Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-09


"They don't need me-"
and Seth are all the men we have left.
Father and the boys are out at Lake.
lock, and the governor gone to find
Adrien."
"Adrien Strongl Present"
Liza shrank closer to Randal's side as
the words rang sharply upon the still
air.
Poor old chapl You called his name.
He thought it was roll call. Give him
his coffee, Abram."
The boy knelt beside the crouching
form, holding a tin cup Of the hot black
fluid close to the unshaven lips.
"Capt'n, Mars AIDE, yere's your coffee.
Abe done bet it es hot as blazesL"
"And so, my brave little woman, l
transfer that poor wreck into your keep.
ing. He will go without any trouble.
He is as docile as a little child. Abram
and l have still to find our way across
the lake under shelter Of the darkness.
I long for a glimpse Of the old folks at
home. Before daybreak we must begin
the return tramp. But-Liza!"
"Yes?" She lifted her wet lids to
look at him.
perhaps l was right, dear, in going
away without binding you to any form
al promise, but I need the comfort of
some assurance from you to take back
to camp with me. I think you have
known for a long time, dear, that l
loved you. How is it with you. little
Liza?"
Mamie Colyer, standing an entranced
eavesdropper, hidden from them by a
spreading cape ~jessamine bush, shook
her fist in impotent rage at Abe, who
was breaking up camp with an incon.
siderate amount Of chatter. The letter
Of Liza's reply was lost to her, but the
spirit Of it was made manifest by Ran.
dial. Lifting the little left hand to his
lips, he pressed a fervent kiss upon it.
"Thus, for lack Of a golden %circlet, do
l seal my troth and thine"
Liza" Timidly from out the gloom.
my poor little Mamie. Forgotten
nal tul5 Jtul6s
II was thinking, +" said Mamie. com.
ing forward tumultuously, "that may
be you would like to have an engage. |
ment ring. Something O other, you
know, to make things seem natural and
correct. I tried not to listen nor to un-
derstand, but I couldn't help 1t, you
see. It was all 70 dreadfully romantic
and heart breaking-being courted In q
graveyard by q campfire and all, you
She stood between them, holding up
q plain gold band. "This was man.
mas 1t isn't much to look at, but it
will mako things seem less dreamlike
when n Of you has gone back to camp
and the other to the loom. viii you
take it, with my benediotion on it?"
Randal's perplexed eyes left answer
to Liza.
"This is Mamie Colyer, my best and
hravest girl friend. Think we will take
her ring, as the unconventional seal to
an unconventional proceeding"
"Unconventionali I should say. And
heaven grant graveyard wooings never
may become conventional" said Ma.
mie, relieving herself by this fippancy.
A startled cry from Abram caused
them to turn quickly toward the latter
ed figure prone upon the army blankets
"Adrien. old fellow, you're not 60.
Ing 70 give mi the slip after I've gotten
you this near home? Home, mother,
wife, child, think Of them, dear boy,
and 1t will give you strength. They're
near by, Adrien-just q little while
and you will DO at home"
But the dying mans eyes were mot
fixed upon the Borrowing ones Of his
comrade. He was stretching his hands
toward Mamie Colyer.
Randall rose from his knees and drew
back. HE wants You, not me-"
Trembling, wondering. but resolute,
Mamie knelt down by the poor shatter.
I'd wreck. He drew her closer with ono
hand.
"Tell Strong-tell Strong-1've tried
10 make 1t Observation-Disclosures
mess. I've confessed It to the
governor. He'll be his friend. ] CON-
less 1t to you-because you-loved him.
I'll confess il above-soon. Then In .
stronger voice: "Ran-thank you, old
BOY. Yes-but . little while ! will b
Il home"
40 wss Of home
Who wss 10 tell tAespf |,