Daily Republican., 1888-04-12
A BRAvR woMAM.

l Frank Bayard was young Ameri
can of good family who went to Her
mosillo In New Mexico to superintend
the santa Rita gold niue. 1t was
Iwhile living here that he fell in love
with beautiful Spanish girl, Donna
Francesca Fonseca, the daughter Of
1.-THE Alcade, or local justice of the
lpeace.
4 Donna Francesca could handle a
'gun as well as any hunter in the
sneighborhood, and from y line OF
isturdy Spanish ancestors she inherited
10 brave spirit and indomitable cour-
lage. The young couple were be.
ltrothed, and 1t was settled that they
ishould be married carly in September.
| One day a boy who worked for Mr..
Bsyard rode up in great haste to the
ranch of Don Fonseca and informed
him that band OF robbers under the
Iredoutable Joaquin Alvaros had robbed
the office of the mine and carried
Frank Bayard away as prisoner.
Donna Francesca did not weep and
wiring her hands when che heard the
fncws. She slipped up to her own
room, cut off her beautiful hair, and
iputting on boys suit, mounted fleet
horse and galloped away in pursuit of
, the bandits.
For several days she continued her
march to the mountains, hardly stop
ping for food. On the noon of the
third day she was delighted to see the
smoke rising from fire In the bandits
camp, Crawling toward tho opening
/ her joy increased as she saw her lover
wandering unharmed about the camp,
but evidently under guard, That night
through the rocky gateway the brave
girl crept until she found herself at her
lovers side.
"Sh! 'Tis I-Francesca Follow
me but make no noise" and she thrust
o revolver into his hands.
Back to the gateway with infinite
care and caution; past the sentry into
the cleft; then on their feet; one long,
loving embrace. and then onward up
the trail she was leading him.
The horses reached, they saddled
and started, francesca going first; and
as they rode she told him how she had
come after him.
1t was nearly 10 o'clock, when, as
they were climbing up the side of a
mountain, after having crossed a small
valley, they heard some shots behind
them, and, pausing, saw the bandits,
some twenty ia number, descending
the trail they had gone over two hours
before. francesca laughed.
81 know 3 place about three miles
from here" she said; 1--WE could hold
out for week against an army; come,
let's hurry on"
A turn of the road, as they wound
round the highest part of the noun
tain trail, and she refined her horse in,
1t was q natural fort, On one side
the rock went up straight for nearly al
hundred feet, while on the other the
prccipice went down sheer. The
shelf upon which the trail ran was not
more than six fee high.
LET us camp here and wait fer
them -.-.5 -.--
Tying the horses behind in little
bay like opening in the side of the
mountain, while Frank Bayard built a
wall of loose stones, some five or six
| feet high, Donna Francesca rot the
saddle bags, and from them produced
an abundance of food. The two took
their breakfast leisurely, talking and
laughing the while.
But this pleasant Time was inter.
,rupted by the tramp OF horses, and a
Iman appeared round the corner.
"Senor," said Frank, ''I have es-
Icaped, ss you know. advise you to
igo back. | am well armed, and If
syou advance it viii be DEATH.
fhe bandit paused, then speaking to
the men behind him, he turned his
lhorse round and disappeared. In q
few minutes, however, he came back
with three or four more. There was
Ia clear space of some thirty feet they
;had to cross before reaching the wall
"sepors," said Frank again, II
warn you"
The reply was an oath, followed by
la rush. Crack crack crack went the
repeating rifles, and only two men
Preached the wall One Frank struck
with his fist and knocked him out 10
the edge OF the cliff, where he made a
desperate attempt to recover himself,
failed, and fell with yell. The other
l luo gil onOt.
In that narrow space, and among
that compact body of men, it was i'm.
Ipossib!e to miss. The attacking party
wavered. one turned, and then an.
sother, while the ledge was strewn with
Edead and wounded men.
| Suddenly Francesca heard q horse
behind them and turned pale.
"If these are more of those bandits, -
she said fiercely, Il must not fall alive
into their hands.
| And Frank promised with look.
In intense anxiety they waited for
five or six minutes, which seemed an
iage. and then around a turn in the
trail they saw Don Ramon coming.
i For the first time Francesca gave
iway and tainted.
| The only Mexican lady with short
hair | ever saw in my life was Senora
I Francesca Bayard, for her husband
would never allow her to grow it long
,Iagain.
Il He used to say, as they told the
lstory in their pleasant home, thai
Ibeautiful as 1t had been in bis eyes be
fore it was cut, 1t WAS more beautiful
lnow.