Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-04-22

,ure. nor wcre these the times In which
lie native Californian easily excused rob
bery of the American Intruder. Juana lad
becn born aud hsd grown M. peacefully
and without Thought u hostility, under
American laws. The plot Stood out H. its
reckles. crimlnailty. Its shameless greed.
before her as before an innoccntiy bred
and honest natur,d ranch glrl As rho
orrpt carefully away abe was helplessly
overwhelmed by the knowledge Of his UNI
worthlnsss Of Der love and RESPECT.
But almost NJ once reaction came. and
a passionate resolution rose within her
mind. II should not bel IL had not hap
pencd yo.-lt should not. Some one must
prevent Il, yes there was no Que but her
self 70 do Il,
by the time she stepped firmly once more
upon the garden path her mind was made
no. She knew the nsclessness Of appeal to
her father. She had no confdan,e among
the women u the ranch to whom she
dared 10 breathe such n secret. All the
long, slow day IL seemed eating her very
sonl out. All her sweet old time confidence
ia her father was gone. and when from
time n time. n was his demonsiratlvu
Spanish way with his pretty daughter. be
dew her 20 him with catcs-cs, she could
respond Win no lolbWtut8
AZ last tho long day came 10 n close.
The evening meal was ended; the after sup.
i,srwors was done. Juann came out from the
house into the broad porch. guitar ia hand.
crossed the porch quietly aud seated her
self on the stone step, n ahc had sat before
evening after evening She sang the
pretty Spanish airs she was accustomed TO
sing to her avn accompaniment; and
"A h.
faint ~ the sick dread Of what WIS before
her swept across her mind. she per-evered.
and with heavy heart entertained the lit
tie household. They had all gathered upon
the long porch, as was their evening Gus
tom: her father was wont 10 NJ by her side
smoking aud listening. and now and then
between his cigarettes making her happy
with his easy phrase. Of praise. hut this
evening he soon ross aud lcft her. Joined
the group 81 ranch hand. In dark corner
OF the doorway. aud uudorooyer OF Iuana's
songs exchanged murmured question aud
answer with thom.
The gray twilight deepencd into night.
Soon the moon arose over the eastern
mountains, casting on everything such n
food Of yellow light NJ only California
knows. The somber group In the corner
b
guitar sank into hor lap, and the hush was
broken only by the sound OF crickets and
the cry from time 10 time Of night hawk
flying across the orchard.
The girl was watching the moon creep
up the sky. and counting the minutes, as
abe had already counted them over aud
over during tho day. Her breath caught
In her throat. but she rose silently aud
carried her guitar into the house. "A she
passed her father she paused.
'The moon Il 40 bright, father" she said,
IL would 80 out for little lope with
Pedro"
She had been permitted more than once
before 20 ride thus abou, the ranch lanes.
or for short distance along the safe neigh.
boring road, on bright moonlight eyen-
ings Indeed. her father never interfcrcd
much with her movements. aud their
simple ranch life, not unaffected by Amer
lean customs. was free from strict rules.
Pablo nodded without removing his cigar
cite. and the girl passed ON.
She put away her guitar. twisted scarf
over her head, aud let herself out at tn.
back door. carrying her briddle In her
hand A little relieved by tho possibility
of action and the removal OF need for self
1
the path she had trodden early that
morning. light hearted aud unsu-p ecting
child, TO visit and pet her fayorite
She reached the old fence. and whistie,i
clearly across tho inoonlit pasture ones
and again. and presently Pedro came tro,.
ting to her. With trembling hands she
undld tho hay rop. and pushed open the
sagglng gate. and tho little horse walked
through, knowing we'll enough that shc
wanted him. She fastened the gnte with
mechanical care, then, putting ono hand
lightly on Pedro's name. she quickly nd.
justel the birdie, scrambled To his hack
she had been on Pcdro's back without q
saddle too often 90 waste time now In ar.
ranging any such adjunct--and started.
In a few minutes she reached road that
skirted the base Of the hill; then leaning
forward on Pedro's neck, she spoke to him
aud shook thu birdie. and sent him nylng
down the road ut his best speed.
Breathlessly tho girl watched tho trees
by. The road followed the hills for hall
milo before II struck q erossroad. Al.
ready Juana knew tho men were at their
post, below the spot where tho stage road
touched her fathers ranch. A fearless
rider at all times. she seemed utterly NJ
now, ~ without drawing rein she wheeled
into the rough aud imperfect old crossroas
and dashed down II. II was only used b,
teams In winter aud was kept In no order
but tho little mustang took his way swift
ly and surely over tho nnyielding ruts oI
hardened adobe and half buried powders.
After what seemed 10 Jurna an inter
minable time, tho reckless pair reached tn,
dusty stage road safelyH Here they turned
and eantered easily up tho road TO meet
the onooming stage, no sign Of which YET
appeared. JuAnn gazod eagerly before her
watching for the expected cloud Of dust
but they had cantercd ON n mile and a hal
without adventure before II appeared. ant
Pedro came TO full stop TO await IT,
The dust moved down upon the wnitlns
pair by tho road side. and Us II came neat
Juana saw that II incloscd not the stage
but only u Spanish family returning from
u days marketing In Santa Barbara. II
the dusty moonlight they seemed almos
welri In their picturesqueness. The who'll
family was In the long wagon from tn
/, young woman In gay bonnet wnthrougl
ragged smaller members 10 the ugly llttl
terrlor-who with his shrill bark and con
tradicting tail IA indispensable TO tn
Spanish household.
The wagon toilcd past. and Juana locke,
again up the road. from which the dus
slowly cleared away. Her heart almos
stopped beating "a the fear shot across he
that she had mlscalculated the time.
! she had missed the stage, by now her fnthe
: was branded forever criminal; thel
name was shamed, whether the world eve
4 knew II or mt Suddenly she uttered
joyful exclamation, for around the bend 4
the road appeared the stage unmistakabl
Z this time through the cloud OF dust--an
loaded with people.
i The driver refined In his horsea suddeni