Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-01-13
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Mountain Girls Love.
IOriginal.1

| SuStOLneu 10 SdTdn IIluSeley lOOkeu
upon the graceful figure and the reso-
lutte features lighted by the sunshine
of smile, and surrendered.
"Can you give'me n bite?" he asked.
"Sartin.'
The stranger dismounted, tied his
horse TO a saplng 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 considerable stir about
here lately" said the man.
Reckon"
did you ever see him?"
"No."
Hes a bad one and no mistake"
Reckon he never had no mother to
tend to his bringin' up"
WHAT
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
Nggert's rock about 8. o'clock"
what fo'?"
I'D like to meet you there"
"Yo' kin come hyar. The family II
be hyar."
Goodby. Hope I'll see you again some
day" And he rode away.
When Sarah's father came home, he
brought 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 n 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 StTolled out into the moon
light by herself. InVolulnarily her steps
led her toward Taggerts 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 q step and
voice:
81 knew you would come"
Il tole yo' 1 wouldn't she said.
"And 1 told myself you would
81 come away to git shut of lot of
men there was at home. They're look
in fo' WarfieId. 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
pIete. Taking out a pocketknife. he
said to her:
Give this to the men who are hunt
ing for Warfield. 1t will give them a
clew as to his whereabouts"
us that really 500"
YES
when III 1 see yo' aging"
Leave that to me-"
When Sarah gave the knife to one
her father, ne took it into the light.
"Where did you get this?" he asked
81 met man who tole me to give 1T
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
off
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 |
for twelve months condemned herself |
for loving an outlaw, weakened so far |
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 her
waist, and a voice near her ear whis-
pered:
Sweetheart
Putting her hands to her face, she
burst into passion OF, tears
'I have come to say goodby forever"
said the outlaw. 'Since I met you 1
have worked honestly and have saved
a little money to take me to the other
side of the world"
sWhat. made yo' an outlaw" she
sobbed.
can 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 1 remember you, and I
shall never forget YOU"
"Whar yo' goin' top
Alaska
ssXVbop vo' nrOin'2''