Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1900-01-12
DARK EYED MAID
GAVE A WARNING
A Story Of Moonlight Jealousy and
q Stiletto.
BY Samuel McLeary Waller.

= q Stiletto. Z
Z BY Samuel McLeary Waller. !
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
When Trooper Paul Mills gave the
bread and coffee, he had little idea OF
the havoc he was raising for the well
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 lover and
q tickle heart, and he had never
thought so we'll Of himself as to mag
Inc that he had gallant figure and an
earnest eye capable Of turning the
maiden's head. Else be 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 subtlety 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 bur-
ried forth to meet the maiden.
"Ah, Manuela, 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 jar. Then passion came
out of the gloom In the deep Of bis
somber eyes and spread down his face.
"What. Manuela, is this the greeting
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 welcome"
"Had you been brave, like the men
behind those. guns, you would have
gone through their weak, thin line and
come to me. l am not glad Of the vel
come Of a coward"
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-
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.
and the vaunted will of the Cozenzas
had melted away like care at twilight.
The face Of the youth became scarlet
Gs 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'n be happy
again as when we strolled through the
groves by the harbor. Say a kind word.
It 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
sro yo tho vo,fh M vord Tho xuhifo