The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-05
LOPEZ'S HOME COMING

She laughed out merrily ut tho dancing
futtcr OF scarlet rs Il gay breeze caught
the unwontcd curtain III her cabin win
dow, and, steadying her deity poised
OLA with one brown hand, dartcd, litho
and swift as young panther, across the
plank and up tho well trod trail.
From his carved cradle i'll tho corner
'Concion's black eyed baby gurglcd and
shouted at his mothers reappcarancc,
but she passed him with scunt notice
Tho frijoles steamed, brown and savory,
Ill the great kettle coffee dubbed i'll the
pot. Tho outlaws daughter placed her
burden OH tho table, and, setting plates
and cups for two, turned hastily to the
stove again to spread tortillas on tho
Missing lids.
With her skin flushed by the strong
heat, 'Cencion bent to her task, piling
the crisp sheets, one after another, upon
an earthcn dish. Oncc she straightenod
up her graceful length and smiled ap-
provingly ut the tOothaomo heap. just
rs the last cake found its place y fugi-
two step ratified the pebbles before Che
door.
Tho flush OH the girls face doeponed.
and her full eyes Widened expcctantly.
Sho sirang to meet tho newcomers
warm carcss, took his riflo and soinbrero
from him and hurried to serve the meal
while he unwOund tho folds of his dun
serapc.
Il saw thy signal. querida, he said
III a musical bass hinging down the wrap
and moving to the cradle side. ''How
fares NY son? Is all we'll with yc since
last Camc:"
The baby slept. 'Cencion laid her
eager face on the mans shoulder, smil-
ing down ut the wee, dark profile.
"All is we'll" she answered.
'And JUAN
Comes not till the Monday. You
have four days of safety, mi muy caro-. -
A little frown drew between her brows,
but her lips still smiled Come, senior;
the supper coolsI"
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. 1t had been disastrous
trip from tho very start. He might have
known when Altar refused to bulge
from the corral and only passed the gate
PiOltcViuSiy Viz uulTt IIlul Inp
expedition was destined to failure.
Juan tied up his injured arm rs best
he could, holding the bandago in his
teeth, and, lurling vivid imprccation
III the direction taken by Manuel after
the upset, logged doggcdly back over
the route of yesterday. "Madre de Di-
os, hemuttercd stormily, much good
may his burros do him! May they STUN
BILE III the streams and drown May they
stampede and lose him in the desert!
AS for me, my load floats down the can
yon and go home. Again shall know
not TO travel with ono cursed by an evil
star
All day Altar and Solim ploddod with
dropping heads under the staring sun
The chalky powder rose like smoke un-
der their steady hoof falls Tho dry
sage scent weighted the mans lungs.
The fever of his hurt grew i'll his blood
and resentment consumed him.
Good ST. Bernard, reward him!" he
cried as heavy jolt gavc an extra
tWinsc to his soreness, and, shaking an
excited fist at the cloud capped heights
above: send mist from thy mountain
to hcWilder him in the passes. Let him
TALL and leave him-as he left NOR
Supcrsutious forehnding haunted his
tortured senses rs he hroodcd over his
loss and desertion. Misfortune had fol.
lowed him frcm the cabin. Had he cast
off the incubus with his i'll starred
friendship, or was some fell spirit still
tracing his movements? Inscnsibly, as
the return road shortened and no further
evil marrcd his journcying, the evan
csccnt dread took tho shape of IL name
less fear for 'Cencion and the child.
His head throbbcd, the breath of even
ing floating down the canyon could
not ease his sick discomfort, the weary
pace nettled him. When ut last tho
frowning walls around him lowered,
and, turning from tho main trail, tho
heavy cart numbered over the baked
earth along his own arroyo, Juan urged
his horses into trot i'll spite of tho pain
In his left arm. and, with final male
diction on the rccreant Manuel, ratified
quickly over the last bare hillock and
sprang down by the corral gate. In IA
few minutes no was following his wfc's
footsteps up tho steep ascent 10 tho cab
i'll door.
1t struck him with II creepy chill that
no 'Cencion stood on tho threshold call
ing down her welcome. Then he laugh
ed aloud ut his foolish fear, shifting
high up on his well shoulder his gun,
which. thank the saints, had como safe
ly out of tho scrimmago ut tho second
lord. His eyes twinkled i'll Is momcntary
Revision Of feeling. How fine surprise