The daily Alaskan., 1906-03-22
>a A4ttl
Their ElOpement

"Come, tell me about lt.'
 well, senor, I don't like to, but if I must I must. Because Arrange had good ranch and several thousand sheep he must expect to wed his daughter to some grandee. He was a widower and Juanita was his only child. If he had had son he would not have been so careful of her. As 1t was, he watch ed her more carefully than his sheep, which roamed where they liked. But Juanita was never allowed to leave the ranch lest she meet some young fei- low without any property and, losing her heart, make 1t unpleasant for the old man and his plans, l had some Capital in Arango's hands, and he re- lied on me to keep the sheep from freezing or starving and to do the sell ing. l could not see why be would not favor me for a son-ln-law, but he did not. True, I am twenty years old CT than his daughter, but that Is not so bad, and do not women prefer to marry men older than themselves? l acted very honorably with Arrange. l asked him for his daughters hand without having first spoken to her, in- stead of acting like an American and getting the girls heart without permis sion."
 But did you not try to run away with the girl?"
 Patience. senor. am coming to that What you suppose Arango do when ask him honorably for his daughter? He laugh in my face. That laugh was the only answer l ever got, I bore 1t as best 1 could, but never try to take a mean revenge.
 Arrange would never let any young men come to visit at the ranch, but his daughter, who had been educated at the convent, sometimes had her school mates come to see her. One day one of these girls, Blanca Savedra, came to the ranch. She was a tall girl, with blue eyes and red cheeks. did not think her beautiful, because she had on her upper lip that suspicion of a mustache which for me would spoil any woman's beauty. But there was a careless swing with her and an honest bearing that liked. At first she did not take any notice of ne, but after a time she began to make friends with me. Then ! thought, Here is a chance to console myself for the loss of Juan ita and at the same time let the old man see that I am not so much dis appointed after all
 "One time I started in to ask Blanca to be my wife when she threw up her hands and exclaimed:
 "'Oh, heavens, Is this the constancy of man? Not two months ago you pro posed for the hand of my friend, and now you are going to propose for mine. Here is Juanlta dying for love of you, who do not deserve to be loved
 Well. I tell her that did not know that my love for Juauita was return ed. Besides. Arrange would not con sent Would not 1t be better to take the girl who was free to act for her self?
 You have no pluck she said. If [ loved a girl who loved me, l would elope with her
 "Then for the first time it occurred to me to have revenge on Arango for his insult. Besides, If l marry his daughter l must some time share her property with her. So say to Blanca that if she will help me will carry of Juanita.
 ""Ihat Is easy she say. All you have to do is to provide relays Of horses to the railroad fifty miles away. I will contrlve to get Juanita of the ranch to you, and you can get a train before the old man knows Of his girls escape
 Tn a few days all was ready. had arranged to have a blackboard with the swiftest horse on the ranch near the entrance to the ranch at II o'clock at night. and the two girls were to meet me there. l asked Blanca what reward she expected for her disinter- ested action, and she said she acted q. ry through friendship for two lov- CTS. I told her that she must go with us and live with us as long as she liked. The truth Is was more in love with he. than Juauita, but Juanita would have the ranch some day, and 1t would have been very foolish for me to give her up for Blanca, who told me that she had no money at all. Don't you think so, senorT'
 By all means. Go on."
 "On the night we were to run away l waited under clump of trees with the blackboard, for the moon was full, and it was light as day. They must have had trouble in carrying out ul@Ir plans to get away, for it was nearly l2 o'clock before they came. When l saw two girls running toward me l thought of Arango laughing at me, and 1 laughed out loud myself. Along came the girls in the moonlight Blanca pull ing Juanita after her.
 'When they came up to the buck board 1 said:
 ''Be brave, Juanita. You will never regret this action
 "'You will not, sweetheart said Blanca. He Is right
 "Blanca put Juanita Into the buck hoard while I held the reins. The