The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-29
.SHLOMY JNNE'S KISS
BY Bret Harte.
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(copyrIght, 1s9s, by Bret Harte.l

by Bret Harte.) ~ eSsi'e& - sSfssfss"
I would serve as a disguise for him and
| hide that heroic figure, which she
thought everybody must now know as
she did. Then she rejoined him breath
lessly. But he put the food and whisky
aside
Listen" he said: 1--WE turned the
boss into your corral. You'll find him
there in the morning, and no one win
know but that he got lost and joined the
other hosses."
Then she burst out "But you--you-
what will become of you? You'll be
catched.'
"Ill manage to get away" he said in
low voice. 'ef-ef"
"Ef whaty" she said tremblingly.
"Ef you'l put the heart in me again
as you did.' he gasped.
She tried to laugh-to move away. She
could do neither. Suddenly he caught
her in his arms and with loAg kiss,
which she returned again and again.
Then they stood embraced rs they had
embraced two days before, but no longer
the same. For the cool, lazy Solomy
Jane had been transformed into anoth-
err woman--a passionate, clinging saw
age. Perhaps something Of her fathers
blood had surged within her ut that SUI
preme moment. The man stood erect
and determined.
''Wot's your name?' she whispered
quickly. 1t was II woman's quickest
way Of defining her feelings.
Dart"
Yer first name?"
Jack"
LET me go now, Jack. Lie low in
the woods till tomorrow -sun-up. I'll
came agin."
He released her. Yet she fingered q
moment. Put on those things" she said
with sudden happy flash Of eyes and
teeth, land lie close till / come" And
then she sped away home.
But midway up the distance she felt
her feet going slower, and something
at her heartstrings seemed to be pull
ing her back. She stopped, turned, and
glanced to where he had been standing.
Had she seen him then, she might have
returned. But he had disappeared. She
gave her first sigh, and then ran quickly
again. 1t must be nearly 10 o'clock! 1t
was not very long to morning.
She was within few steps of her
own door when the sleeping woods and
silent mir appeared to suddenly awake
with a sharp crack
She stopped paralyzed. Another
crack" followed that echoed over to
the far corral. She recalled herself in
stantly and dashed off wildly to the
woods again.
AS she ran she thought of one thing
only. He had been "dogged" by one of
his old pursuers and attacked. But
there were two shots and he was un-
armed. Suddenly she remembered that
she had left her fathers gun standing
against the tree where they were talk
ing. Thank Godi she may again have
saved him. She ran to the tree; the gun
was gone. She ran thither and thither.
dreading ut every step to fall upon his
lifelcss body. A new Thought struck
her; she ran to the corral. The horse
was not there! He must have been able
to regain it and escaped-after the shots
had been fired. She drew n long breath
of relief. but it was caught mp in an ap-
prehension of alarm. Her father,
awakened from his sleep by the shots,
was hurriedly approaching her.
whats up now, Salomy Jane?" he
demanded, excitedly.
''Nothin', said the girl with an effort.
Nothin, at least, that / can find" She
was usually truthful because fearless,
and lie stuck in her throat-but she
was mol onger fearless, thinking of him.
II wasn't abed, 50 | ran out as soon as
/ heard the shots fired, she answered
in return to his curious gaze.
s'And you've hid my gun somewhere
where it can't be found" he said re-
proachfully. 'Ef it was that sneak Lar