Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-10-09

seemed TO be let loose.
semitzin lifted from her face the
woollcn mask, or visor, which she had
closed on entering the cave. She was
painting from exertion, but neither her
physical nor her mental faculties were
abated, She spoke sharply and inn
periously.
Bring up the mule, and help me
fasten the chest upon him. We must
reach higher ground before the waters
overtake u.s. And now" She turned
to Freeman, who by this time was sit
sing up and regarding her with stupe-
faction.
"Miriamr' was all he could utter.
She shook her head, and smiled. ~
am she who loves you, and who's you
win love. give yon life, and fortune
and myself. But come; can you mount
and rider"
I al can't make this OUT he said,
struggling, with her assistance, to his
feet. 81 have read fairy tales, but this
--Kamainkan, tool
Scnitzin, meanwhile, brought him
to the mule, and half mechanically he
scrambled into the saddle, the chest
being made ito the crupper. semitzin
seized the bride and started up the
gorge, Kamaialtan bringing up the
rear The lower levels were already
filling with water, which came pouring
out through the archway in full
flood, seemingly inexhaustible.
81 see how II is" mumbled
freeman, half to himself. "The
earthquake remember l got hit
somehow They came from the ranch
to hunt me up. But where are the
General and Prof Meschines? How
Ion. ago was it9 And how came Mi
Ram. Could the mirage have had
anything to do with it9-llere, let me
walk" he called out to her, land you
get up and ride"
She turned her head, smiling again,
but hurried on without speaking. The
roar of the torrent followed them.
Once or twice the mule came near
losing his footing. Freeman, whose
head was swimming, and his brains
buzzing like hive of bees, had all he
could do to maintain his equilibrium in
the saddle lie was excruciatingly
thirsty, and the gurgliug of waters
round about him made him wish he
might dsmount and plunge into them.
But he lacked power to form a decided
purpose, and permitted the more ener-
getic will to control him. II might
have been minutes, or it might have
been hours, for ali he knew; at last
/ ~. l.. r. a. IL
"Here we are safe" said Semitzin,
coming to his side. Lean on me, my
love, and will lift you down"
''oh, I'm not quite so bad as that,
YOU know" said Freeman with fee
BILE laugh; aud, to prove it, he blum
dered off the saddle, and came down
on the ground with thwack He
picked himself up, however, and, rec
ollecting that he had flask with
brandy in it, he felt for it, found II in
tact, and, with an inarticulate murmur
Of apology, raised it to his lips. 1t
was like the veritable elixir of life'
never in his life before had Freeman
quatfed so deep draught Of the fiery
spirit. 1t was just what he wanted.
But he felt oddly embarrassed. He
did not know what to make Of Miriam.
IL was not her strange costume merely,
but she seemed to have put on-or put
off-something with it that made a
difference in her. She was assertive,
imperious; as loving, certainly,as lover
could wish, but not in the manner OF
the Miriam he knew. He might have
liked the new Miriam better, had he
not previously fallen in love with the
former one. He could not make ad
yances TO her; he had no opportunity
To do so; she was making advances u
himl
"hly love-" she said, standing before
him, II have come Lack TO the worle
for your sake. Before Semitzin frs
saw YOU, her heart was yours And
come to you, not poor, but with the
riches and power of the Princes o.
Tenocbtitlan. You shall see them
thew are yoursl--Kamaiakan, take
down the chest"
whats that about Semitzin9' in
ouired Freeman. "Im not aware tina
knew any such person.
"hamaiahaul foFo~hSN eAS SeA
: raising her voice, and not hearing
Freemau's last words. Kamaiakan wal
: nowhere 10 be seen. Both Freeman
and she had supposed that he was fol
, lowing on behind the mule; but he ha'
either dropped behind, or had with
r drawn somewhere. 20 kamAiakanP
. shouted Freeman, as loud as he could
! A distant hail, from the direction o
E the desert, seemed TO reply
,sThat can't be he" said Freeman
/ SIT was at least quarter ola mile OF
! and the wrong direction, too. He's IL
the gorge, II he's anywhere
{ "Harkl" said semitzin.
T. They listened and detected Low
murmer, this time from the gorge.
s "He's fallen down and hurt himself
said Freeman. Lets 90 after him
!, In a few minutes they stumbled upoi
I the old Indian. reclining with ht
/, shoulders against rock, and gAspinI
, heavily.
OMy prineess," he Whispered, as sh
2 bent over him, II am dying. The poii
q onous air in the cave was fatal 10 MI
q