The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-14

behind it. In the preoccupation of his
thought, and his breathless retrospect the
young man had ridden faster than he had
intended, aud he now checked his painting
horse. The influence of the night and the
hushed landscape stole over him. His
thoughts took a gentler turn in that dim,
mysterious horizon line before him his fu-
ture seemed to be dreamily peopled with
airy, graceful shapes, that more or less
took the likeness of Susy. She was bright,
coquettish, romantic, as he had last seen
ner; she was older. graver, and thought
fully welcome of him, or she was cold, dis
tant and severely forgetful of the past. How
would her adopted father and mother re-
celve him? Would they ever look upon
him in the light of sutton to the young
girl? He had no fear of Peyton-he under
stood his own sex. and young as he was,
knew already how to make himself re-
spected. but how could he overcome that
instructive aversion which Mrs. PeytOn
had so often made him feel he had pro-
voked? Yet in this dreamy hush of earth
and sky what was not possible? His boy
ish heart beat high with daring visions.
He saw Mrs. Peyton on the porch, welcom-
ing him with that maternal smile which
his childish longing had SO often craved
to share with Susy. Peyton would be
there too-Peyton, who had once pushed
back his torn straw hat to look approx
ingly in his boyish eyes and PeytOn per-
haps might be proud of him!
Suddenly he started. A voice--in his
very ear!
"Bah!- Ia yoke OF vulgar cattle grazing
on lands that were thine by right and
law! Neither more nor less than that
And tell thee, Pancho-like cattle to be
driven of or caught and branded for ones
own-hal There are those who would
swear to the truth of this on the Creed
Aye! and bring papers stamped and
sic nd hxyS h. -t- k-.c
it! And, not that l hate them-bah
what are those hereto swine to me! but
thou dost comprehend me lit gals and
pricks me to see them swelling their bel
lies with stolen husband men like thee
Pancho. ousted from their own land"
Clarence had halted Sin utter bewilder-
ment! No one was visible before him,
behind him, on either side! The words,
in Spanish, came from the air, the sky,
the distant horizon, he knew not which!
Was he still dreaming? A strange SILVER
crept over his skin as if the air had grown
suddenly chill. Then another mysterious
voice arose, incredulous, half-mocking,
but equally distinct and cleari
"Caramba! What is this? You are
wandering, friend Pancho! You are still
smarting from his tongue. He has the
grant confirmed by his brigand govern
ment: he has the possessions stolen by a
thief like himself. And he has the Cor
regidorse with him, for he is not one of
them himself, this Judge Peyton
Peyton! Clarence felt the blood rush
back to his face in establishment; and in
dignatiOn; his heels mechanically pressed
his horses TANKS, and the animal sprang
forward.
"Guarda! Mrav said the voice again
in q quicker, lower tone. But this time
it was evidently in the field beside HIM,
and the heads and shoulders of two horse
men emerged at the same moment from
the tall ranks of wild oats. The mystery
was now solved. The strangers had been
making their way along lower level of
the terraced plain, hidden by the grain.
not twenty yards away, and parallel with
the road they were ascending to join.
Their figures were alike, formless in long
striped serapes, and their features undis-
tinguishable under stiff black sombreros.
"Buenas nOches, Senor," said the Sec
ond voice in formal and cautious delibera-
ton.
A sudden inspiration made Clarence re-
spond in English. as if he had not compre.
hended the strangers words, "Eh ?"
''Gooda nighta" repeated the
stranger.
'Oh!-Good night" returned Clarence.
They passed him, their spurs tinkled
twice or thrice. their mustangs sprang
forward, and the next moment the loose
folds of their serapes were huttering at
their sides like wings in their flight.
ITO be continued)