Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-02-06

SUCH way as 10 ltdFe t0e pretty arm
bare to the elbow. Holt realized wba
had made her appear such a striking
picture among the cactus blossoms. i
was this gown Of shining. floating blue
"Were you born here;" he asked.
"No. In San Antoine. Ny mothe
had Spanish blood in her veins NJ
father said | had eyes like hers. Is you
home like this?" she questioned in he
turn.
my home is in q great city," Hol
answered smiling, "where people arr
as thick as the flowers on the plateau
yonder. +"
"And are there girls there like meY
with a wistful expression.
PLENTY of them. Tell me how yor
have been educated?"
my father taught me to read, and
have read my few books over and over,
When the wind howls in the winter and
the sun hides, then / read"
LET me see your books"
She brought them, the bound volumes
he had noticed. On the title page was
the name Norman Loring" written in
q nervous hand.
"What is your name?" asked Holt
"Vida. My father told me / should
go east one day and live among my peo-
pie, bnt now there is no chance, though
Miguel says he will soon take me to a
beautiful place where everything is fine
and grand, but then if there are only
Castilians there, as he says, shall not
like il"
Anita called them to the midday
meal, and in the porch they encountered
an old, grey haired Mexican, looking
down ON the unconscious form Of Mi
guel, with an expression of mingled
anxiety and aversion. King sat by smok-
ing cigarette.
The travellers learned from Roderigo
that his sons evil tendencies were a
great distress to him. They could see
that both wife and father were afraid Of
Miguel.
"And the young lady? Does he i'll
treat her?" asked King.
"Not so. curse him!" exclaimed the
old man excitedly. "Sorry the day I
brought him here to squander the sig
nor's property and bring evil to his
child. Miguel would put away Anita,
the faithful one, and marry with the
beautiful Americana. Even in two days
from now he plans to do it. And she,
the innocent, thinks not Of his wicked
ways. Signor, I am old. Anita is a
woman. We guard and watch the inno-
cent senorita, but what can we do if he
carries her beyond the Santa Rosa? I
could kill him! He is devil, but he is
my own flesh and blood"
His listeners were Mortified at this
disclosure Of villainy.
"The gentlemen, is they marry?"
asked Roderigo. "Then they take away
for awhile the senorita, even though
Miguel kill his father and Anita, too,
through rage"
Holt and King conferred together.
Anita was consulted. The result was
that the hunters and their self assumed
charge started before sunset that after
noon for Atwood's ranch.
"Well, Holt" said his host as the two
smoked together on the night of arrival,
"for an unmarried man, or men, for l
share your misfortune, should say you,
or we, were in something of box"
"What are you going to do about this
marvellous find?"
Hunt up her relatives the first
thing" answered Holt. "But, reflect.
ing gloomily, "what if they don t choose
to recognize herr"
"Loring is not an unusual name. I
have before me the task of approaching,
by word or letter, every individual Lor-
ing of whom I hear, at the risk of being
thought most impertinent.
"There's Norman Loring Of New Or
leans" mused Atwood; "he's well
known to me, and one of the best fell
lows in the world"
Norman? Is his name Norman?"
said Holt rapturously. "He might be
nephew or a cousin. This girls father
was Norman. Write him at once, At
wood, and it would be no harm to init
mate that the orphan has flock Of some
thousands Of sheep and bunch Of good
horses. The fact that he won't have
pauper on his hands may sharpen his
memory.
"Hold now, Dick" said Awtood.
'Loring is as upright as the day. He'll
tell us the truth. "
Atwood's friend proved to be the
nephew of Vida father, who, he wrote,
lowing to financial and social troubles,
had gone to Texas over 90 years before.
His friends were unaware Of his mar
riage. If Mr.. Holt on his way north
would kindly escort Miss Loring as far
as the Crescent City, his mother would
take charge Of her niece.
In the interim the bachelor had ample
to make things agreeable
For their guest, whose native good sense
and entire freedom from artifciality
and interested them.
One AFTERNOON when Holt was riding
at Vida's side bullet whistled close,
very close, to his ear. He turned in
time to see Miguel creeping off through
The cedars. A party secured the country
in search Of him that night, but were
unsuccessful.
Anita and Roderigo were the sole oc-
~ tho rapch xvhou Einu tooL
of it four months later at the
nstigation of the owner.
"And what became of the heroine?'
'ome one asked to whom this story was
old.
"Holt fell in love with her and would
,ave married her if Atwood had not got
shead of him."
Pursued by a Demon.