The Delta independent., 1900-08-17

ed his iuind. Letters frOsu his mother
aud his sweetheart were In the bag OF
L,ail he was to take TO camp from the
poetofiice. and he wanted 20 got back
to quarters as quickly as possible to
secure them. SO Trooper Mills ,.lattcr-
ed Enyly through the street.
He glanced into q 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 as he was turned abruptly and
the quick. short steps which were
bringing hin, toward the window. Air
seemed to have stopped circulating.
Her breath would hardly come ms she
drew herself to her feet.
A shadow came through the window
as . rough hand grasptd m iron lar.
Next said hearty voice:
''ir this tie little woman gave some
thing to eat yesterday? I'm glad TO see
you again. II WAS the devil Of a time
you people had out yonder. aud hope
snothrr won't come like II. You are
all right now md will noon be us fat
and pretty as over again. Well. soos:-
by: ! must hurry on. Hope 70 see you
again.
And the echoes OF hoof beats soon
died away in the distance. Cerininiy
such speech as that IL not calculated
TO cvcrturu the common sense OF rca-
sonabic girl There Is In II nothIn: Rf-
dent nor inspiring. but Manuela's heart
was too big for her body before th-
sound OF IL was out OF her ears. She
leaned on the easement for support.
Quickly her body became rigid. AMI all
the passion Of her soul surged M. lose
had come from cut the house opposite.
and the house WIS not his home. His
eyes were malignant rs he stepIN,d Into
the narrow street and followed after
the horsemnu.
Manucla followed him with intent
Gnxe until LIE was lost 10 view. She
knew what those burning eyes meant.
She turned to n door leading into tile
courtyard aud leaned against the
framing. but she did not hear the rip
plc Of the dilapidnted fountain nor
smell the pathetic fragrance Of the neg
lected flowers. Her eyes pierced the
past. the futurr and then paused n the
present. She returned to the street
window and Lenned against the bars.
Her body was QuIvcrin: with checked
emotion
rrrAently horwcman came KailOIs
Ing down the street. She kncw that
II was her trooper.
'Sepor-' she called In an excited. low
vosce. Mills wouh MT hnve heard
had he not looked toward the window
- sec u ilse girl were still tberc.
There was sonscthluR Wild and eager
h the fsrv which made him pulI the
horse ~ roughly. He rode up to the
ban.
s~osass!. Ths siri spoke rspstliy. ard
~ tsaes wesv hoarae. "You err IN
1naoRs. Tou m, TO he killrd. Z nsse
warn you. but not now. Come st mid.
sight to the slrpadInR tire behipl the
nm ring. Z wiu be tbers. WIN you
cumrT
Mills was almost ~ camp before no
ceased wondering why be promised to
meet the girI. u was nbsur,lly foolish.
be said. Why did s:,c not tell him Of
the danger instead Of making such IN
appointment? The trooper had brcn
seated undcr the tree half an hour
when he heard soft footsteps 10 the
shadow beneath the wall Of the bull
ring. He stepped forward and met
Mauuela rs she passed into the gloom
Of the brn inches. She ciutchs,tl his
arm. and her hand trembIed Violently.
''IIe followed me-" size painted. Hut
for his support she would have fallen.
~whor' asked the wondering soldier.
"Jose." she replied. ''tlse man ! camo
10 warn you against. lie wants TO
marry me. but ! win have nothIng Of
him. ile saw you at my window TO-
day and says you are the man love
and that be Will kill you. lie watched
him when Z came out. but he saw me
and came after"
She drew cioscr 10 the trooper.
II am afraid Of him." sbe contInucd.
"He will kin me. You won't et him
kgl ney
Her arms cIasped him about tho
neck. and she pincci kiss after kiss on
his lips and cheeks. MiIis was thor
oughly sstounlej 1t the whole pro-
cedure and struggled 10 protest. lie
tried TO put the trembling girl from
him. Over her shoulder he saw . body
creeping through the grass. A. each
movement something long and white
gIeamed ip the moonlight. u was o
stiletto. The n9ure stopped and
crohched ~ a copari for = spring.
Mills thrust the girl from him Just In
time to receive the shock. The knife
was buried In his shoulder and drnw wn
out. The trooper Graspcd the upraised
WHIST % M wss desrrndtsg toward his
heart lee wss light Of weight. but
active and strong. rain and loss Of
blood told greatly on MIlIs. The strug.
- A~~~nn. Tlx~A e6~~n .