Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-08-19

voice was faint, but crossed by a note of
terror. '1n that moment forgot my
religion and my duty. And what is so
sweet-it cannot be right"
"Do you so despise your womanhood,
the most perfect thing about your
'sOh, let us return! WANTED to kiss
you once. l meant to do that. But
should not Let us go! Oh, l love you
sol / love you SOP
He drew her closer and kissed her un-
til her head fell forward and her body
grew heavy. II shall think now for
both" he said unsteadily, although there
was no lack of decision il his voice.
'fYou are mine. claim you, and shall
run no further risk of losing you
Neither saw o man walking up the
trail. Suddenly the man gave bound
and ran toward them. He was Reinaldo.
"Ah, ! have found thee" he cried.
"Listen, Don Diego Estenega, lord Of
the north, American, and would be die
tator of the CALIFORNIA;. Two hours ago
dispatched vaquero with circular
letter to the priests of the department of
the CALIFORNIA; warning them each and
all to write at once to the archbishop Of
Mexico protesting that the success Of
your ambitions would mean the down.
fall of the Catholic church in California
and telling them your schemes. Thou
art mighty, o Don Diego Estenega, but
thou art powerless against the enmity Of
the church. They are mightier than
thou, and thou wilt never rule in Cali
fornia. finland my sisterl Thou shalt
not have her either. Thou shalt have
nothing. Wilt thou unhand herr he
cried, enraged at Estenega's cold recep-
ton of his damnatory news. "Thou
shouldst not have her if tore thy heart
from thy body"
Estenega looked contemptuously across
Chonita's shoulder, although his heart
was lead within him. "The last resource
of the mean and downtrodden is re-
venge," he said. go. Tomorrow I
shall horsewhip you in the courtyard Of
Fort Ross"
Reinaldo, hot with excitement and
thirst for further vengeance, uttered
shrek of rage and sprang upon him.
Estenega saw the CLEAN of a knife and
flung Chonita aside, catching the driving
arm, the fury of his heart, in his mus
cles. Reinaldo had the soft muscles Of
the caballero and painted and writhed
In the iron grasp of the man who forgot
that he grappled with the brother Of
woman passionately loved, remembered
only that he rejoiced to fight to the death
the man who had ruined his life. Rel
naldo tried to thrust the knife into his
back. Estenega suddenly threw his
weight on the arm that held it, nearly
wrenching it from its socket, matched
the knife and drove it to the heart Of his
enemy.
Then the hot blood in my body turned
cold He stood like a stone regarding
Chonita, whose eyes, fixed upon him,
were expanded with horror. Between
them lay the dead body of her brother.
He turned with groan and sat down
on fallen log, supporting his chin with
his hand. His profile looked grim and
worn and old. He stared unseeingly at
the ground. Chonita stood still looking
at him. The last act of her brothers life
had been to lay the foundation Of her
lovers ruin: his death had completed it.
All the south would rise did the slayer
of an Iturbi y Moncada seek to rule
them. She felt vaguely sorry for Rel
naldo; but death was peace: this was hell
in living veins.
The memory Of the world beyond the
forest grew indistinct. She recalled her
first dream and turned in loathing from
the bloodless selfshness of which it was
the allegory. Superstition and tradition
slipped into some inner pocket of her
memory. there TO rattle their dry bones
together and fall to dust. She saw only
the figure, relaxed for the first time. the
profile of man with his head ON the
block. She stepped across the body of
her brother, and kneeling beside Estene-
ga drew his head to her breast.
THE END.