The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-12-26
, DARK EYED MAID
GAVE A WARNING
A Story Of Moonlight Jealousy and
a Stiletto. on
ii
BY Samuel McLeary Waller.
Observation-Disclosures,

ordered existence or three who thought
they were happy. But he could not
have been expected to know that the
girl with the blue black hair and the
form drawn by famine had lover and
a tickle heart, and he had never
thought so well of himself as to imag
inc that he had a gallant figure and an
earnest eye capable Of turning the
maiden's head. Else he might have
hesitated as he stood in the blue haze
of the tropical morning and singled out
the one of the misery laden throng Of
refugees who seemed nearest the bor-
derland of exhaustion. For he was of
the kind that love constancy and
shrink from sullying pure heart
When the maiden had eaten the dry
bread and drank the hot coffee and
Mills had returned to his tent to get
more of his small allowance of food to
give to some other Of the unhappy ex-
lies, he wondered at the quivering eyes
she had turned back after stumbling
away without thanking him. They had
looked like twin fires Of gratitude and
fear kindled by sparks from a tender
and terrified conscience.
The maiden moved on with the for
lorn host who were struggling back to
the deserted city. The bundle poised
on her head pressed with less insist
ence. Her veins were warm. Into
them had stolen the strong beverage
and the greater strength Of sublime
emotion sent on the subtIety Of kind
ly glance.
From out of the shell torn bull ring
at the edge of the city came graceful
youth in blue and scarlet and gold.
His cap was tasseled, his leggings
scanned with buttons Of bronze, and
the fringe of his blood red sash touch
ed the jangling rowel Of his spur. His
step rang on the roadway as he hur-
ried forth to meet the maiden.
"Ah, Manuela, have watched the
throng since daylight! l watched it all
yesterday. Why are you SO tardy?"
He had reached out to clasp the girls
hands, but they slipped behind her
back. The youth stopped as though
he had felt JAR Then passion came
out Of the gloom in the deep of his
somber eyes and spread down his face.
what, Manuela, is this the greeting
l get-I who burned my heart out for
you and sat on top of the bull ring
and gazed out over the hills to where
you were when the big guns were roar
ing death over the valley2 Come,
speak to me, child, and say you are
glad of your welcomew
Had you been brave, like the men
behind those guns, you would have
gone through their weak, thin line and
come to me. am not glad Of the vel
come of a cowardw
All through the weary days of starva-
ton in the foul village to the north
and in the purple forests around it
she had sighed to press the lips of this
same coward; had vowed eternal fealty
at the throne of his picturesque per-
sonality; had breathed fervent caresses
that the free evening air might watt
them over the intrenched heads Of the
sullen armies to the vine clad balcony
where he was used to sit in the moon
light. On the hot road homeward she
had thrilled with JOY that each heavy
step brought forward the time Of bliss
full meeting and that each moment was
a messenger from the day when they
should walk between their wealth Of
friends down the long cathedral aisle.
Then had come the pair Of gray eyes,
and the Wanted will Of the Cozenzas
had melted away like care at twilight
The face of the youth became scarlet
as his sash, then white as his palm.
1t is not the habit Of Latin to con-
troll his passions, rather he cultivates
them to fierceness, but Jose choked
back his fury. Perhaps the sunken,
pallid face of the girl suggested physi-
cal or mental neutrality-suspicious. he
had learned diplomacy. Again he held
out his hands.
Come, Manuela, these troublous
times are passing, and we'll be happy
again as when we strolled through the
groves by the harbor. Say kind word.
1t will warm your heart and brighten
mine. Say that you are glad to see
me-"
His tones were soft, his glances ten
der.
But the girl knew not restraint If the
youth did. She spurned the outstretch-
ed hand with her own. A heavy gold
ring fell from her thin finger and rolled
away in the dust. She looked at it a
moment, half stopped to pick it up,
then turned and walked away She
gave the youth no word. The white
and red of his cheeks changed into
each other like a struggle between
right and wrong. Right finally tri-
umphed. for, although mutterlng in a
rage Of anger, Jealousy and humilia-
ton, he picked up the bang of gold.
He wiped the dust off gently, touched
the ring close to his lips and put it in
his pocket He had put it on her finger
under the stars one night.
When Trooper Mills rode into the
city next day, but one thought Animal
ed his mind Letters from his mother
and his sweetheart were in the bag Of
mail he was to take to camp from the
postoffice, and he wanted to get back
to quarters as quickly as possible to
secure them. So Trooper Mills clatter
ed gayly through the street.
He glanced into a barred window.
His clear gray eyes met the startled
gaze of two shining black ones. Grasp
ing the curtains did not keep Manuela
from falling down from the easement.
She heard the horse come to an abrupt
halt, then a sharp rattle of iron on
stone as he was turned abruptly and
the quick, short steps which were
bringing him toward the window. Air
seemed to have stopped circulating.
Her breath would hardly come as she
drew herself to her feet.
A shadow came through the window
as a rough hand grasped an iron bar.
Next said hearty voice:
is this the little woman gave some
thing to eat yesterday? I'm glad to see
you again. 1t was the devil Of time
you, people had out yonder, and I hope
another won't come like it. You are
all right now and will soon be as. fat
and pretty as ever again. Well good
by; must hurry on. Hope to see you
again"
And the echoes of hoof beats soon
died away in the distance. Certainly
such a speech as that is not calculated
to overturn the common sense of a. rea-
sonable girl. There is in it nothing ar
dent nor inspiring, but ManueIa's heart
was too big for her body before the
sound Of 1t was out of her ears. She
leaned on the easement for support.
Onicklv her body hacarna ririd and all