The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-10
C|othiers, Hatters and Furnishers

The mans glance softened u little
with her pleading.
Let not fear he in your heart. Sc
norita," said the man again. but
strength seems not mine any more"
The herd having now come up with
tumultuous bleating, the man turned
and walked slowly away into the illu-
minated prairie. The girl noticed a
look in his face as If he We're aching
and his tall form seemed to stoop and
totter.
Alonzo Memlico had come to this
Kansas ranch several years before the
time of the meeting. with a gang Of
shearers from New Mexico. OF his for
mer history little was known. In
point of education he was superior to
his fellows. He remained on the ranch
a good part of the year, sometimes
working. with vehemence, at other
times he spent weeks In idling or
dreaming. 1t occasioned no surprise
when he came or went. for he came and
disappeared without warning. He was
unusually good natured. and his anger
was slow in coming, but when it did
come his Spanish blood manifested 1t.
self in prolonged sullen and revenge
full moods So, while rot quarrelsome
1t came to be considered prudent not to
make an enemy of Lon.
1t was observed that Lon was ov-
tremely fond of Clematis, the only
daughter of Mr.. knOwlton the owner
OF the sheep ranch; hut as she was
but q child when he first came to the
ranch, and he nearly twice her age.
nothing was thought of 1t by the fami-
ly. Often Lon used to say to Glenn. as
they all called her, In his polite Span
ish way:
you shall be my wife some day, Sc
norita.'
Glenn would reply laughingly: IF my
hero does not come along | will. Lon"
But suddenly there had come to Gle
matis KnOwlton that marvellous trans
formation into the fullness of woman
hood: the prairie flower had bloomed
into wondrous beauty. and with that
transition Clem found that her hero
had come and she gave herself to him,
with all the confidence of her young
and ardent nature.
The declaration tina. AlonZO MemlicO
made came to her with surprise and
pain.
She had never thought Of him as a
lover, and the manifesto ton of his pas
sion filed the breas. of the lovely girl
with strange forebodings. She knew
something of his sullen and revengeful
nature. That laugh of Ions when he
promised not 20 shoot Alph stiiI rang
in her ears with a horrible dissorance.
She determined to walk out on the
prairie. for 1t was not quite dark, to
meet her lover. whom she was that
evening expecting. The solemnity and
grayness that fell upon the wide ex-
panse Of prairie corresponded to the
vague feeling of trouble that possessed
her. She felt that she must a. once
inform Alph of the danger that threat
ened him.
Alfred Long was young man who
had come from Ohio several years be-
fore to n,ake his fortune on Kansas
ranch He had commenced with lit
tie fiock of sheec. and by industry and
good management his herd had grown,
until he was one of the largest flock
masters i'm the country. There was that
about Alfred Locg mat marked him
for manliness and honor. lie was mod
est, quiet brave and possessed the con-
fidence of his neighbors in an unusual
degree. His ranch was near that Of Mr.
Knowlton. SO that he early met Gle
mats and naturally fell In love with
her. and i'm the last few months they
had plighted troth to each other. but
their engagement was not known out
side of the family Of the knowltons
Glenn saw black speck moving
swiftly along the prairie. She walked
tow ards ii. and soon found 1t resolve 1t
self into Hlrh Oh J is ,,ony, who was
Fastening to kee:, iis tryst. He threw
himself from the .'ony. and the lovers
were in each Others s arms
why. darling. what makes you
tremble so.
20. Aiph. I'm so afraid for you
She kissed him passionately.