La Junta tribune., 1906-11-10
1ER nAT Al0 eoAT
.. ososea wGvoovvu

forks OF the road and listened to the
clAtter Of hoofbeats down the valley.
1t is my father and sam" said the
girl Their horses are faster than
ours They viii catch rs within the
mile
They viil kill me. then. Nancy
OH The man vas pale and SILVER
ing
Are you afraid. WAlter,"
He did not answer. but looked neFv-
ously down the road
Get OF your horse she command
ed. ~ the same time springing lightly
from her own mount Il don't think
they would kill you. but they might
Father il avfully angry. and Sam
thinks ] belong to him We need not
run any chances The marriage can't
take place to-day. anyway. for they
are sure to catch US. Now. Walter.
I'm going to change coats and hats
and horses With you Then | will GO
to the right and you will go To the
left They will follow me. of course
Before they come up with me yos will
be safe"
-oh. Nancy. I can't desert you that
s1ys nc pIOttStru
Hurry. hurry. Walter They will
turn the bead in q minute. They
won't hurt me-" She already had re-
moved her cloak and her befeathered
hat and vas holding them out to him
She stamped her foot impatiently At
his hesitation
In a second the exchange was made
She sprang into the mans saddle on
the gray and leaned over toward Val
ter and kissed him. smiling family At
the ludicrous picture he made In the
feathered hat and the braided cloak
with Its big buttons Then she noted
for the hundredth time the delicate.
spiritual beauty OF his face. and its
pure contour. and the smile died from
her lips There was tear in her eye
as she turned away and caught up
the reins.
"Good-by. Walter" she murmured.
If you will come tomorrow night to
the big sycamore below the spring you
may get your hat and coat
She slapped the gray over the neck
with the bridle reins and set of up
the right hand road In a gallop.
The man looked after her irreso-
lutely for an instant and then mount
ed the other horse and gailoped to the
left.
He heard a triumphant shout be.
hind him and leaned low over the
horses neck and urged the animal to
greater speed.
When the pursners reached the
forks Of the road they did not hesi.
tate. but whipped up their beasts and
followed the disguised girl on the
gray. The man was safe.
On the next evening Walter crept
furtively through the woods to the
sycamore. carrying u girls hat and
coat on his arm He lurked In the
shadows. starting now and then like
some timid wild animal at the small
came at last he assured himself that
she was alone and had not been fol-
lowed before he ventured from his
concealment.
You need not be afraid. Walter"
she called. Il have told father that
I am not going to marry you. He
knows that I have come to sec you
tonight You are safe
You are not going to marry me"
he repeated. There was no question
in his tone. He seemed to accept her
announcement as a finality. 1T is be
cause I-because | was afraid"
"Yes. Walter. Because you were
afraid
He gazed at her dumbIy Standing
1.-the and straight In the moonlight.
she appeared to be the Incarnation Of
grace and sweetness. He never had
loved her 50 well-never desired her
so much.
II am not blaming you. Walter"
she said. sadly. You couldn't help II.
don't blame you. and don't love you
any the less. ! believe I love you all
the more. liked you from the hrst
because you were different. ! guess
I knew father was right when he
called you q coward, but I knew there
was something nobler and higher in
the world than the desire to kill and
fearlessness of death. All my people
have been fighters. ] have been
raised In an atmosphere OF feuds.
You were finer and gentler and more
scholarly than the others. II you
were diIeren;-if you were q rough
fire eater like Sam I would not love
you
She sighed and looked down the val
ley. He was silent. What was there
for him to say?
But I can't marry you. Walter.
she continued. Il simply cannot. I
never would be able to forget that
woman's hat with its ridiculous bob
bling feather. That shows how strong
my prejudices are. can't marry
YOU. That is all. Coodby."
As she took her hat and coat from
his arm he caught her hand and
preSsed Il convulsively.