The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1897-07-09

vide bread for his starving wife and
child. She pictured her mothers grieI
: and death, which she knew would fol
lew her fathers arrest. She pictured
all the misery and suffering that would
come with the laws enforcement, and
she became sick at heart.
'No, no, she said, that must, not.
shall not he II ] can prevent it. Twill
!, snake any sacrifice TO save my loved
\ ones"
Then on the other hand she thought
OF Paul, and up from the past floated
remembrauces on the happy. hours she
had spent with him, and of the bright
pictures her fancy had painted of the
future when she should be Pauls wife.
She recalled all his tender words ana
glances, and now in this hour. whep
'she was called upon to give him up she
felt her soul going out to him as it had
never gone out before, and she felt how
utterly impossible it would be to live
happily without him. and in spirit she
walled:
"Oh, Paul, Paul, how can give Won
up? How can lose you? God, Thou
art Just and righteous, and surely Thou
hast not forsaken me in this dark hour.
Help me, Lord, to save my parents, but
DO not require me to do it at such q
cost"
Pearson returned and stopped before
the girl
We'll" J" he said, ''have you decided?"
NO" she replied, without looking
up, II must have more time. win YOU
wait until tomorrow"
u suppose | must if you require t.
but see no use in it. You ought to be
able to decide how you will act without,
much thought 1t is simple question.
On one side is your fathers honor and
happiness. your mothers life, aud riches
Tor yourself, while on the other side
there is nothing but your own fancy.
You ought to be able to choose between,
The two easily enough"
Il must have time. 1t is a matter of !.
more Importance to me than you saw.
must ask God to help and direct me-"
Pearson gave light laugh at this,
and the girl shrank farther from him.
ITO give up dear Paul, she thought,
lis enough to break my heart, but to,
become the wife of this man makes the
sacrifice unbearable."
She felt all her old loathing Of him
return, and if only herself had been in
the question, she would a thousand
times rather have gone to deaths en-
brace than his.
Well said Pearson after little ST.
ience, IF you must have until to-mor-
row to decide, suppose we go back
u would rather go back alone" Lou
Use replied. "You need not wait for
me.
but You see, Louise, that would not.
do. Your parents would suspicion
something, and If you are to take this
step to save them, they must not know
it. You would not want them to know
it,"
mo, l would not" she said. 'sBut
before we go, must make one more
appeal to you. ! must beg you on my
knees to save them and spare me" and
as Louise spoke she kneeed before
him, and with clasped hands and
streaming eyes begged 'piteously for
mercy at his hands.
He let her proceed to finish, then
with shake of his head, replied:
ut is useless, Louise. am resolved
and nothing can change my purpose.
will come back tomorrow, and shall
expect your answer then. If you de-
eide to accept my offer, want you to
be ready to go away with me to-mor-
row night. We will leave letter ex-
planning everything to your parents,
and after getting married at Magic
City we will take train for the west
where we will spend few months. |
have reason for going away which 1
cannot explain now, but which l will
tell you later. Now you know all my
plans, and if you decide to be my wife
you know what you will have to do, and
you must make your arrangements ac-
cordingly. Now if you are ready we
will return to the house"
MI car oOlli Call L lOU rGdcn YOUR
heart and prevail on you to be more
Louise asked.
mo, tell you it is useless to talk. /
am not to be influenced from nv pur-
pose. You can marry me and insure
The welfare of those you love, or you
can refuse me and let them take the
VNfs
Without another word Louise arose.
and in silence they walked back. Pear
son stopped only long enough to admon.
sh Louise that she must positively de-
'lde by the morrow, then mounted his
horse and rode away to Magic City. He
tnew what her decision would be, and
'elt secure Of his prey-as secure of it
Is though he had it already within his
srasp. He knew that Louise would not
sacrifice her parents.
CHAPTER XIII
THE SERPENT 8 VICTORY.
All that day and all the night fol-
owing there was bitter conflict rag
1trttb;,l o,,sease baort |