Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-09-14

IutO tfc upSCuiityt tdiu tuS WY WIN
open for MS TO go back unobservcd to the
station. But still we stood looking in
the direction she had taken and then
at each other, trying to estimate the
bearing Of this new complication upon
Don Gaspar Sangrado's design. From
these meditations our attention was ut
trncted by another apparition, the form
Of a man, stealing up from the direc-
ton Of the stage trail toward the tent
Dimly we could discern him. for his
clothes We're of neutral tint difficult
| to distinguish in the night But as he
came nearer, where the moon rays fell
upon him 30 that we could see him
more distinctly, We could tell that he
was slight Of build and wore q light
colored sombrero.
''lt's the Kid, believe" whispered
Felix. I've must try to gather what
he's abroad for in the moonlight II
he's after Lupita, M ! suspect, wish
him JOY Of his courtship in the mood
she's in tonight II she doesn't bring
about Il shooting match between him
and Sangrado. it won't be for want Of
trying ON her part /"
The advancing figure came near the
tent and passed into the shadow II
threw down the slope. Following his
motions, which we still dimly could
| discern against the canvas, we saw him
pause. Then from where he stood came
the low note Of bird call, given in
tone singularly natural, fresh and clear.
| After he had several times repeated the
call its note was succeeded by the words,
snng under his breath, of an Andalusian
love song. Presently we could distin-
guish that between the lines Of the song
bs was improvising words Of his own,
an impassioned appeal that his true
| love. his beautiful scncrita, would come
| forth to her inpatient and sorrowiDg
| lover.
His song. q mingling Of terse and
idiomatic frontier words and phrases
with the extravagant metaphor and by
perbole Of AN oriental singer, all render
ed In the liquid Spanish tongue TO at
tractive melody. wis strangely poeticai
and musical. Standing as we were in
concealment not so yards away from
the singer, Felix ard ]. knowing that
we were ON the very verge Of u hostile
encounter with bandit gang whose
desperate purpose we meant to thwart
ut all hazards, listened cniranced to the
song Of this romantic desperate. Coldly
murderous Of nature and steeped In
rrime. he was in his mood Of wooing
caroling in this desert oasis song that
might have beftted story of the
"Arabian Nights, calling to his veiled
and hidden ladylove TO emerge from
| her retirement and come to him.
His song was not unavailing. From
somewhere in the darkness, within or
without the tent, came low answering
note in feminine voice. There was .
little interchange Il appeals and re-
sponses, aud soon we could see stealing
along the outer side Of the canvas to-
ward the singer amantled figure, whose
supple undulation Of movement showed
il TO be o woman's and whose voice
when she spoke revealed itself as Lupi-
ta's. She came close to him and STOP
ped, with little space separating them.
He would have approached her. but she
held him at q distance.
"No, no, no. we heard her voice,
low as a whisper, yet 20 resonant that to
us listening in the stiffness. il came
with every shade Of delicate intOnation
and infection lyon do not love me
enough.
mia carina, swear that ! adore
you," he protested. "Stay with me, ]
implore you."
"No, no." she said again. II can
love no one tonight Ny heart is torn
with grief and rancor for wrongs un-
avenged. There can DO no peace, no
love. in my soul while my betrayer
lives"
"Quien es?' (Who Is it?) he demand.
ed. "And what do you wish-that !
ahould kill him?'
kill him. she repeated. "Yes. kill
himl But you would not do 20 much for
mel Why should you take my quarrel
up? am nothing to you"
"D-n him, I'd kill him for being
such fool as ever to leave you. II for
nothing else He was speaking now
with that slow, measured tone. almost
. drawl, which, to one familiar with
the accents Of men Of his kind in the
far southwest, sounds as ominous Of
danger a. the rattle Of snake. There's
NO trouble about doing that II you'll
tell me who and where he ii"
| "And you would do this for me?'
She advanced and embraced him tender
", then drew back and surveyed him
from the same distance ~ before. But
mol You must not venture IL. he ID
alert and skilled in the use Of weapons.
A dangerous man. senor--a mani And
you are but boy"
"Who 10 hep he asked again In the
same measured tone as before.
"This man-no not man; he II q base
hound and traitor-he il Gaspsr San.
grado.
j Billy gave low whistle. Its be, ID
1T" he said II know him. He plays
for bad man himself. and comes pret-
y near being the real thing. But that's
al right. Where u her'
'He is here. He will come 70 the sta-
tim within IN hour ~ . robber. There
u your quarrel, already mada ] VIII
take you to where you viii meet him. "
HAS be band Of followers with
II xv~~1I