Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-02-20

ueSerl mats that reached TO the sand
nils. shutting the ranch from SIGH,
the twilight fell. and with II cotoe
sharp gusts of wind that now and thpn
brought n whlrl OF desert dust. Hard
er and harder IL blew. Then II fell IN
on them 10 it's malevolence. to catch
them. TO hold them in It's uncanny
clasp an Instant. and then. releasing
tnein. go madly rncing of into the far
ther twilight. moaning in undertone as
II went. Then heat lightning struck
wildly at the horizon. ard the mir ev-
erywhere became surcharged with the
electric current OF coming desert
sandstorm. They heard it's roar COM
Ing mp the valley Audrey Glendower
felt her nerves a-tingle This. too. was
an experience. In sheer delight she
laughed aloud nj the excitement show
ing In the quivering horses. their ears
nervously pointing forward. their nos
trils distended. rs. with long. eager
strides. they pounded away at the wind
blown levels.
Then the storm caught them ut its
widest. Suddenly a tumbleweed-drv
and uprotted from its slight mornings
somewhere away on the far side OF the
Hats came whirling toward them
broadsidc In the vcrtcx Of mad rush
OF wind. In which. without warning.
they were in an instant enveloped. As
the great. rolling hall-lilSe weed struck
her horse Miss GlenGowcr took tight
or grip on the rcins and stcadied her
self for the runaway rush into tn,
duststorm and the darkness The wild
wind caught hey. shrictCd ir her ears.
tore NJ her habit rs though To wrcst IL
from her body. dragged Ut the braids
or heavy hair until. loosoned. the
strands whipped about her head. n tan
glcd mass or singing lashes
She was alone. drawn into the mael-
StrOm OF the maddcnrd clemcnt-aloue
with the fury OF the desert storm
alone in the awful darkness IL wrapped
about her the darkness Of the stran.,
storm and the darkness Of the coming
night. The frightened. furious horse
beneath her terrified her less than the
weird rainlcsS storm that had so swift
ly slipped in between her and Mes
quite. carrying her away into Its I'M
known domain. Where was he? Aside
from the mastering fear that was gain
Ing upon her, spite OF her struggle for
courage. was consciousness that more
than all elSt-more than every one else.
In the world-it was Mesquite she
wanted. Had an army ridden down To
her rescue she would have turned away
from them all 10 reach out her arms 10
the hoy vaQuerO. Perhaps IL was he
cause she had seen his marvellous feats
OF daring in the saddle. for Mesquite
was the star rider OF the range. and she
felt instinctively that he could help rs
none others. Perhaps IL was because
OF the past days thar had so drawn
him toward her Perhaps and most
probably IL was because he had but
Just been NJ her side. However II
might be. she was praying with all her
soul for his help. for him TO come 20
her. while mile after mile she rode on.
unable 20 either guide or slacken the
pace OF her horse. His pace had been
terrific. and not until II had carried
him out Of the line OF the storm and up
from the plain into the sand hills did
he lessen his speed. Then the hoofs
were dragged down by the heavy sand.
and the storms strength. all but spent.
I.
She felt about her only the softest OF
west winds. The dust that had stran-
Cled her was gone. and in its place was
the syringalike fragrance OF the wild.
white primroScS. star Strewing the
earth as the heavens were Strewn with
their night blossoms. Just above the
purple black bar OF the horizon burned
a great blood red star In the sky. 1t
danced and wavCred before her rising
and falling unSteadily. and she realized
that her strength was spent. that she
was falling. Then. just as the loosened
Girth let the saddle turn with her
swaying body. hand caught at her
bride rein. and
An. she was lying sohbing and utter
ly weak. hut unutterably happy. on
Mosquitoes breast - Mosquitoes arms
about her. She made no resistance to
the passionate kisses the boyish lips
laid. half fearfully. on her face. She
was only glad OF the sweetness of il
all: just rs the sweetness OF theevening
primrOSeS $50 like the fragrance of Jas
mine or tuberoSe or syringal sunk into
her senses. So she rested against his
breast. seeing still-through her closed
eyelids--the glowing. red star She
was unstrung by the wild ride and the
winds that had wrought on her nerves
II made yielding so easy.
A: last she drew back from him and
instantly his arms were unlocked. She
was free. Not second OF time would
he clasp her unwIllingly. Neither had
spoken. Neither after resetting the
saddle. when lie took her again In his
arms and lifted her. as he would lit
tie child upon her horse. did they
speak. Only when the ranch buildings
outlined against the darkneSs-show
ed dimly before them. and they knew
that the ride was at an end. did either
voice what was uppermost In their
minds.
"YO' don't Yo' Amt Oh, nv
pretty. 20 amt mad at me. are VOC"
mo. Mesquite" came the softly
whispered answer.
I'm glad a that. Shore. didn't
mean fur TO go an do sech thing.
but God: couldn't help IT.
But when lifting her down ut the