Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-11-05
PART 4.
CHArTEk lI.-CoNTINrFn.

Passing out of the stable yard he rec
ognized the Missourian's voice in wills
pered conversation with the proprietor,
but the two men withdrew into the
shadow as he approached.
An ill-defined uneasiness came over
him; he knew the proprietor-whoa also
seemed TO know the Missourian. and
this evident avoidance of him was sig
nifcant. Perhaps his reputation as a
doubtful unioDist had preceded him.
but this would not account for their
conduct in a district so strongly south
ern in sympathy as Fair Plains.
More impressed by the occurrence
than he cared to admit. when at last
after some delay, he had secured his
horse, and was once more in the saddle
he kept a sharp lookout for his quon-
dam companion.
But here another circumstance add
ed 10 his suspicious; there was a main
road leading TO Santa Inez, the next
Town, and the rancho, and this Clalen
had purposely taken in order to watch
the MissOurian-but there was a cut
directly to the rancho known only to
habiules If ;he rancho
After a few moments rapid riding
on a mustang much superior to any
in the hotel stables. he was satisfied
that the stranger must have taken the
cutoff. Putting spurs to his horse. he
trusted still to precede him TO the
rancho-if that was his destination.
A. kn 10
road, by a strange perversity of fancy.
instead of thinking of his purpose, he
found himself recalling the first time
he had ridden that way in the flush of
his youth and hopefulness.
The girl-sweetheart he was then GO
ing TO rejoin-was now the wife Of an
other; the woman who had been her
guardian was now his own wife.-He
had accented without a psSg the young
gircs dereliction, but il was through
her revelation that he was now about
to confront the dereliction of his own
wife.
And this was the reward of his youth
full trust and loyalty! A bitter laugh
broke from his lips. II was part of his
still youthful self-delusion that he be-
lieved himself wiser and stronger for
il.
twas quite dark when he reached the
upper field or first terrace of the rancho.
He could see the white walls of the
casa rising dimly out of the green sea
of early wild grasses, like a phantom
island.
Ii was here that the cutoff" Joined
the main road-now the only one that
led to the casa. He was satisfied that
no one could have preceded him from
Fair Plains; but il was true that he
must take precautions against his own
discovery.
Dismounting near a clump of willows,
he unsaddled and unbridled his horse.
and with the cut of the RATA over IT'S
launches sent it flying across the field
in the direction of a band of feeding
mustangs, which it presently joined.
Then keeping well in the shadow of a
belt of scrub-oaks he skirted the long
lesser terrace of the casa, intending to
approach the house by way of the old
garden and corral.
y drilling rain, occasionally driven
by the wind into long misty cUrtainlike
waves, obscured the prospect and ia
Nored his design. He reached the low
adobe wall of the corral in safety; look
ing over he could detect in spite of the
darkness that number OF the horses
were of alien brands, and even recog-
nized one or two from the Santa IneZ
district.
The vague outlines of buggies and
carryalls filed the long shed beside the
stables. There was company at the
rasa-so far Susy was right.
Nevertheless. lingering still by the
walls of the old garden, for the deepen
ing of night, his nervous feverishness
WAS again invaded and benumbed by
sullen memories. There was the open
ing left by the old grille in the wall, be-
hind which Mrs. Peyton stood on the
morning when he thought he was leav.
ing the ranch forever-where he had
first clasped her in his arms, and
stayed; a turn of the head, a moments
INDIGESTION, a single glance of a languor-
Gus eye, had brought this elimination.
And now he stood again before that
ruined grille, his house and lands, even
:. mis- name, misused by a mad, scheming
Eenturess, and himself a creeping
"a his own dishonor.
eyed with a bitter smhe again
ken. A few dark Castilian
- Aaned forward and swayed
- - h dripping leaves. 1t
-. "a first morning of his
-. - ped Susy; the PEI
-. Cher pink skin came
- Asudden shock as be
80 >at IT, fower.
nd Ssahaled
s-g. eft 6as.11r
.sgr M.