The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-10


| Without looking at him, she passed toward
! the door, When she reached it, she turned
! You asked me question an hour ago. Come
| to me in the garden, at o'clock tonight, and
| will answer you. But promise me- first, to
keep away from Mr.. Dent. Give me your
word not to seek him--to avoid him if he seeks
! you. Do you promise2 1t is we'll"
He would have taken her hand; but she
| waved him away. In another moment he heard
| the swift rustic of her dress in the hall, the
! sound Of her feet upon the stair, the sharp
| closing of her bedroom door, and all was quiet,
Andeven thus quietly the day wore away !;
and the night rose slowly from the valley, and
| overshadowed the mountains with purple wings
| that famed the still air into breeze until the
moon followed it, and lulled everything to rest
! as with the laying-On of white and benedictory
/ hands It was a lovely night; but Henry
| Rance, waiting impatiently beneath a sycamore
at the foot of the garden, saw no beauty In earth
or air or sky. A thousand suspicious common
| to jealous nature, a vague superstition of the
| spot, filled his mind with distrust and doubt.
| If this should be trick to keep my hands off
| that insolent pUp!" he muttered. But, even
as the thought passed his tongue white figure
| slid from the shrubbery near the house, glided
along the line of picket-fence and then stopped,
| midway, motionless in the moonlight.
1t was she. But he scarcely recognized her
! in the white drapery that covered her head
and shoulders and breast. he approached her
with hurried whisper, Let us withdraw from
! the moonlight. Everybody can see us here"
We have nothing to say that cannot be said
| in the moonlight, Henry Rance" she replied,
coldly reeeding from his protfered hand. She
! trembled for moment, as if with chill, and
! then suddenly turned upon him. Hold up
your head, and let me look at you! I've known
| only what men are: let me see what traitor
| looks like"
| He recoiled more from her wild face than her
words. He saw from the first that her hollow
! checks and hollow eyes were blazing with
! fever. lie was no coward but he would have
| fed.
You are III, Jenny" he said; "you had
best return to the house. Another time -"
| "StopI" she cried hoarsey. Move from
| this spot, and I'll cali for help! Attempt to
! leave me now, and I'll proclaim you the assas-
! sin that you are !"
! at was fair fight" he said doggedly.
Was it fair fight to creep behind an un-
| armed and unsuspecting MANI Was it fair
| fight to try to throw suspicion on someone
! else? Was it a fair fight to deceive me? Liar
/ aud coward that you are z"
! He made stealthy step toward her with
evil eyes. and Wickeder hand that crept
within his breast. She saw the motion; but it
OILY stung her to newer fury.
Strike!" she said with blazing eyes, throw
! ing her hands open before him. Strikel Are
! you afraid Of the woman who dares you? Or
/ dCSOu keep your knife for the backs of unsus-
! pecting men Strike, l tell you No2 Look,
! then " With a sudden movement she tore
| from her head and shoulders the thick lace
shawl that had concealed her figure, and stood
/ before him. Look she cried passionateIy,
! pointing TO the bosom and shoulders of her
! white Dress daTkly streaked with faded stains
aud ominOus discoloration-" look. This is tho
! dress wore that morning when | found him
! lying here, -here,-bleeding from your cow
ardly knife Look DO you see! This is his
/ blood-Iny darling boys blood l-one drop of
which, dead and faded as it is, is more precious
| to me than the whole living pulse of any other
man. Look come to you tonight, chTisten-
| ed with his blood, and dare you to strike-dare
/ you to strike him again through me, and min
! gle my blood with his. Strike implore you
| Strike! fyou have any pity on me, for God s
! sakei Strike! if you man. Look Here
lay his head on my shoulder; here ! held him
TO my breast where neyer-so help me my
| God another man-Ah. -"
She rceled against the fence, and something
that had flashed in RANGES hand dropped at her
feet; for another fash and report rolled him
over IN the dust, and across his writhing body
two men strobe, and caught her ere she fell.
She has only tainted, said Mr. McClosky.
jimmy dear, my girl, speak to me"'
What is this on her dress p said RidgeWay,
| kneeling beside her, and lifting his set and
! colorIess face. At the sound of his voice the
! color came family back to her cheek she open
! ed her eyes and smiled.
It's only your blood, dear boy" she said ;
but look a little deeper, and you'll find my
| own"
She put up her two yearning hands, and drew
his face and lips down to her own. When
| RldgeWay raised his head again. her eyes were
closed but her mouth still smiled as with the
memory Of kiss.
They bore her to the house, still breathing,
| but unconscious. That night the road was fill
ed with gathering horsemen; and the summon
ed skill Of the countryside for leagues away
/ gathered at her couch. The wound, they said.
was not essentially dangerous; but they had
grave fears Of the shock to system that already
seemed suffering from some strange and unac-
coantable nervous exhaustion. The best medi-
cal skill Of Tuolumne happened to be young
and observing, and waited patiently an oppor-
tunity TO account for it, He was presently re-
warded.
For toward morning she rallied, and looked
feebiy around. Then she beckoned her father
toward her, and whispered, Where is he?"
They took him away, jimmy dear in cart
lie wont trouble you agin." He stopped for
Miss Jenny had raised herself on her elbow,
and was leveling her black brows at him. But
two kicks from the young surgeon, and a sig
nlhcant motion towards the door, sent Mr.. Nc
! Ciosky away muttering. . How should / know
that he meant Ridgeway?" he said APOLOGIZE
cally, as he went and returned with the young
gentleman. The surgeon, who was still hold
ing her pulse, smiled, and thought that-with
a little care-and attention-the stimulants-
might be-dimnished-a -he-might leave
the patient for some hours with perfect safety
he would give further directions to Mr. Nc
Closky-down stairs.
1t was with great archness of manner that
half an hour later, Mr.. McCosky entered the
room with preparatory cough aud it was
with some disappointment that he found Ridge
way standing quietly by the window, and his
daughter apparently fallen into light doze
lie was still more concerned when, after Ridge
way had retired, noticing pleasant smile play
ing about her lips he said softly
" You was thinking Of someone, Jinny?"
" Yes, father, the gray eyes met his steadi-
ly,-" Of poor John Ashe!"
Her recovery was swift Nature, that had
seemed to stand jealousy aloof from her in hel
mental anguish, was kind to the physical hurt
of her fayorite child. The superb physique
which had been her charm and her trial. now
stood her in good stead. The healing balsam
of the pine, the balm Of resinous gums, and the
rare indictments of Sierran attitudes touched
her AS it might have touched the wounded doe
so that in two weeks she was able to walk
about And when, at the end of the month
Rdgeway returned from q flying visit to San
Francisco, and jumped from the Wingdam
coach at o'clock in the morning, the Rose OF
Tuolumne with the dewy petals Of either cheek
fresh as when first unfolded to his kiss, con.