The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-01-12
DARK EYED A
GAVE A WARNING
A Story Of Moonlight Jealousy and
Stiletto.
BY Samuel McLeary Waller.

p BY Amu McIeart Wa''er'
When Trooper Paul Mills gave the
bread and coffee, he had little idea of
the havoc he was raising for the we'll
ordered existence Of 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 a lover md
a tickle heart. and he had never
thought so we'll 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 lave
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 a 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 q 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 a 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 a graceful
youth in blue and scarlet and gold.
I Ills cap was tasseled, his leggings
Iseamed with buttons of bronze, and
Sthe 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, l have watched the
throng since daylight! 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 a 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
Il get-I who burned my heart out for
! you and sat OH 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,
J speak to me. child, and say you are
Hglad of your welcomes"
"Had you been brave, like the men
behind those guns. you would have
gone through their weak. thin line n
come to me. l am not glad of the vel
come of a coward!"
All through the weary days OF starva-
tion 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 vaunted 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.
It Is not the habit of a 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 I'll"
groves by the harbor. Say a kind wo:
1t will warm your heart and brighter
mine. Say that you are glad to see
me-"
Ills tones were soft, his glances ten
der.
But the girl knew not restraint II the
youth did. She spurned the outstretch-
ed hand with her WI A heavy gold
ring fell from her thin finger and rolled
, away In the dust. She looked at 1t a
moment. half stopped to pick It up,
then turned and walked away, She
, gave the youth no word, The white
/, aud red of his cheeks changed into
each other like n struggle between
right and wrong, Right finally trl'
uap,ed, ser, although muttering In a
rage Of anger. jealousy and humilia'