Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-01-08
LOPEZ'S HOME COMING

the outlaw, paused on the brlnk or 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
futter 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 as young panther, across the
plank and up the we'll trod trail
From his carved cradle in the corner
'Cencion's black eyed baby gurgled and
shouted at his mothers temperance,
but she passed him with scant notice.
The frijoles steamed, brown and savory,
in the great kettle; coffee b1bbled in the
pot. The outlaws daughter placed her
burden on the 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 sheets, one after another, upon
an earthen dish. Once she Strengthened
up her graceful length and smiled APP
provingly at the toothsome heap. Just
as the last cake found its place fugi-
tive step ratified the pebbles before the
door.
The flush on the girls face deepened,
and her full eyes widened expectantly.
She sprang to meet the newcomer 8
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, querida," be said
in musical bass, finging down the wrap
bnd moving to the cradle side. How
ares my son? Is all we'll with ye since
last came?''
The baby slept. 'Cencon laid her
eager face on the man. shoulder, smil-
+ ing down at the wee, dark profile.
"All is WELL, she answered.
"And Juan?'
Comes not till the Monday. You
nave four days Of safety, mi muy caro-. !"
A little frown drew between her brows,
f. put her lips still smiled. Come, senior; ;
he supper coolsl"
Smarting under his i'll fortune and
iercely angry at his false comrade, Ju-
IN Lopez gathered together the wreck
ge from his outfit and set his face to-
ward home 1t had been disastrous
rip from the very start. He might have
Known when Altar refused to bulge
rom the corral and only passed the gate
'rotestingly under the quirt that the
Expedition was destined to failure.
Juan tied up his injured arm as best
could, holding the bandage in his
eeth, and, hurting vivid imprecation
b the direction taken by Manuel after
he upset. logged doggedly back over
he route of yesterday. "Madre de Di-
S, )" he muttered stormily, much good
bay his burros do him May they Stun
~ lie in the streams and drownl May they
tampede and lose him in the desert!
for me, my load floats down the can
on and go home. Again | shall know
OF to travel with one cursed by an evil
TAR"
All day Altar and Selim plodded with
rooping heads under the staring sun.
he chalky powder rose like smoke I'M
er their steady hoCf falls. The dry
age scent weighted the mans lungs.
he fever of his hurt grew in his blood
nd resentment consumed him.
Good st. Bernard, reward himr he
red as heavy jolt gave an extra
Hlnge to his soreness, and, shaking an
Ecited fist at the cloud capped heights
bove: 'Send mist from thy mountain
bewilder him in the passes Let him
vi and leave him-as he left mer'
Superstitious foreboding haunted his
prtured senses as he brooded over his
PISS and desertion Misfortune had fol-
wed him from the cabin. Had he cast
the incubus with his ill starred
lendship, or was some fell spirit still
aclng his movements? Insensibly, as
10 return road shortened and no further
III marred his journeying, the evan.
cent dread took the shape Of name
IS fear for 'Cencion and the child.
His head throbbed, the breath of even.
g floating down the canyon could
IT ease his sick discomfort the weary
bee nettled him. When at last the
owning walls around him lowered.
fd, turning from the main trail, the
Eavy cart numbered over the baked
nth along his own arroyo, Juan urged
horses into a trOt in spite of the pain
his left arm, and, with final male
ction on the Iecreant Manuel, ratified
lckly over the last bare hillock and
rang down by the corral gate. In
W minutes he was following his wife's
Ptsteps up the steep ascent TO the cab
door.
lt struck him with a creepy chill that
'Cencion stood Oh the threshold call
down her welcome. Then he laugh
aloud at his foolish fear, shifting
gh up on is well shoulder his gun,
llch, than the saints, had come safe
out of tie scrimmage at the second
d. His eyes twinkled in q momentary
Tulsion OF feeling, How fine a surprise