Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-07-23

Men, women, and children were
standing about, dressed in holi-
day clothes. Then l remembered
that the girl who waited upon me had
said something about to-day being
great festival of the Church. i had given
little heed to her words. | watched the
crowd for few minutes, and presently
saw sight which, had my mood been
happier, would have delighted me.
Girls and boys came. bearing tall wick
er baskets full of leaves. pulled from
various flowers and green shrubs. The
sandy space in front of me was cleared.
A young man ran nimbly from point to
point, tracing as he went lines in the
dust. Then, seizing the baskets, one
after another, he distributed their
glowing contents in such way that In
less than twenty minutes what looked
like n carpet of variegated pattern,
formed of flowers, covered the dusty
space.
As he hastily threw the last splash
of crimson roseleaves Into its place, the
procession OF priests. acolytes, and
choristers appeared. l. paused on the
fair carpet, and some ceremony, such
as blessings, was gone through. Every
hat was doffed. every knee was bent
all save one. There, on the outskirts
OF the crowd, with head uncovered, in
Difference to others, but standing erect,
I saw the tall form of lIustace Grant.
He had returned! A thrill of delight
ran through me as gazed on the hated
features Of the man who had robbed
mo of all cared for. / drew back into
the room, and watched him through
my window. My time had come!
The procession resumed its march.
The people followed it: most likely to
the church. The space was all but de-
serted. The various hucs of the flower
carpet were now blended together
without order or pattern. Grant re-
placed his hat. crossed the road, and
struck down path which could only
lead to the sea. laughed as saw him
disappear.
With grim deliberstion l threw
open the barrels of my pistols, and
loaded them afresh. No lack of pre-
caution on my part should aid the es-
cape of my enemy. Then I sat down
and waited. l wanted him to have a
fair start, so that our meeting might
take place as far up that deserted coast
MS possible.
When thought had given him suf.
ficient grace sailed forth in pursuit.
l turned down to the sea as he had
turned. I rounded the foot of the hill
which sheltered St. Seurin from the
nor'-west winds, then stood with the
unbroken cliff on my right hand, and
the sand stretching away in front of
me for miles and miles. In the distance
/ could see him-a white spot on the
yellow sand. The heat was great: so
he had clothed himself in dazzling
white garments. He was. perhaps, half
A mile in front Of me, walking near the
edge Of the sea. quickened my steps
and rapidly diminished the distance
between us.
l did not want to get so near, II he
turned, he might recognize me. l did
not mean to overtake him. I meant
to follow him until he turned to re-
trace his steps, then, as soon as he
liked, he might discover me. My only
fear was that some path up the cliff
might, unknown to me, exist-a path
that he might take, and so go home
across the table-land.
Grant walked leisurely, so was soon
within three hundred yards of him.
noticed that his head was bent for
ward, as is natural to those who think
as they walk. His hands were behind
him, and he paced the coast with a
slow, but lengthy stride. Little he
who was upon his traces!
Suddenly he turned aside, and struck
up the beach toward the cliff l stood
still and watched him. saw him reach
the top of the beach; then, as it were,
disappear into the face of the cliff. l
doubled my pace and hurried on,
laughing in vengeful glee. had him
now! For by this time l knew every
loot OF that coast line. knew that at