The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-09-26

dAOlIEI t4ihC
'He will not come-then the stranger
may die" She flung herself in tears
upon the couch. A moment of restless
weeping and she rose again. Her hair
was unbound, and the long black
tresses draped over two lustrous eyes
that famed like Jet black ornaments
set in cheeks of ruby.
Then l will go and ask him. On my
knees l will plead for him to listen. Let
it not be said that daughter of Spain
because of her pride. allowed one who
had been her fathers guest to die
without an effort to save him"
Throwing a mantilla over her head,
she started; but before the door was
reached it opened to admit Juan. His
heart, too, had triumphed over his
pride. He could not remain away
when she whom he loved had called.
Blanca, am here" he said, quietly.
Blanca made no attempt to conceal
her joy at seeing him, and told in
quick, nervous words what she had
overheard. Juan grasped the situation
instantly.
Quick, Pedro; cal Antonio and Car
los! They are at the corral now with
the horses"
Blanca brushed back her hair and
smiled, and Juan, prompt in love as in
war, would have folded her in his arms,
but with a gesture only slightly re-
pellant she waved him off. He stood an
instant looking into eyes that half
contradicted the motion of the hand,
decided that the present was not a time
to be impetuOus and sprang through
the door to meet the horsemen.
''Juan!" she called after his retreat
ing form.
Yes, Blanca"
"You will be careful?"
eyes"
land come to me when you return ?"
Yes, B.anca; yes"
The hOOfbeats of the horses as they
swept down the hillside kept time to
the beating of Blanca's heart.
Half an hour after Dominguez and
his accomplish stole through the pass
Juan, Antonio and Carlos were riding
rapidly over the same ground. A little
later the traveller was startled to see
three mounted men in front of him.
The four came together and held a
brief consultation, after which a single
horseman gal.Oped forward.
Dominguez, lying behind a ,og at the
roadside, heard him coming.
"Celestin, he comes; perform your
part"
Celestin cast himself headlong in the
dust of the road. The galloping horse
came on, saw the body in the road,
snorted and stood still. Celestin ut
and attempted to bolt.
"Oh, good stranger, help me-"
care you hurt?"
"Oh, much, sir. Ny horse has
thrown me. Dismount and give as
sistance."
The rider urged his horse as near
the PROSTATE form as he dared, and
bent forward as if to dsmount, at the
same time looking warily around.
The STOPPING form of Dominguez crept
round to the rear, and when the horse
man diSmOunted on one side he came
up on the other. As the horseman
bent over the form of the shamming
man he heard the catlike tread of
Dominguez drawing closer. Instantly
he released his hold upon the horses
bride, and it sprang back quickly. re-
vealing the Mexican leaning forward
with uplifted knife. Quick as flash
the heel of the supposed traveller was
on the throat of the PROSTATE sheep
herder, and his left hand grasped the
dagger arm of the astounded Mexican
at the wrist.
Juan de forrest" shrieked the
wouldbe assassin, trembling as if he
had seen a ghost.
Eyes, Demonio; it is 7. Surrender"
Dominguez looked into Juan's pistol
barrel for one nerve-withering in
slant; then his knife slipped from his
fingers and he stood with downcast
eyes, a thoroughly cowed man.
Juan discharged his pistol in air.
From somewhere up the road came an
answering shot and the hurrying
hoofs of horses.
In the small hours of the morning
the traveller went on his journey I'M
scathed, while Juan rode homeward,
followed by Antonio and Carlos, bring
ing the sullen captives, who knew full
well what justice would be melted out
to them.
Blanca was waiting to greet Juan.
She met him by the clump of olive
trees just S dawn was breaking He
threw his cloak about her and she
took his arm. They strolled back
along the crest of the mesa to prom
ontory jutting out over the valley. An
ocean of mist lay beneath them. A
fiotilla of clouds sailed just above. The
mountains lowered behind, and over
their crumbling ridges the scarlet her
aid of coming day was lurking.
Blanca was not Indifferent now. Ad-
miration, that quickener of woman's
heart, had walked the slumbering pas
sion in her breast, and when Juan saw
the crimson light of dawn reflected in
her eyes and blushing on her cheeks
he asked again:
blanca, will you say, tomorrow
Blanca turned to the east, watched
while the fu1I-Orhad uIO-,, &c A. .,,.