Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-03-30
LOPEZ's HOME COMING

| 'Cencion Lopez. daughter Of Cenaga,
the outlaw, paused on tho brink OF the
arroyo, casting quick glance down its
Scared bed. Then she threw back her
head and scanned the hill above her.
She laughed out merrily at the dancing
flutter Of scarlet as gay breeze caught
the unwonted curtain in her cabin win.
dow, and. steadying her deftly poised
ola with one brown hand. darted, 1.-the
and swift rs young panther. across the
plank aud mp the well trod trail
| From his carved cradle in the corner
'CeDcion's black eyed baby gurgled and
shouted Mt his mothers rcappearance,
but she passed him with scant notice.
The frijoles steamed, brown and savory,
in the great kettle; coffee bubbled in the
pot. The outlaws daughter placed her
burden on tho table, and, setting plates
and cups for two. turned hastily to the
stove again to spread tortillas on the
kissing lids.
With her skin flushed by the strong
heat, 'Cencion bent to her task, piling
the crisp she tts, ono after another. upon
an earthen dish. Once she Strengthened
up her graceful length and smiled ap-
provingly at the toothsome heap. Just
as the last cake found its place fugi-
tive step ra:tled the pebbles before the
door.
The flush ON the girls face deepened,
and her full eyes widened expectantly.
She sprang to meet the newcomers
warm caress, took his rife and sombrero
from him and hurried TO serve the meal
while he unwound the folds Of his dun
serape
II saw thy signal. queridn. he said
in musical bass. .fiinging down the wrap
and moving to the cradle side. How
fares my son? IL all well with 70 since
/ last Gamer
The baby slept. 'Cencion laid her
eager face OF the mans shoulder. smil.
ing down ut the wee, dark profile.
"All is well, she answered.
"And Juau?"
"Comes net till the Monday. You
have four days Of safety. mi muy caro-. "
A little frow crew between her brows,
but her lips .i.il smiled. Come, senor;
the supper cools!"
Smarting under his i'll fortune and
fiercely angry at his false comrade, Ju.
an Lopez gathered together the wreck
age from his outfit and set his face to-
ward home. Ii had been disastrous
trip from the very start. BE might have
known when Altar refused to bulge
from the corral and only passed the gate
protestingly under the quirt that the
expedition was destined to failure.
Juan tied up his injured arm as best
he could, holding ths- bandage In his
teeth, aud, burling a vivid imprecation
in the direction taken by Manuel after
the upset, logged doggedly back over
the route Of yesterday. 'Madre do Di.
os, he muttered stormily. much good
may his burros do him! May they stum-
BILE in the streams and drowni May they
stampede and lose him in the desert!
As for me, my load floats down the can
yon and l go home. Again shall know
not to travel with one cursed by an evil
star"
All day Altar and selim plodded with
dropping heads under the staring sun.
The chalky powder rose like smoke un-
der their steady hoof falls. The dry
sage scent weighted the mans lungs.
The fever Of his hurt grew in his blood
and resentment consumed him.
GOOD ST. Bernard, reward him" he
cried as heavy jolt gave an extra
twinge to his soreness, and. shaking an
excited fist at the cloud capped heights
above: "Send mist from thy mountain
10 bewilder him in the passes. Let him
fall and leave him-as he left MEL
Superstitious foreboding haunted his
tortured senses as he brooded over his
loss and desertion. Misfortune had fol-
lowed him from the cabin. Had he cast
of the incubus with his i'll starred
friendship, or was some fell spirit still
tracing his movements? Insensibly. as
the return road shortened and no further
evil marred his journeying. the evan.
escent dread took the shape Of name
less fear for 'Cencion and the child.
His head throbbed, the breath of even.
ing floating down the canyon could
not ease his sick discomfort. the weary
pace nettled him. When at last the
frowning walls around him lowered,
and. turning from the main trail, the
heavy cart numbered over the baked
earth along his own arroyo, Juan urged
his horses into trot in spite of the pain
in his left arm. and, with final male
diction on the recreant Manuel, ratified
quickly over the last bare hillock and
sprang down by the corral gate. In a
few minutes he was following his wife's
footsteps up the steep ascent to the cab
in door.
It struck him with creepy chill that
no 'Cencion stood on the threshold call.
ing down her welcome. Then he laugh
ed aloud at his foolish fear, shifting
high up ON his well shoulder his gun,
which, thank the saints, had come safe
ly out Of the scrimmage at the second
ford. His eyes twinkled in momentary
revulsion of feeling How fine surprise
would be b to his prima queridal he
stole upward silently. The fever flush
caught him with his hand on the latch.
Something gripped his throat--a mel
low, musical tone; then madness surged
into his brain.
| This, then, was the meaning OF his
disasters. this the crowning trick OF his
evil genius! His pulse scorched.
i He had never doubted her, never for
one instant dreamed that her isolation
was not com plete ON MS long monthly
| trips to Vallecita He had forgot, fool
that he was, that strain Of lawless blood
secure in his infatuation. but now
now-he did not feel the wrenching OF
his hurt as he swung the rifle into posi-
tion and moved, noiseless. catlike, under
the opened window.
He would be calm, he would be sure.
The poison working in his soul sh0uld
not blind him. But il 1t we're true-if
'Cencion-God help them. his aim was
keenl
Il Crouching under the easement like .
puma. lips snarled apart over glisten.
ing, cruel teeth, Juan Lopes waited.
His eyes blurred, be brushed IN impa.
tisnt hand 70 clsas them. listening.