Arizona republican., 1899-03-22

| nave udQ eHOuSH Ol that III the past
 I am a hopeless firt, you know. ge
 into the thing for the fun there is in it
 and it is only fair to warn you.''
 Lancaster laughed rather weakly
 "I accept the terms" he said Ut i.
 understood that this is only fiirta
 tion.'
 Which he explained to Dorothy a much length, but which she would ot understand and was so unreasona blc about as to break her engagement Lancaster was deeply aggrieved ano rather more deeply relieved. But ii
 made one fact plain to him: that ht was seriously in love with a girl who frankly told him that he was no more to her than a score had been before than scores might be thereafter. And 1 it was all in vain that he tried to l change her.
 "I warned you quite fairly" she re- minded him, bending forward to stroke the glossy neck of his black mare. It was the mare that, of old, Dorothy had considered almost her own property, and on which she had lavished the over flow of her affection for Lancaster. ''I warned you," Miss Leeds repeated, land nobody has suffered but your self, unless''-she glanced at him with quizzical little smile-"unless there was another girl?"
 "There was another girl" he an- swered.
 She shrugged her shoulders tolerant ly. "That was to have been expected. Most problems of the heart are in the ruie of three"
 Lancaster was biting his lips, and he was very angry. ''She is better wom- an than you" he said.
 That may be. But still" she laughed, good naturedly, "do you think I am bad enough for you to be passing judgment upon me?"
 "I do; for you are doing the thing cold bloodedly, and IT. he said, de- spondently, "have lost my head"
 She smiled into his eyes. "You don't want to do that. It is such a hand some head. Lose your heart-it is not worth nearly so much"
 He turned in his saddle and faced her. q am likely to lose more than that" he burst out, suddenly; II am likely to lose my life.''
 "Oh! come" she said, "you are not contemplating falling on the point of your saher. or drowning yourself in the bay, or .superinducing galloping consumption. are you? I have had men do number of things for me, but never quite that"
 "Wbat I meant was-and what in tended to tell you when asked you to come to-day, was that am going to the war;
 {C of course. Is your regiment ordered?"
 ''Not yet; am especially favored"
 ''When do you leave"
 "The day after tomorrow. And now I am going to ask you to promise me something"
 They had refined in their horses by the dynamite guns. and sat looking out over the white-capped blue sea.
 'So that it is not something that cannot promise"
 ''Not that. shall leave that until I come back-if I do come back. If do not-iE short, if I am killed''- she gave a little shudder; he saw that she did, and repeated-''if I am killed I shall leave orders that my most treas ured possession shall be sent to you"
 Do you mean this mare?"
 q mean the mare. It will make me as happy as it would seem am meant to be, to know that if I die you vii! have her, and will ride her, and be kind to her. For you are fond of her. too.''
 Miss Leeds knit her brows and con- sidered And if I should not?" she said.
 'She shall not go to anyone else. will have Dartmoor shoot her on the day that he hears my death con- frmed"
 Miss Leeds switched at the skirt of her habit. "Is there no one else who is fond of her, also?"
 ''No," he answered.
 But that ether girl you told me of?''
 There flashed back upon Lancaster's | memory how Dorothy had been wont | to stand with her arms around the ! arched black neck, and her cheek i against the warm. soft nose; how the | mare had followed her tamely around | the garrison, as he would follow no | other but himself. Then Miss Leeds | turned the sun of her questioning | eyes upon him. They were serious | now, and their gentle light scattered | the mists of memories. She only val | ued the horse for the masters sake, and the master is TO longer anything to her. 'Will you do as I ask?''
 A little, ironical smile. the smile of | an easy-going cynicism curled her lips. Unto the victor belong the spells. | Yes, if anything happens to you, vii! take the horse. But you must not be rash. I believe I prefer your safety to it."
 Two months afterward, Miss Leeds. bending forward to stroke the glossy neck of the black mare that had be- longed 10 Lieut.. Lancaster, turned and glanced up into the face of the man who was riding beside her.
 Who was the girl that you bowed 10 near the gates? The one with the