Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-06-28

"IO NE he Is nOJ hauuSVno
and as for his wealth, how does he
come by 1t? believe he IS ban
dit or an outlaw"
"Nonsense girl You have been
reading sentimental novels
"You may laugh, papa ; but lm
sure that am right"
"Hum And that Is the only
reason why you went have any
thing to say to Moreno !"
Lucia hung her head.
"Not quite, papa ~
"You are in love with some one
else "
ayes, papa"
"Perhaps you will condescend to
tell me the fellows name," said
the ranchman grmly.
"Oh, papa please don't be
angry, butt is Arthur Forbes"
"My overseer You look high,
GIRL"
"Your friend, as well, papa. And
l love him dearly !"
$50 the Spaniard spoke the
truth ?'
"Yes."
every good. Now listen to me.
Had you and Forbes made open
work of your love, l might have
given my consent to the match. AS
it is you shall never see him again.
"Ob, papa !"
"YOu shall never see him again."
the ranchman repeated, with some
cold deliberation. GAS soon as l
find some one to take his place l
shall discharge the upstart and
tomorrow you 60 with me to Rio
Grande City, to remain with your
aunt during the interval he stays
here. Make your preparations for
the journey tonight, for we start
early tomorrow morning."
"Oh, papa you surely will not
be so cruel ~ cried the girl, tear
fully.
But, not needing her distress,
the ranchman strobe angriIy from
the room.
Arthur Forbes was remarkably
handsome fellow-s little above
the medium heighth, brOad.should'
cred, deep.chested and muscular,
! with curling gold brown hair and
honest gray.blue eyes. He had
been three years in the service OF
Mr.. Roberts, and during that time
had become a great favorite with
, the ranchman.
But when Lucia confessed to her
father that she was engaged to his
overseer he was very angry with
them both for their deception, and
resolved to make short work of the
affair.
Arthur Forbes was at distant
q part OF the ranch with the cattle
/. when all this happened, and there.
fere knew nothing about it nor
did he know OF the departure of
q Mr.. Roberts and his daughter for
Rio Grsnde City.
/. The following night, as the over.
r. seer was on his way to Mr.. Rob.
L erts' house, he discOyered half a
- dozen horses tethered In a small
grove near the dwelling. Hitch.
ing his own animal to a s2pling at
the other end of the grove, lie
4! turned from the beaten path and
II passed through the trees toward
D. the house.
: The night was cloudy and quite
70 dark, yet he detected the forms oil
three or four men standing in the
path before him. Advancing with
o. more caution, and holding his pis
III tol so that he could readily use IT
" Arthur still crept forward, care
'S fully scanning every object, but
e. with his attention centered upor
them. He had advanced but {
l few steps when he saw two o
: them lift from the ground what sp
ls' peared to be the form Of a human
" being wrapped in dark blanket
" Springing forward, he leyelled hi
- pistol commanding them to stop
re The word had scarcely passed hi
Ve lips when he received a blow iron
Ve behind which rendered him sense
W less.
1t was past midnight whe
'ce Forbes regained consciousness
nd Making his way to Mr.. RobertI
in house, he reused the servants an
"a, told them what be had witnesses
on in the grove. Great was their el
ch citement when it was found tha
ed neither Mr.. Roberts nor his cOlore
,m manservant, Jim, who had also al
Is, companied LUCIA to Rio Grand
)m City that morning, had returned
Dg The negro was presently found |
to the grove, dead, with a deep woun
in the side of his head.
Dre "Mr. Roberts has been abducte
sd by bandits, and if he IS not rescue
th. will be held for ransom" said A
no thur. "I must go to the camp au
IN, rouse the men at once"
,ed An hour later Arthur FOrbe
his accompanied by twenty stalwa
oorrhoya waa riding aCrOaa III