The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-03-13
A MOUNTAIN
GIRLS LOVE
Foriginai1

horseman made his appearance. He
was a handsome young fellow, with a
jaunty air and pleasant smile 1t is
astonishing how suddenly one of those
simple country girls will lose her heart
to man such as she has not been ac-
customed to. Sarah Ridgeley looked
upon the graceful figure and the reso-
lutte features, lighted by the sunshine
of a smile, and surrendered.
'Can you give me a bite?' he asked
"Sartin."
The stranger dismounted, tied his
horse to sapling and kept up a con
tinued chatting with the girl While she
busted herself at preparing meal.
When it was ready. he sat down to it,
and she stood by to wait on him.
watching him with her soft brown
eyes
"They say Warfield, the outlaw, has
been making a consideraba stir about
here lately" said the man.
Reckon
did you ever See him?'
mo"
Hes bad one and no mistake"
Reckon he never had no mother to
tend to his bringin' up"
''Whatg"
The girl repeated what she had said,
and her quick eye told her that her
words had affected him. He finished
his meal and, rising from the table,
went outside.
"The moon is full tonight he said.
"Would you be afraid to go over to
Taggert's rock about o'clock?"
"What fo'?'
''I'd like to meet you there"
"Yo' kin come hyar. The family III
be hyar.'
81 don't care to meet the family
Goodby. Hope I'll see you again some
day." And he rode away.
When Sarah's father came home, he
brought a man with him, and later on
several more men came She heard
them talking about Warfield, the out
law and soon learned that they were
out to capture him. She was obliged to
cook the men a supper, after which
they bivouacked near the cabin. Sarah
did her work mechanically, her mind
being ON the handsome stranger, and
when the dishes were washed and put
away she strolled out into the moon
light by herself Involuntarily her steps
led her toward Taggert's rock. She re-
GREETED that she had declined to meet
the stranger there. 1t was the proper
course for her to take, but she was not
strong enough to be satisfied with her
denial. Permitting herself to wander
on, she at last came to the rock and
seated herself on it, Below was the
valley, lighted by the soft rays of the
moon, but she did not see it, She re-
membered the smile that had been left
In her heart. Then she heard a step and
voice.
81 knew you would come"
81 tole yo' l wouldn't" she said.
"And l told myself you would"
Il come away to git shut of a lot Of
men there was at home. They're look
in fo' Warfield. They say they'll ketch
him sho."
IF they can"
The stranger took her by the hand
and drew her down to a seat upon the
rock They sat there side by side for
an hour, and his conquest was com
plete. Taking out a pocketknife, he
said to her:
"Give this to the men who are hunt
ing for Warfeld. 1t will give them a
clew as to his whereabouts"
rs that really sou
yes"
when Il see yo agin?"
Leave that to me-"
4 When Sarah gave the knife to one
of the men who had come home with
her father, he took it into the light.
"Where did you get this?" he asked
suddenly.
Il met a man who tole me to give ii
to yo'"
He held the knife up before her, and
she saw carved in rude letters on the
handle "Warfield."
! In a moment the horses were sad
died and the men were off. They spent
a week night and day looking for the
outlaw, but did not find him.
1t was exactly year to the day after
the stranger had appeared at the
Ridgeley cabin. The moon, as before
was about at the full Sarah, who had
| Tor twelve months condemned herself
| for loving an outlaw, weakened so faI
| as to go to Taggert's rock on the ami
versary of their meeting there. Within
her was a strange fear, strange hope
| that he would come.
Suddenly she felt an arm around heI
waist, and voice near her ear whis
pered:
Sweetheart"
Putting her hands to her face, she
burst into a passion of tears.
81 have come to say goodby forever,
said the outlaw. "Since l met you
have worked honestly and have saved
little money to take me to the Other
side of the world"
"What made yo' an outlaw" she
sobbed.
AN unconquerable desire for life
OF adventure.
"What made yo' changer
"Your love and your unconscious ref
erence to my mother
Air yo' sho yo're goin' to be hon
est?"
"As long as | remember you, and
shall never forget you"
"Whar yo' goin' top
Alaska"
"When yo' goin'?"