-and when
she gave the card and message to
her uncle, she thought he turned
pale. But it might only have been
her fancy.
1t was weeks before Carlos re-
deemed his promise, but he never
forgot, and at last he came, much to
the amazement and discomfort of
De Navarro.
"AhP' cried Don Carlos, "and so
we meet after these many years
You turned traitor and tried to
have us all hung but yourself. Well
we all live, you see, and intend to
do So"
"Hush p cried De Navarro,
"what 1 did was to save my own
neck. Do not whisper of the past
to my niece"
'Do not mention your niece's
name in the same breath with that
of our villainous past. She is too
pure and sweet to be spoken of by
our lips but yet, l, blood-stained,
guilty wretch though 1 am, l love
her. Let me try to win her for my
wife, De Navarro, and I swear will
forget your treachery and hide
your past as well as my own, from
her, nor shall she suspect or know