Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-07-09
pulse seemed to quicken, and the silence
tr&oosa hafnra ho rn,p cVoka

grew intense before he again spoke
Il have given him the slip, think"
he said at last, "and If he will let me
and my property alone | shall not hurt
him But can't bear much more.
won't be dogged in this way by william
ous Yankee emissary He is trying to
find my location in order to fetch troops
to destroy my business
Rosalie did not understand. She did
not know Ellis business AS for him
she had known him as an occasional Wis
itor of her fathers for several years. She
had always heard him spoken of as
Frank Ellis, and as a young man or ex-
cellent family and character; but still
there seemed to be reserve Of secrecy
about his goings and comings, and an
air of watchfulness and restlessness ever
present with him, which had not failed
to impress her with some shadowy no
ton of the life he was leading Now as
she looked at him sitting there, alert,
half expectant, resolute, feeling OF
mingled admiration and awe crept over
her No doubt there is to a young, in
nocent girl something Enthusiastically fas-
cinating in a dark, strong semioutlaw
armed to the teeth and ready for danger
ous adventure. The love of romance
Is one of the fundamental elements of
womans s nature.
Frank Ellis was quick in seeing the in
fuence he was just then exerting, and
his shadowy impressions of Rosalie Che
nier's beauty and purity drew themselves
together. all at once, blending into the
first state of love.
4 must go back" said Rosalie rising
and adjusting, with trembling fingers,
her straw hat. She glanced down the
littlapath and hesitated
4 will go with you till the mill comes
in sight, said Ellis, getting up and rest
ing his gun in the hollow of his left arm.
His manner was grace itself, and yet
there was in it that peculiar reserve and
courtliness which in antebellum days
distinguished the southern man from the
northern one at all our great social cen
ters
Il believe | am little afraid to go
alone" she said, with sweet. faltering
smile: you startled me SO. never was
so scared.
He Immediately stepped ahead of her
and led the way down the zigzag path,
turning now and then to offer her assist
ance when stones or logs came in the
way
She could not help noting how tall and
1.-THE and well proportional he was, and
with what self confident air he bore
himself Nodoubt the heavy pistols in
his belt and the ivory hilted bowieknife
and the gun added much to the effect of
his appearance The war had left few
such men as he scattered through the
mountains They became chiefs, SO to
speak-leaders of the mountaineers in
all their enterprises lawful or other
wise.
When the mill was in sight Ellis
stepped to one side to let Rosalie pass
As she was going he said:
Miss Chemer, may not see you
again soon, possibly never" His voice
was tender and rich with suppressed
emotion "lf these Yankees destroy my
business over here | shall have to 90
away"
Her clear, deep eyes met his with
childllke frankness, but there was hot
flush in her cheeks She did not know
why her heart jumped so. She felt a
great pity for him 1t would be too bad,
she Thought. If he should be compelled
to go off to some very distant place.
u hope it will not come to the worst,
sir, she said; you must Keep in good
spirits. Papa says no one can be sue
cessful if he cannot be cheerful"
Ellis smiled and held out his hand
May be cheerful for your sake2" he de-
manded in tone of voice never heard
In the north, tone of gentle persuasive
ness mingled with infinite Difference,
which nevertheless had in it an artificial
ity not wholly pleasing
Yes" she replied quite promptly,
taking his hand Wont you go down
to the mill ?
He held her hand and gazed inquir-
lngly at her She was entirely at her
ease, and met his look so frankly that he
actually laughed "No, cannot go any
farther" he said. "Goodby: don't ever
forget me, Miss Chenier."
he stopped and kissed her hand, then
turned and walked away soon losing
himself in the tangles of the wood
Rosalie went down to the mill with
strange feeling, as of some indefinite
loss or some sweet imponderable gain
pervading her consciousness. She went
about all the rest of the day humming a
simple tune, half aware that she was
lowering on the threshold of great and
beautiful mystery,