Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-25
CHAPTER I.


Under the willows at the edge of the pool
a Young girl sat daydreaming, though the
day was nearly done, All the valley was
wrapped in shadow. though the cliffs and
turrets across the stream were Respondent
in a radiance of slanting sunshine. Not a
cloud tempered the fierce glare of the arch
ing heavens or Softened the sharp outline
Of neighboring peak or distant mountain
chain Not Il whisper of breeze stirred the
dropping foliage along tine sandy shores or
rufti-d til. liquid mirror surface. Not a
sound save drowsy hum of beetle or soft
murmur of ripping waters. among the
pebbly shadows below broke the vast 81
Icncc of the scene The snow cap, gleam
ing at the northern horizon, lay one hun
drcd miles away and looked but an easy
oue-day march. The black upheavals Of
the MatitZal. barring the southwark valley,
stood sulen and fr"wning along the Verde,
Jealous OF the westward range that threw
their rugged CORES into early shade Above
and below the still and placid pool and but
81 few miles distant. the pine-fringed. rocky
I.iIlsidrs came shouldering close TO the
stream. but fell away. forming Il deep semi
circular basin toward the west. at the hub
of which stood hol:-upright a tall. snowy
flagstaff. It's shred of bunting hanging limp
anu llltl'SS from the peak, ana IN the duil,
dlrt-colored buildings of adobe ranged in
rigid lines about the dull brown fiat-topped
mesa. a thousand yards up stream above
III" pool drowSed little band of martial
cNIlrS. stationed here to keep the peace
tWlNt scattered settlers and Swarthy,
swarmng Apaches. The fort was their SOL
dier home: the solitary girl soldiers
daughter
She could hardly have been eighteen. Her
long, slim figure. in it's Cingine riding ha bit
nd 10
grace" certain immaturity. Her hands
and feet were long and slender. Her sun
tanned cheek and neck were soft and
rounded. Her mouth was delicately CHS
eled and the lips We're pink the heart OF
Il bridesmaid rose. but. being firmly closed.
told no tale of the teeth within. without a
peep at which one knew not whether the
beauty OF the sweet young face was really
made OF marred. Eyes. eyebrows laShes
and wealth of tumbling tresses %! rich
golden brown were all superb but who
could tell what might be the picture when
she opened those pretty. curving lips to
speak or smile? Speak she did not. even
I" the greyhounds stretched sprawling in
the warm sands at her feet. Smile she could
not for the young heart was sore troubled.
Back in the thick of the willows she had
left her pony. blinking lazily and switching
his long tail TO rid his TANKS of humming
insects. but never mastering energy enough
Ia stamp hoof or strain IA thread of his
horsehair RATA. Both the long. lean.
sprawing hounds loled their red. dripping
tongues and painted in the sullen heat.
Even the girl herself. nervous at first and
switching with her dainty whip at the
'fumbling sands and pacing restlessly to
ana iro had yielded gradually to the droop-
IlS influences OF the hour and. seated on
a rock. had buried her chin In the palm of
her hand. and. with eyes no longer vagrant
''hu searching. had drifted away into
maiden dreamland Full thirty minutes had
she been there waiting for something or
somebody. and 1t. or he. had not appeared.
Yet somebody else was there and close at
hand The shadow of the westward heights
had gradually risen to the crest Of the
rocky cliffs across the stream. A soft, pro-
longed call Of distant trumpet summoned
homeward. for the coming night. the scat
tered herds and herd guards Of the post,
and. rising with sigh OF disappointment.
the girl turned toward her now impatient
pony when her ear caught the sound of a