Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-04-30

self with his grievances and made his
fight your fight, do you demand that l,
too. should risk my life to a v his
property? Our father and our young
brother gave their lives that Governor
Strong's chattels should be put in a
place of safety. | have arrayed myself
against the side where such massacres
are possible. Accept the issue now
friendship or hostility between you
and me"
Seth covered his face with a remorse
full cry.
Poor old daddy Poor little Charliel
My lad, my merry little lad! / wished
I could "a died in your stead, Charlie,
in place of livin to handy words Of hate
and scorn with the onlies' brother I've
got left in the world"
The somber gloom of the officers face
was dispelled temporarily by a smile Of
ineffable sweetness.
"Not hate brother. I don't think
you ever really hated anything in all
your gentle life. Only a shock of dis.
agreeable surprise, and a certain fretful
uneasiness for the situation. You will
come to look at things and at me differ
emily a month or so hence, very differ
entity"
At this j~uncture Corporal Greenleaf's
rudy face was suddenly framed in the
doorway. 1t was furrowed with comic
al perplexity. With an abrupt military
salute he craved his superior officers
pardon for his intrusion.
"Thar amt no use, major. They
won't be held back no longer. They're
wimmin, and wimmin are the very dev-
il for carrying a point. If they was
men, l could a. handed 'em over to the
guard. The old lady says she's rode sew
en- miles in a dumpin cart to get to her
son, and she won't be kept from him
by King George and all his army"
"And she means every word she
says"
This Endorsement came from Becky
herself, who pressed resolutely to the
front, never once loosening her hold of
a little nut brown hand, partially in
cased in a white cotton mitten, that be-
longed to a discreetly yelled young wo-
man.
Agitated, breathless, confused, Mrs.
Martin, standing in the center of the
small apartment, did not look at all
like a woman who had just carried her
point.
That majestic officer, heavily beard
ed and sun tanned almost to blackness,
was an imposing object in his dashing
uniform, but he was not Seth. Purpose
ly or by al impulse of pity for mother
and son Seth's gaunt form was sudden
ly i%nterposed between them.
Here I am, minnie, sound in wind
and limb"
Becky rushed at him with a hysteric-
al cry.
"Sonny! My boy Sethl Oh, my good
Lord! I've been that bad scared. l
didn't know what they might do to you
before | got here. God bless you, son
Sethl"
"Mother, have you no blessing for
me?''
Seth felt himself forcibly set aside.
At sound of that deep, sonorous bari
tone Rebecca turned her bewildered
eyes away from the rustic in tatters to.
ward the officer behind him.
"The voice, the voice-is-my boy
Strong's-but''-
A soft sigh smote upon their ears.
The slight yelled figure lay in a heap at
their feet.
cts Mamie, Mamie Colyer, poor,
precious child. She JUS would come,
cause she said the ride would be too
much for Liza, and it's ben too much
for her"
1t was Strong who gathered the un-
conscious girl quickly and lovingly in
his arms, holding her white face and
closed lids pressed against his bosom as
he carried her gently toward the iron
camp cot against the wall, refusing to
relinquish the beloved burden until,
with returning consciousness, she open
ed her great gray eyes and recognized
him with a violent gesture Of repul-
sion.