Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-11
and fearless. masterful rider should fash

mans wife," suggested with fine irony.
He flushed. II have never intended it
and at least can offer her q certain posi-
" am not likely to forget what you are"
I retorted NOR that she is an hefress.
Granting that you are honestly fond OF
her, would an honorable man place him
self In the position of a fortune hunter?"
Fortune hunterr A dull red crept
slowly over his tanned cheeks. 81 did
not know. Has she a-great-deal-of
money!" His voice was strained and I'M
steady.
man was more mercenary than had
thought him. 1 eyed him scornfuiy. he
caught my expression.
Don't think that! You don't under.
stand. Everything's changed-but, you'n
advise .. me; Do you d think might con-
NO" I said decidedly, because you
would
"But I cannot"
Eyes, you can"
The expression on his face would nave
softened a heart of stone Il am. truly
sorry" I said relenting and holding out
He smiled rather forlornly as he took 1t,
and after seconds hesitation went away.
r..,o
you don't mind II I ride Just a little
way, mother dear?" questioned Margaret.
I was on the porch reading and looked
up from my book to smile at her wistful
face For three days Margaret had gone
around looking as though her hours mad
been robbed Of their sweetness since life
land Victorian ranch) had nothing to Of
fer. My heart ached for her, but made
no sign.
what does Dick say? Is it safe? Do
be careful I replied anxious, yet hating
to refuse her.
"It's all right-just little way she
coaxed.
To my dying day I shall remember the
picture she made as she stood there, sweet
and grilish, in her trim riding habit, her
soft hair caught in heavy braid under
the stiff little hat, faint, smile touching
her mouth and eyes.
Every WELL" asserted. grudgingly.
So my dear girl rode away through the
yellow sunshine, looking back and laughing
and waving her hand cheerily as she dis
appeared beyond the edge Of the wood.
1 never knew how long 1t was pefore l
became dimly conscious of the pounding
Of approaching hoofs and glanced up to
see horse and rider tearing down the
road on a dead run. Something tense about
the familiar broad-shouldered figure filled
me with vague foreboding, and as he flung
himself from his steaming horse l rose
trembling to meet him.
where's Dick?"
His breath came quickly.
i've frightened you:" he added with
The men had better keep together after
nightfall; 1 fancy it would be safer.
and 1t would be a good idea to patrol the
outskirts of the ranch. Two or three bands
of stray. half-drunken Indians have been
sneaking about and they mean mischief"
I gazed at him in speeches. horror.
tried to speak but giant hand clutched
my throat.
''There really is no danger here" he
insisted reassuringly. "Ask Dick. These
stray Indians are a cowardly lot-out for
stealing. They always sneak around the
outskirts of the ranches"
Margaret The word stuck in my
throat.
He wheeled around like fash What Of
herr" he demanded sharply.
"Out there-aloneP whispered hoarse
ly, pointing down the road.
He muttered something under his breath
and his face went suddenly gray. The
next instant he was in the saddle and his
horse. stung by his spurred heels. cleared
the gate and tore down the empty road.
Stunned, sick with horror, I stood, while
the pounding hoofs fainter in the
distance. At the edge Of the wood where
my dear girl had turned to wave her hand
so cheerily. I caught the CLINT of sunlight
on the slanting barrel Of his gun.
The wilderness. the wide, sweeping plains,
were ever new to Margaret, and she had
almost reached a stretch of woodland three
miles from home before she realized that it
was time to turn. She halted for one fare
well look then caught her horse up sharp
five of them-with evil, swarthy faces. were
sneaking out from the timber and coming
toward her, their horses on a dead run.
At the same time she heard galloping hoofs
flying bullet whizzed above her head.
run for it!'' cried Jim, as his rifle
blazed with heavy report. and one Of the
to the ground. Both horses wheeled and
tore rapidly along the homeward road as
the cowboys rifle flashed a second time
and an Indians arm hung useless. AS he
ened cry came from Margaret. Her horse,
grazed by passing bullet, had thrown her
and galloped rapidly away. Almost in one
moment the cowboy dropped from his
horse lifted her with sweep of his arm
and turned to remount as the big bay fell,
struck in the neck.
'Lie down. lie down." he cried flercely,
"close to the horse-flat in the grass-so."
knee and leveled his rifle with careful aim
There was a flash from behind the horse
and bullet from the Indians answered it.
Flash! Flash!
and there was an ominous silence. Jim
Lancaster clutched at his rifle awkwardly-
from force Of habit he tried to load it-then
he sank Imply backward.
1t was that way Dick and his men found
them-the unconscious figure of the Eng
lshman stretched motionless on the short
grass and Margaret kneeling beside him,
trying In vain to stanch the blood that
trickled from the shoulder to the ground
in an overwhelming crimson stain.
Thus it happened, my dear Anna, that
when the roses were glory Of fragrant
bloom Margaret, looking like a summer
rose herself married her cowboy and be-
cause he happened not to be just James
Lancaster, but rather James Bradshaw
ninth Earl of Lancaster, the marriage was
heralded in the yellow journals throughout
the length and breadth of the land as an
other example of a European title bought
with American gold.
You can imagine my happiness with Mar
garet married to a title?" / daresay
am not Indifferent to 1t, being still human
but my views have undergone a radical
change in several directions. After one
lives through what I did during the agon-
izing hours in which I waited for Margaret
to come back to me, ones values are apt
to rearrange themselves, and even SO I'M
pressive a thing an European title-or so
substantial landmark as Plymouth Rock
may be relegated to an unimportant back
ground.
Experts on insanity.
julius Chambers in BROOKLYN Eagle