The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-01-10
JUANITA'S RIDE.
How She Saved the Lives Of Her
Father and Lover.

1.-THE undertaking is perilous one,
father, and cannot recon cile myself
to your departure"
"Nonsense, daughter; you are grow
ing nervous instead of courageous.
Have we not travelled the Sierras these
many years without mishap?'
"True. But the mountains and the
valleys were at peace. Now there is
bitter warfare between the Yaquis of
the highlands and the Dapos of the
plains. The soldiers are hardly able
to control them. learned only yes
terday, from a traveller, that the
Yaquis had defied the government"
"But must CO. You know why l
must CO."
The daughter of the ranchero
blushed. She was beautiful, this
flower of the wilds. Lower California
held no fairer woman. Yes. she knew
why he must go. Sano Zalvaredes,
who loved her, and whom she loved,
was lying i'll at the United States fort
at Yuma. just across the line. He was
brave fellow, this Zalvaredes, tall,
strong, honorable, and the love of the
fairest woman in the land was credit
able to him. And the ranchero was
going to bring him home, that among
those who loved him well he might be
coaxed back into health and vigor; for
the illness, while severe, was not
such as would undermine the strong
constitution of the sturdy young cat
tleman.
1t was the conflict between her love
for her father and anxiety for his
safety, and her love for Zalvaredes
and anxiety for h is welfare, that made
Juanita Castero turn pale and red in
turn. She was brave, like all the
daughters of the ranches, and she set
her face to the danger and bade her
father godspeed and safe return with
her lover.
bird flies. from the ranch of Castero to
Fort Yuma, but it was a wearisome,
dangerous journey over mountain
passes with a wagon-and it was in a
wagon that Castero set out to bring to
his house the young man he already
loved like u son.
Juanita stood in the shade of the
orange trees and saw him go. She
waved her hand to him and waited
kiss into the balmy atmosphere when
he halted his team on q high hill and
looked back at her. There was anxiety
in Senior Castero's heart as we'll, leav-
ing his motherless girl on the ranch.
But there were faithful servants there,
and the cattlemen oil loved her. When
her father was out of sight beyond the
l. ~ ;r%1
house.
"It will be a four.days' absence, at
least" she said to herself. "Two to
60 and two to come, and who knows if
they will be able to return at once.
Perhaps five days will be needed, and
my heart will be torn with fears"
But she went resolutely to work, for
this daughter Of the ranchman was no
idle lily.
Three days passed slowly and wear
lily along.
The rumble of the wheels Of the lum-
bering coach that twice a week passed
by and stopped to allow the passen-
gers to buy food was heard coming
over the hill
"The stage sounds heavy to-day"
said Juanita to a servant "There
must be many passengers. See that
plenty IS provided for them"
Two packages, senorita," shouted
the bur!y stage-driver, coming to
where Juanita stood on the porch.
How is Senior Castero, that do not
| see him greet the stage as usual?"
''IIe is absent. You have many pas
scngers to-day. Yazzo?"
"Yes Tho people through the Sierra
dc Bacatel are getting away. There is
danger there. There will be blood
she'd"
''In the Sierra Bacatel? Danger! Ny
father must pass through there to-
day"
THAT is bad. The Yaquis are in
open revolt. They have sworn to kill
every Mexican"
God have mercy!'' said Juanita,
pressing her hand over her beating
heart. God bring my loved ones safe
ly home"
'The Yaquis are bloodthirsty. lathe
| Dapos are as bad and will fight the
troops" THE soldiers are SO few;
why does the government not send an
| army"'
These and kindred remarks among
the passengers served to augment the
anxiety the Juanita already felt.
The stage gone, with its crew Of fee
ing people, Juanita made quick re-
solve. If men were fleeing from the
danger there was a woman who would
brave it. All that she loved were
there, and would perhaps in half day
more be at the pass that was so dan.
gerous. Perhaps she could reach them
in time to warn them. There was no
horse in the ranches or on the plains
as feet as Flying Satan, her powerful
favorite. To think was to act. There
was danger to herself, but she was a
woman who. loved.
Saddle Flying Satan at once" she
ordered.
"You will not 60 far. senorita?" said
|