The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-01-25

quick to learn; too quick to learn, l
think. Heaven only knows where or
how she got it, but before she was fifteen
she possessed wonderful knowledge of
coquetry. She could fiirt then almost as
well as now. Mother tried hard to con-
quer Allies faults, but it was of no use;
they were born in her. / don't know
when first discovered that loved her.
But do know that when she was seven
teen was her slave. She could twist me
around her finger, and there was nothing
l should not have done for her. And /
thought she loved me. She was very
beautiful, and had a pretty way of drop
ping her arms about my neck and look
ing up into my eyes that was irresistible.
The result was that I asked her to be my
wife, and she told me she would never
love any other man.
'My father was the only one who did
not favor our engagement.
Fred ne said, 4 don't like it. 1 am
afraid you and Allie are not suited for
each other.'
"'Why?' I asked.
- do not know was his answer, but
/ feel it is so.'
II was anxious for speedy marriage,
but Allie would not listen to me when I
"'Why should we hurry?' she pleaded.
We are both young. Let us enjoy life a
little more before we settle down to hum
drum domestic existence
1t was useless arguing with her, and so
waited; impatiently, of course. For sew
eral months after our engagement things
ran along smoothly enough.
summer came, and with it came several
people, lnvalids, mostly, from the cities
below. This place was quite a resort
then. Among those who came that sum-
mer was young fellow who looked like
an Italian; dark, swarthy man, who
drank and gambled, and made eyes at all
the young ladies in the town."
Was his name Ramello?" / asked.
"Ah, do you know him?" inquired
Fred.
Yes; he is here again; came to-day, I
saw him at Big Jake's' saloon, playing
for high stakes, and losing, too.o
"Humph! Well" resumed Fred, che
made eyes at Allie, and she took fancy
to him. The Lord only knows why.
Perhaps it was because he told
her that she was very beautiful and
mixed the declaration with his own
Italian lingo. AT first she met him
secretly, and at last openly, and all the
old gossips in the town We're busy. Some
one told my mother, and she told me,
and l spoke to Allie about it. I never
saw girl change so quickly as she did
Wnen repfOached her.
1T is my own business she cried,
and not yours: What do care for you
You are fool, an idiot. / never loved
you, and never will. And your mother
bah! Your mother is as great fool as
youv
My mother was in an adjoining room
and heard it all. She came to us, and con-
fronted Allie.
(, 's.Allie,' she said, very quietly, 4 have
heard enough. You need not say one
word: BY tomorrow you must be
gone
For moment Allie was silenced. She
knew my mother meant what she said,
and think she was little sorry,
Even then could not believe that she
was false to me. l took her hand in mine
and told her did not believe she meant
what she said, and offered to plead for her
with my mother, but she cut me short.
No. she said, I shall go. You con-
temptible, silly fool! Did you love me
SO much? Is your heart breaking? Now
leave me, am tired of seeing YOU
That evening Allie and the Italian dis
appeared. A few months later Allie came
back, alone, and obtained work at the
Miners Hotel. And now she has poor
old Jones on her string. It's too bad, too
bad y,
l said nothing. Fred lay still, peering
across the powders at the little knoll,
where the rising moon was shining upon
the bare rock.
Suddenly his hand sslid back and
grasped his gun. A dark shadow had
appeared on the crest of the knoll. 1t
came nearer and nearer, until the indis-
tinct form of a man was outlined against
the bank. Then it dropped down into
the sluice, and we heard the s'grit, grit,
of a pick or bar in the stone paving,
Come" whispered Fred.
We crept along the pipe until we were
very near the robber, who was busy with
the RIFLES. Fred leveled his gun, and his
voice rang out, sharp and clear:
Throw up your handsW
The dark shadow became upright with
a jerk. There was a moment of suspense,
and then sharp report, and bullet
whlzzed between us. Almost at the same
instant Fred's gun roared forth two heavy
reports, and with low moan the dark
shadow fell.
We ran up to the fallen man. Fred
turned his face UP to the starlight.
Good heayens" he cried, SIT is
Ramellom
"Ramello-yes," said the dying man.
Tell Allie-tell-my wife-IJ
His head dropped with thump upon
the paving.
Ramello was dead. Fred turned to me
and whispered:
Jones. He Is savedn
A. ". HOFFMAN.