Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-10-31

III pISNtH ColOrcu prints luelf SlOS-
sy black hair loosely braided and
reaching to their waists, their eyes
big with innocent curiosity, they
formed as pretty a picture as a
mans heart could desire. I felt the
color rush into nv cheeks, and a
queer sensation OF pleasure pass
through my whole being. OFF came
my hat as the buggy stopped with
spirited jerk, and the next moment
was bowling with al the grace l
could muster, which was not much,
and offering my revolver, knife and
beaded belt TO the little sonora,
whose dark eyes flashed with graft
fication and who thanked me with IA
great courtesy which would have
become the queen of Spain herself.
The sun was low IN the horizon
when | sat down with Jose TO our
evening meal. we demolished it i'll
solitary state, waited upon by the
sonora 5 sister. an exceedingly pref
ty girl of Il, with the bearing of a
woman of four and twenty.
The errand that brought me to the
Ponil was the buggy in which we
had driven thither. Jose had bought
it from my partner, but having no
| horse to convey it home had borrow
ed our mare, which l was to ride
back on the following day Thus
| had still Il breakfast to get through
| at Ponil and 40 miles to ride after
ward under burning sun. The
! probable nature of this breakfast
was serious anxiety to me as ate
my supper, and the meal was dis
posed of in solemn silence. When
it was finished, we adjourned to a
| grassy bank outside the house to
smoke quiet pipe. The sun had
disappeared now, and the dusk was
creeping up swiftly from the east.
In less than an hour night would be
upon US. ! lay back at my ease and
drowsily watched the girls, who
were sitting together little way off
busily sewing. Jose was with them
lingering piece of stuff-presuma-
! bly, a new dreSs-which his wife had
/ placed upon his knee for inspection.
1t was pretty, homelike scene, and
/ smiled to myself as / remembered
the absurd hesitation had felt at
relinquishing my revolver. Revolv-
ersl Could anything be more out of
place in such an atmosphere as this?
So thinking, | turned TO knock
the ashes from my pipe, which had
gone out, and was about to relight
it when my attention was caught by
an odd pattering sound, the distant
tramp of galloping horses. Some
body seemed to be in hurry this
evening. | sat up and called to Jose.
He was smiling at the time, playful
~ pulling his wife's hair. At my
words and gesture he sprang to his
feet with startled look and ran
quickly to place from whence the
road to Cimarron was visible for two
miles.
He stood there nearly minute.
shading his eyes with his hand, then
he ran back TO us, and such a change
had passed over thu man face that
/ stared at him in amaZement. His
lips, naturally loose, We're now COM
pressed into a thin, blue line; his
eyes were strangely dilated; he held
knife in his hand. sprang to my
feet, half believing that the knife
was meant for me. But Jose only
touched my arm and gasped be-
tween set teeth, pointing toward the
west:
"Vacheros come-vacheros from
Cimarronr'
failed to see the point. Indeed,
owboys-well, what $ the NATTER"
Jose stamped and swore aloud.
Matter, Carramb BIAS! You no
sabe Desperate cowboys. these.
Me know horses. All, vacheros dia-
volos! Vamos, you turning to
the women and still speaking in
broken English--''in casa. P'r'aps
they no see you there. P'r'aps no.
And you, senior, run - run fast
away, pointing TO the river. Go
very smart, and cowboys no catch
you at all 7
| looked around without moving
as bewildered as ever. The women
had scurried into the ranch like rab-
bits into a hole, and from two neigh
boring houses three Mexicans were
tearing up to US at full speed, their
faces rs anxious AS Joses.
What are you afraid Of" ex-
claimed shortly. feeling strongly in
clined TO laugh. We are five to
two
Jose shook his head impatiently
and swore again.
81, 81, ST But we have not one
pistol, and YOU are a boy. They