Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1895-04-15
BATTLE FOR A BRIDE

One day walked about our camp, in
terested in contact and intercourse with
these semisavages, whose wild ways and
legends had always been an attractive
study, when my eyes fell upon the face OF
a young girl of their band. 1t was most
wonderfully beautiful and fascinating.
The girl held herself strangely alooi
from the rest Of her people.
One day I happened to be near one oi
the mess fires when the men were cooking
supper, and one of them used some coarse
ribaldry in his reference to Marata, fol
such was her name
Quick as flash one of his companions,
Edward Robson, young giant of plains
man, sprang at him with the ferooity Of a
tiger, and thenceforward the careless
jester carried a gap in his teeth as me-
mento of his rashness.
One day late in July the sun had drop.
ped SO low that We were in the grateful
shadow of the hills to the westward, and
the small mess fires were beginning to
show their yellow glare among the trees
in preparation for the evening meal.
Robson was talking earnestly with Marata.
Am never to see you where can talk
to you as want?" he asked in the Navajo
tongue. "You know love you, Marata,
and that shall make you my wife when
get my discharge, and we shall be happy
then together. But it is too long to wait.
I must see you and talk to you of the
plans have for our lives"
He told her that he was to be on picket
duty that night, and she consented to join
h ht,,,n n1 a1, ,vr,ith T. iv,. Lns, IT. NJ
to be the howl of coyote.
When they were gone, another figure,
orouched in clump of bushes, straight
ened itself from its cramped position and
raised it's hands with savage gesture.
1t was the Indian Wild Horse who had
slipped into this concealment, where he
could hear the lovers intercourse and
Marata' promise
When Robson went to his post on picket
that night, it was with heart beating high
and eyes kindled with gleam of satisfac-
tion.
With a step as light as boys he paced
back and forth, back and forth, hummng
to himself beneath his breath the melody
of fervid Spanish love song.
"Only 8 O'Clock" he said impatiently
at length. "That means long wait yet,
for she said she would not come until all
was quiet. But would wait for years II
expected her to come at last"
Hark A dreary, dismal howl came to
him on the night air, making his heart
leap. Could 1t be the signal? Yes, there
1t came again and again! Surely it must
be Marata, for the cry swelled and wancd,
long drawn and sad as the cry Of the lost.
Robson hid his rifle in thicket then
drew it out again.
II must have my rifle in case should
be seen by one of the other pickets," he
said. He slung it across his shoulder and
stole with stealthy step out into the
shadows.
"Marata!"
''Here!' voice answered him from the
darkness
And the impatient lover swung himself
down the cliff with the aid of the over
hanging bushes and stunted trees.
"Marata!" he called again eagerly.
And again the voice answered close at
hand, and he saw dim figure outlined In
the obscure shadows of the canyon, where
the starlight only penetrated ftfully. 1t
was not Marata, for the dim light showed
him an uplifted arm and the pale glitter
of steel blade descending, and he felt the
sharp pain Of the knife In his shoulder,
stumbled and fell, sliding helplessly down
the slope to the bottom Of the canyon.
1t was the fall that saved him, for 9th
erwise his assailant would have leaped up
ON him, and another thrust Of the crue
knife would have sent him out into thu
unknown. As 1t was he had time to re
cover himself, stagger to his feet and draw
his own knife before Wild Horse coulC
swing himself down the wall Of rock tt
renew the attack.
Robson's years of frontier service haC
made him as skillful with the knife as the
Indian hims If, and he was no less 1.-THE
and strong in body and courageous IL
heart. But as they bent, swayed an(
struggled watchful and wary, the wount
in Robsons shoulder began to tell anf
tho loss of blood to weaken him.
A strange feeling of languor took pos
session of him, the glitter Of the stars
seemed farther away, and then they danced
before his very eyes as he stumbled ant
slipped over the rough stones.
Blindly he staggered. His nervelesi
hand could hardly hold the knife. 1t was
growing darker, darker. Suddenly thert
came flash and roar from the wall of the
canyon. Wild Horse screamed in agony
threw his arms aloft and fell upon the
stones. But Robson did not heed nor see
The whole earth reeled before him, and he
sank into unconsciousness When he
awoke, fire lit up the canyon, grour
of curious soldiers stood about him, and
his head was pillowed upon Marata'f
breast.
"Wild Horse came first, !" she whispered
when he could listen. II saw him sliI
away and steal down the canyon, and
followed as fast as could, for knew he
meant harm. But could not keep uE
with him. l heard the struggle and came
down into the canyon. Upon the wall my
foot struck the rifle lying among the
stones, and 1t was with that shot him
The great spirit put 1t in my way"
Robson did not answer In words. HI