The Cook County herald., 1902-11-22
CHAPTBR XIV. 81 /;


CHAPTER XIV.
"a Case of AGista ken Identity.
Lois arose sat daylig withsa night-
formed determinatio lon Ii her mind.
She believed that ere he turned his
face to the south Weston would come
once more within View iof the rancho
e only to look afar upon the building
whore they had met. 81 She dressed
hurriedly, called one of .the poems even
then astir and ordered her horse sad
died. Long before Allyn had taught
her to ride and one Of the numerous
gentle ponies about the place had been
designated as her animal. Not4waiting
ing for so much as i cup Of cotee,, she
mounted from the platform built for
that purpose and started toward the
river. / She recognized even then that
she was on q wild-goose chase, but 1t
was some relief to her to be- decreas-
ing the distance between; them BY ever vel, !
SO. little. There was noszdew-there
seldom is on the Rio Grand and the
flinty, soil of the prairie rang under
the rapid hoof- beats Of the quick little
steed. In many places the constant
winds had blown the ground bare OF
all .herbage and,atiny, dust circles rose,
and whirled away. There was life III
the cool, crisp dry air and the blood
mounted to her cheeks IN the swift
gallop: Her tawny hair, loosened by.
the motion SO that. it hung almost to
her shoulders, her wide sombrero tilt
ed backward, her 1.-THE graceful figure
swaying to each leap of the horse, one
small boot fitted neatly; into the stir
rup, one gauntleted hand held low
with the reins, sitting easily and care
lessly, she, seemed some divinity: of
that far, wild country as she swept
along. J. =. :,r}.s ,... ;'.IS 49,.
Reaching the American bank Of the
river and pausing at the beginning of
the ford, she placed her right hand to
her eyes and under it explored the
opposite bank, just then beginning to
show the gold of the sun which had
risen behind her. She looked long
and fruitlessly. Once she thought that
she saw movement in the chaparral,
but gazing more intently all was STILL
Once she thought she heard a move
ment in the underground behind her,
but deeming it only the rustic Of some
small animal did not turn her head.
On either side of the path by which
she had come the cactus and 'catelaw
grew to the waters edge. Indeed 1t
was within five feet of her: on either
hand as she sat in the saddle. Realiz-
ing at last that any hope of seeing
her lover was vain, She slipped tightly
down, unwound the stake rope from
the horn of the saddle and permitted
the pony to walk into the water for
his morning drink. Standing thus and
idly swinging the rope to and fro, her
thoughts far away with the lonely
man riding toward the interior Of that
unknown country, she heard again
the rustic behind her and wheeled in
stantly. ~ :.,-.; -, ;.
Still holding to the rope and startled
but not frightened, she confronted a
small, dark man, dressed in the ex-
trefnity of the gaudy. Mexican fashion.
At the same instant on either side of
the trail a dozen Of his companions
rose. In silence each Of them lifted
his sombrero and bowed gravely, each
OF them said in concert, "Buenas dias,
Senora!" each of them replaced his
hat, each of them placidly blocked the
path. ..,f =. ..~..- 49,.
The small man spoke in fair Eng
lish, but slowly; -:
"Senor Vavara, at the Senora's serv-
ice. We have watched the, Sonora for
several days. Her ,wanderings have
taken her toward the river. The river
belongs as much to the true people as
to the Americanos. The Senora's hus-
band is responsible. for a recent at
tack on us. He caused the death of
our lieutenant, the brave Weston, and
of one, Juan Cara, a man of mine.
No harm will come to- the Sonora: I
beg her to believe that; 1, Ramon Va
vara, have said it." He pointed to his
breast dramatically But the Sonora
will come with us in all honor. Sure
ly the Senor, her husband, will pay
ransom for her" .s<:.:
"For whom do you take meY,.: The
girls voice was thick. and her face a
dead white, but her bearing undaunted.
Il (To be continued.) ''' 'Ss', :.
i Gen. Miles Set Hard Pace.
+ Gen. Miles went the other day to re-
view some militia maneuvers and a.
sham battle, at "Leesburg,.. VT, relates