The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-08-07

told her. 1T is only a short way. You
cannot miss them. IL is only two or
three miles to the next house. and they
may have stopped there"
After the girl had gone she went I'm
to the dance. laughing. with the lie
fresh on her lips. There was no house
for thirty miles that way. and oncs
she had passed the giant cacti she
would go down into Death valley. that
terrible wilderness where only the
snakes and the Gila monsters and ta
fantulas could dwell i'm safety. One
night spent there, and Lindell mighi
call and cry for his wife in vain.
Never was there such a dance at
Manuelos as that Saturday night Lo-
lita danced and sang with feverish gay
ETY., her eyes ever Oh the door, watch
ing for Lindell. Then suddenly. at the
very height Of the merriment. she WAS
missed. Out into the clear, bright night
she went silently to the shed where
the horses stood, and, choosing her own
rough little mustang, she mounted and
rode away toward Death valley.
II Lindell loved this fair, blue eyed
to her death. The thought terrified her.
Anything but his hate, she thought;
anything but the look in his eyes when
he knew. And was 1t not right? She
was fair like him and gentle voiced.
She was not Mexican girl to smoke
4 cigarette with and sing to in the
moonlight and laugh when her love
was won.
She caught her breath I'm deep sobs,
and the tears fell on the mustangs
brown neck as she urged him on over
the miles that lay between them and
the valley. and at last there were the
giant cacti ahead. guarding the en-
trance to the valley like grim sentinels.
She turned toward them bravely, but
before the mustang had gone a dozen
PAGES past them he reared and backed
away from something that lay upon
the ground.
her hand touched the hand Of the
strange girl 1t was warm, and she
raised her head upon her lap. The
blue eyes opened wonderingly.
1T was such long way, and could
| not find them." she said family. "You
| did not know II was so far. did your
Lolita pressed a kiss on the hand
| she held. 1t was a white. dainty hand
| No wonder Lindell loved IL. She helped
her up to the saddle. and with one arm
/ around her for support she guided the
mustang back over the long stretches
| Of sand and sun baked alkali or
through the night until the lights al
Manuelo's showed like firefiies against
the sapphire darkness OF the skies.
| Manuelo could tell you the rest
how the two Americans returned a
midnight, and just as they were to lead
the search for Lolita there came tn,
three figures through the moonlight
and Lolita fell at Lindell's feet.
Il bring her back to you" she said
pleadingly. But 1t was Norris wh,
sprang to the strangers side with |,
glad cry, and Lindell held the Mexican
girl In his arms there before them al
and told her she was all I'm all to him.
So that is why II is Lindelrs Res
now. and if you stop there on you
way to the fort or to San Luis old
Manuelo will tell you how 1t happens
over little glass OF the deep red Mex
lean wine he loves and bid you shak
hands with his handsome son-in-law
And II you are courteous and pleasan
Lolita will fash a smile up at yol
from under her long. dark lashes.
And Lindell? He Is perfectly happ.
and full of gay. careless content tina
comes but seldom to man In thi
world. 1t comes with the moonligh
and the music down there-and Lolita