Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-01-05
DARK EYED MAID
! GAVE A WARNING
},
a Story of Moonlight Jealousy and
Stiletto.
BY Samuel McLeary Waller.

BY Samuel McLeary Waller. :
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
When Trooper Paul Mills gave the
bread and coffee, he had little idea OF
the havoc he was raising for the we'll
they We're 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
tickle heart, and he had never
thought so well Of himself as to mag
inc that be had a gallant figure and an
earnest eye capable of turning the
maidcn'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 Dor
derland OF exhaustion. For he was Of
the kind that love consistency and
shrink from sullying pure heart.
When the maiden had eaten the dry
bread and drank the hot coffee and
Mills had returned to bis 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 kindlcl 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 q 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 rcd sash touch
ed the jangling rowel Of his spur. His
step rang ON the roadway as be hur-
: 'rN 18th to meet the maiden.
- g-A Manuela, have watched the
Il tn bng since daylight! watched it all
yesterday. Why are you so tarlyT'
He had reached out to clasp the girls
: hands. but they slipped behind her
bdck. The youth stopped as though
!; h4 had felt 4 jar. Then passion came
out Of the gloom in the deep Of his
sat mber eyes and spread down his face.
~ What. Manuela, is this the greeting
II get--l who burned my heart out for
you ana sat on top Of the bull ring
and gazel 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 welcome!'.
Had you been brave, like the men
behind those guns. You would haye
gone through their weak. Thin line and
come to me. am not s.lael of the well
come of a cowarl"'
All through, the weary days Of starva-
ton in the foul village to the north
and IN thr purple forests around It
she had sighed 10 press the lips of this
same coward: had vowed eternal feaity
at the throne Of his picturesque per-
gonality; had'breatlel fervent caresses
that the free evening air might watt
them over the intlenched 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
T. messenger from the day when they
should walk between their wealth Of
friends down the long cathedral AISLE
Then bad come the pair of gray eyes.
and the Wanted will of the Cozenzas
had melted away like care at twilight.
a:s The face Of the youth became scarlet
ms his sash, then white as his palm.
1t is not the habit of q Latin to con:
troll his passions. rather he cultfvates
them to ferceness, but Jose choked
back his fury. Perhaps the sunken,
pallid face Of the girl suggested pbysi-
cal or mental NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. he
had learned diplomacy. Again he held
but his hands.
.@ "Come, Manuela, these troublous
times are passing, aud wen he happy
again as when we strolled through the
groves by the harbor. Say kind word.
81 It will warm your heart and brighten
mine. Say that you are glad to see
me- - ~ .
s His tones were soft, his glances ten
der. =. -. r.
.s But the girl knew not restraint If the
youth did. She spurned the oHtstrefch-
led hand with her own A heavy gold
ring fell from her thin finger and rolled
sway in the dust. She looked at it a
moment, half stopped to pick it up.
then turned and walked away She
gave the youth no word. The white
and red Of his cheeks changed into
each. other like a struggle between
right and wrong. Right finally tri-
nmphed, for, although muttering in
rage Of anger jealousy and hulnilfa-
ton, he picked up the bang of gold.
He wiped the dust off gently. touched
Che ring .closeSto hisslips and put it III