The Opelousas courier., 1904-05-21

SO began EmerSOn'S acquaintance at
Hacienda Alvares; and rs the morning
came, bringing with it the pleasures
of a home where wealth and beauty
reigned. long 1nenjoyed by this rugged
young soldier of the border, and dark
eyed Guadalupe put her hand in bis
to thank him for the news he brought,
and asked him to stay as a friend
where's he came as a messenger, q
thrill ran through his pulses, and he
tsf1yed-stayed until he felt that his
colo4bl must be wondering, for his
week was long gone; stayed until
dusky-browed Juan d'Imray. cousin
and sutton of his beautiful hostess,
froWned upon him; stayed until his
heart thGTssaed wildly and his ears
drank AsHstiFine music the rich voice
of ha-untll the girls cheeks
gloW .~;ss,heath his fervent glance. and
hey xa{s5m heaved when his hand
tgnSI hers: stayed too long, and
IA rode away with d positive prom
Use to the urgent old don to return
Win q CiliSlC SluJlt llOui "uuuhIllJS
that might mean words-with d scowl
aud curse from Juan that betokened a
hatred deep and fierce; and last of all,
with a single gesture of u~nspeakable
fealty from poor Dumox at the gate.
All. lieutenant!' cried old Colonel
Miller, as Emerson appeared before
him Oh the morning following. 1.-The
donna was too many for you! But l
consent. Make the marriage soon, and
bring the beauty to camp"
The young man colored.
The marriage will be with Juan
d'Imray. colonel. Rumor says she is
aff1anced to him"
But the colonel shook his head.
Bah. that imp! His habits are worse
than those of a Mexican. The donna
is a wise girl, as well as a beautiful
one, and an American can win her,
especially when that American is a
young and good-looking soldier. Lieu
tenant, if you want that girl, and I
believe you do. and don't go in and
win her away from that Spaniard, III
IN order you under arrest for a
year,"
And, with an emphatic shake of the
head, the brave old colonel turned
away. r'..,:.."'.
Emerson laughed long and hearty at
Ills colonel as a "matchmaker"' but
when it so happened, two weeks later.
that the post-cOmmandant found an
other message for Hacienda Alvares, it
also happened that the lieutenant was
ready to carry it: and the bearer
found a stronger attraction than be-
fore in the eyes of Donna Guadalupe
forgot the evil lurking in these of
Juan d1mray, and remained three
days at the table Of his friend, the old
den-three days of heaven to him,
crowned at last, II glorious hight, by
the sweet, sweet words which made
the beauteous girl his forever.
For his love overpowered him. and
be confessed it-confessed it to know
that her heart was his, y as his
belonged to her, and had been from
the first. Together they strayed be-
meath the arbors of the garden. The
soldiers horse stood waiting at the
gate, the moon smiled down upon his
lonely northern way; but his arms en-
circled the most perfect figure in New
Mexico; his eyes gazed into hers, filled
with love and longing even as were
his own; his lips plucked from her
lips kisses more luscious and passion
ate than ever before melted the heart
Of man; and Guadalupe told him, by
word and eyes and heart, that she
loved him.
But at last midnight warned them,
and with one parting embrace, close
and long, the young man watched his
darling slip from his hold and flee
toward the o silent rancho, while
whispering her last words as benisons,
the sweetest of confessions in the
sweetest of tongues, "Yo te amo," he
sought his saddle, and rode slowly
away into the cleaning.
His way took him over the broad
plateau and down the narrow trail
toward Los Mexos. until. upon the
little bridge that crossed the wild
stream at a point known as LA
Gorge de Diable," he paused and dis
mounted a moment to tighten a loos-
ened girth.
Then again he breathed the words
of his love, 'Yo tie Oma!."
The girth was fastened and the
troopers foot in the stirrup, when.
rising from the dim obscurity behind
him. a dark figure whirled its arm
quickly in the air, something shot
silently toward the soldier, and an
instant later a lariat fell about his
neck. half-strangling him. He was
suddenly jerked backward to the floor
of the shaking bridge, and as his
frightened horse sped snorting up the
winding path, he heard at his ear the
low, fiendish laugh Of his r~ival-Juan
dImray had caught him!
For a moment Emerson lay stunned
where he had fallen; then he sprang
to his feet, and his hands tore at the
tightening rope about his neck; but
a second time the cord was pulled, and
again he fell.
Then, before he could rise, strong
arms bound him, and again the de-
monical laugh rang in his ears.
fla, blue coat! Americanos! Dog.
You would steal my bride! Did you
think q d'Imray would retire because
you had entered the field? Fool! See,
| am going to drag you at my horses
heels back to Hacienda Alvares. and
fling your carcass before the gate.
Donna Guadalupe will think the In