The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-01-30
Their Elopement
[Original.1

your having planned an elopement
with the ranchmans daughterY'
''Oh. senior, let us not talk about
that"
Come, tell me about it."
Well senior, l don't like to, but il
l must must. Because Arrange had a
good ranch and several thousand sheep
he must expect to wed his daughter to
some grandee. He was widower.
and Juanita was bis only child. If he
had had a son he would not have been
so careful of her. AS it 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 fell
low without any property and, losing
her heart, make it unpleasant for the
old man and his plans. I 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 he would
not favor me for a son-in-law, but he
did not True, 1 am twenty years old
er 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 permits
sion"
But did you not try to run away
with the girl?"
Patience, senior. I am coming to
that What you suppose Arrange do
when 1 ask him honorably for his
daughter? He laugh in my face. That
laugh was the only answer 1 ever got.
bore it as best 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. l 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 l liked. At first she did
not take any notice of me, but after a
time she began to make friends with
me. Then 1 thought. Here is chance
t0 a,ncn1n r>,yrCnlf fnr tho lnSc Of Imam
tia and at the same time let the old
man see that I am not so much dis
appointed after all
Zone time 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 Juanita dying for love Of you,
who do not deserve to be loved
"Well. tell her that did not know
ed. Besides, Arrange would not con-
sent Would not it be better to take
the girl who was free to act for her
self?
"'You have no pluck she said. If
loved girl who loved me, would
elope with her.
"Then for the first time it occurred
to me to have revenge on Arrange for
his insult. Besides, if 1 marry his
daughter I must some time share her
property with her. So say to Blanca
that If she will help me l will carry
off Juanita.
THAT is easy she say. All you
have to do is to provide relays Of
horses to the railroad fifty miles
away. 1 will contrive to get Juanita
off the ranch to you, and you can get
a train before the old man knows Of his
girls escape
I'm few days all was ready. I 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 We're to
meet me there l asked Blanca what
reward she expected for her disinter-
ested action, and she said she acted
Oily through friendship for two low
ers. 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 her than Juanita, but Juanita
would have the ranch some day. and it
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, senor?"
''By all means. Go on"
ION the night we were to run away
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 their
plans to get away, for it was nearly
II O'Clock before they came. When
saw two girls running toward me
/ thought of Arrange laughing at me, and
L 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 l said:
"'Be brave, Juanita. You will never
regret this action
You will not, sweetheart said
Blanca. He is right
! Blanca nut Juanita info the huct