The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-01-19
: DARK EYED MAID
: GAVE A WARNING
y A Story Of Moonlight Jealousy and
D Stiletto.
BY Samuel McLearY Waller.

| 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
q tickle heart, and he had never
| thought so well of himself as to imag-
Inc that he had q 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 quiyering 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 q tender
and terrified conscience.
/
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 u sublime
emotion sent on the subtlety Of q 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 jangllng rowel of his spur. His
step rang on the roadway as he hur-
ried forth to meet the maiden.
"Ah, Manuela, l have watched the
throng since daylight! l watched 1t 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, Manuelo is this the greeting
1 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 valley? Come,
speak to me, child. and say you are
| glad of your welcomes"
"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 well
| come of n cownrd"'
| All through the weary days Of starva-
ton In the foul village to the north
and in the purple forests around 1t
she had sighed to press the lips Of this
same coward: had vowed eternal fealty
at the throne of his picturesque per-
sonallty; had breathcd fervGnt caresses
| that the free evening air might watt
| them over the intrenchcd 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
| q 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 vaunted will of the Cozenzas
had melted away like care at twilight.
The face of the youth became scarlet
| as his sash. then white us his palm.
| 1t is not the habit of a Latin to con-
| troll his passions. rather he cultivates
| them to tierceness. but Jose choked
back his fury. Perhaps the sunken,
pallid face of the girl suggested physi-
cal or mental unbalance-perhaps he
had learned diplomacy. Again he held
out his hands.
"Come. Manuela. these troublous
| times are passing. and We'll be happy
| again rs 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 glanccs ten
| der.
But the girl knew not restraint.if the
youth did. She spurred the outstretch-
ed hand with her own. 4 heavy gold
| ring fell from her thin finger and rolled
| away In the dust. She looked ut 1t q
moment, half stopped to pick it up.
then turned and walked away. She
gave the youth no void. The white
| and red Of his checks changed into
each other like struggle between
right and wrong. Right finally trl-
| umphed. for. although mutterng In q
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 1t in
mis- pocket. He had put 1t on her finger
under the stars one night.
When Trooper Mills rode into the
city next day, but one thought animat-
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 us quickly as possible to
secure them. So Trooper Mills clatter-
ed gayly through the street.
He glanced into n 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 sharp rattle Of iron on
stone rs 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 rough hand grasped an iron bar.
Next said a hearty voice:
as this the little woman gave some
thing to cat yesterday? I'm glad to see
you again. 1t was the devil of time
you people had out yonder. and hope
another won't come like 1t. You are
all right now and will soon be as fat
and pretty as ever again. Well, good
by; must hurry on. Hope 10 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 1t nothing ar
dent nor inspiring, but Manuela's heart
was too big for her body before the
sound of it was out of her ears. She
leaned on the easement for support.
Quickly her body became rigid, and all
the passion of her soul surged up. Jose
had come from out the house opposite.