The Irish standard., 1896-04-11

tions vet even now HE went on. And
thoHghtsof YOU when was out there
in the rose garden waiting TO come in
here"
You did?n she said, drawing in her
breath A wave Of delicate pink color
came UP 70 her very eyes--it seemed
70 hipp as quickly and as innocently Us
when she was a girl. "And what did
you think, Klarus"-she half whis-
pered-"tell mel''
lie did not speak, but answered her
blue eyes, and then her lips, a. her arms
slipped quite naturally around his neck.
uead
The dawn was breaking as Clarence
and Jim Hooker emerged together from
the gate Of the casa. Mr. Hooker looked
sleepy lie had found, after Lib return
from Fair Plains, that his host had an
early Engagement in Santa Fnez and he
had insisted upon rising to see him on
It was with difficulty, indeed that Clar-
ence could prevent his ACCOMMODATING
him. Clarence had not revealed to Susy
the night before the real object OF his
journey, nor did Hooker evidently sus-=
pect it. yet when he hadInonnted his
horse, he hesitated for an instant--but
without extending Ills hand
IF should happen to be detained"
he began with half smile.
But jim was struggling with yawn.
sTha's all righ'--don't mind u.s. he
said, stretching his arms. Clarence's
hesitating hand dropped IN His side.
and with light, reckless laugh and q
half sense of providential relief, he gal
loped away
What happened Immediately there
after, during his solitary ride to Santa
Inez, looking back upon 1T i'll after
years, seemed but a confused recollec-
ton, more like a dream. The long
stretches of vague distance gradually
opening clearer with the rising sun
IN an unclouded Sky, the meeting with
few early or belated travellers and
his unconscious avoidance of them. as
it. they might know of his object the
black shadows of fores hortened cattle
rising before him on the plain and
arousing the same uneasy sensation of
their being waylaying men; the won
dering recognition of houses and land
110A no AiS Aittu lOliS DtCI 1dIQllldI
his purposeless attempts to recall the
circumstances in which he had known
all these were like dream. So
too, were the recollections Of the
night before, the episode with Susy.
already mingled and blended with the
memory of their previous past. his fIt-
tile attempts to look forward To the
future, always, however, abandoned
with relief at the thought that the
next few hours might make them un-
necessary. So, also, was the sudden
realization that Santa. Inez was before
him, when he had thought he was not
yet half way there, and as he dismount-
ed before the courthouse mis- singular
eling-followed, however, by no fear
of distress-that be had come SO early
to the rendezvous that he was not vet
quite prepared for il.
This same sense OF nnreaiity per
vaded his meeting with the deputy
sheriff; the news that the federal Judge
had, as was expected, dismissed tie
prisoners on their own recognizance,
and that Capt. Pinckney was Ill the
hotel at breakfast. In the like alb
stract manner he replied to the one or
two questions of the deputy, exhibited.
the pistols he. had brought with him
and finally accompanied him to a little
meadow hidden by trees below the hotel,
where the other principal and his sec
onds We're awaiting them. And here
lie awol1e!--elear-eye keen, forcefuI
and intense!
So stimulated were his faculties that
his sense of hearing III its acuteness
took in every word of the conversation
between the seconds. a few PAGES dis
tant He heard his adversary's second
say carelessly to the deputy sheriff: e
presume this Is q case where there will
be no apology or mediation" and the
deputy's reply; Il reckon my man
means business, but he seems a little
queer" He heard the other second
laugh and say lightly: They're apt to
be 70 when it's their first time OUT
followed by the more anxious aside OF
the other second as the deputy turned
away: "Yes, but by Cd don't like
his looks!a His sense of sight was also
70 acute that having lost the choice Of
position, when the coin was tossed and
being turned with his face to the sun.
even through its glare he saw with un-
erring distincthess of outline the black
coated figure Of his opponent moved
into range, saw the perfect outline of
! his features, and how the easy, super
cilious smile as he threw away his
cigar appeared to drop out of his face
with kind of vacant awe as he faced
HIM. He felt his nerves become al
steel a. the countering began, and at
the word three" knew he had fired l,y
the recoil of the pistol IN his leveled
hand simultaneously with its utter
ance. And at the same moment, still
standing like q rock, he saw his ad-
versary miserably collapse, his legs
grotesquely curving inward eInder him,
without even the dignity of death in his
fall, and SO sink helplessly like felled
bull to the ground. Still erect, and
lowering only the Inuzzie Of his pistol,
as q thin feather of smoke curled I'D
its shining side, he saw the doctor and
seconds run quickly to the heap, try to
lift its limp impotence into shape. and
let it drop again with the words.
"Rghtthrough the forehead, by Cd.
"You've done for him." said the
deputy, turning to Clarence with
singular look of curiosity. ..and I
reckon you'd better get out of this
mighty quick They didntexpectit--