Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-02-03

pfalrles where only last night ali ha5
seemed vision Of beauty. Suddenly
sue leaned back her head and called
Sharply, Augusta Victoriai''
A slb-Ike Missouri girl.tha DANES
TIC pivot OF the ranch, appeared in
response.
wen, Miss Jack ?"
The black head lowered. and the tan
heel struck the floor several times be-
lore the question came:
what was Jose up here for this af
ternoon, and why did he stink away
around the corral, orr quickly lifting
ner mead and looking into Augusta
Vlctorla's eyes, is he still here?''
NO, he amt here now; but you
know Jose and me are keepin' COM
pany; so why shouldn't he be here?''
NO reason; only he seemed to act
queer, and am sure I heard him men
tion-mention Captain Charteris's
name
We'll, yes, he might 'av," uneasily
shifting her lank weight from one fat
foot to the other.
Jack arose, went over to Augusta
Victoria, and grasped her firmly by
the shoulder.
you know I have never trusted
Jose, and now I know there is some
thing wrong. Tell me-tell me, or
well, you know what I can do"
"Oh, dear Miss Jack, save him!--
save Jose! save us all!'
Hurriedly, disc6nnectedly, she told
the trembling little woman before her
the story Charters had had a quar-
rel with Mexicans on the lower Pecos:
that in saving his own life he had shot
his assailant; that the dead man was a
cousin to Jose, who, with his broth
ers were all left to right the wrong.
That they were to meet at Ortegas,
and were going to Farringden's ranch,
where Charters was alone; that the
settlement would be short, and that
oh, dear, oh!-they had already
started.
Without a word Jack rushed, hat
less, for the corral. Her own little
broncho, Lorita, was soon girthed, and
they were off over the mesa, the start
led horse fairly maddened as the heavy
end of the qIirt struck her tender
TANKS with repeated blows. Her gen
tie mistress seemed turned into de-
mon, as mile after mile they flew
not by the trail, but over the range,
where quicksands lurked, and prairie
dogs holes were traps TO the galloping
horses feet. On they went, the mare
goaded to frenzy by the shrill voice
and raining blows. The Farringden
ranch lights were in sight, and Jack,
her heart a triphammer in her side,
gave a final shout to speed Lorita on.
but treacherous hole caught one of
the horses slender legs, breaking it,
and throwing the little broncho in an
agony of pain to the ground, where
her rider lay, unhurt. Without a
glance at her dearly loved horse, Jack
sprang to her feet and rushed like a
coyote over the ground.
The altitude exhausted her feeble
lungs, and when she stumbled across
the doorway of Farringden's ranch
speech had almost left her. The cur
tain was up, and Charters sat by the
table, under a swinging lamp, writing.
With one swift movement she pulled
down the treacherous shade, threw
herself upon his breast and stretched
out her arms protecting around him,
as, listening to every wind-breath, she
gasped:
Come with me-there is no time 10
talk
Seeing determined negation in his
face, she continued:
''There is not moment to lose.
Jose Gonzales and his brothers are be-
hind me. They are fierce with pulque
and revenge Come, comet"
.Never! Ill face the cowardly
Mexicans!,
"Harcourt, "a deep wall of de-
spairing passion in her voice-"I love
you, dearest, with all the life God has
given me, and I beg of you, for the
sake of your hope and mine in Heaven
to listen to me-" Her shielding arms
were again around him, and fifty kisses
| were pressed on his lips. "Harcourt,
sweetheart, do my will just this once
this once!" And he obeyed.
Through the rear door of the house
they went. With her hand locked in
his, they rushed toward the canon,
Jack guiding the rebellious English
man.. At length she stopped. Il can
go no further" and pulling the red
kerchief from her neck she held it to
her lips.
| "What shall I do with you, Har-
| court? They will kill you'll"
He took the hand at her side. Twas
red with blood.
The galloping horses and excited
Spanish voices reached them as Jack
rushed into the clear light.
"Jose Gonzales, is that your
Isl, senorita.
The girl advanced to where the
three horsem en- had refined and talked
| 80. II no