The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-17
The EVENING STORY
love of Ysleta
(By Emmett CamnbeIl q

V
Martinez was stretched far along the
yellow sand when Lord Harry" whis-
ting, loped down the trail and drop
ped from his saddle before the closed
door. He laughed softly to himself,
and busted his Mexican boots with the
heavy gauntlets slipped from his slim
hands. His silver spurs tinkled nusi-
cally as he moved
open to Harry, sweetheart mine!"
ne caiied, gayly, and raped sharply
upon the door
A light step sounded within, and the
door swung back.
And why thine, Senior Lord Harry
Fairfax?" the girl who stood in the
portal demanded with mock dignity,
raising herself to the full height of her
small stature
Because I take" he answered, and
gathered her up lightly in his arms.
she raised warm, red lips that chung
10 his with the passionate Intensity of
small, brown hands slipped from his
neck and into her bodice, which was
cut SO low as to show a white breast
rising and falling swiftly with the
stress OF emotion.
Yes-because you take. 1t was an
other you would have taken last week.
heard-who was she?" the girl
painted.
Last week--at Los Matas? Dios!
have forgotteni" he laughed lightly.
aye you forget some Things qdACh-
ly, do you not? Then forget this! she
cried, and wrenched herself free from
his arms A small knife flashed in
her hand, and she struck straight for
the heart.
''Kitten." he smiled, and half turn
ed his 1.-THE body. The keen blade slit
the silk that covered his breast, and
then dropped tinkling upon the moor
as he raped sharply upon her wrist
The girl, with a passionate abandon,
n V-ov n hurled
her face among the pillows.
Truly, Ysleta, / have forgotten her
1T is only you 1 always remember,
the boy whispered, bending over her.
He knelt upon the floor and slipped
one arm under the convulsed little fig
Suddenly the girl sat up, dazzling
smile breaking through her tears.
''Dios! How 1 forget! she ex-
claimed. and ran to cupboard in one
corner of the room. Here it is late
afternoon and you, my Lord Harry,
are no doubt quite famished. Oh, very
quickly now you shall eat!"
Like a bird she fitted about the
room, preparing his food, while he
lounged lazily upin the couch, watch
ing her with half-closed eyes. and
smile that twitched the corners of his
mouth.
Eat what time will your father re-
turn? ?" he presently asked.
HE told me he would start when
the moon rose" she answered. as she
deity stripped the corn husks from
the tamales upon the table; there
fore, he will not reach here before mid
night. Until then we may be togeth-
er, Harry mine.
st will see to the horse" Harry said,
and left the room. He led the mare
back to the stalls removed her saddle,
from Senior Costello's stock.
Truly, it is a good deed to rob
thief" he laughed, and went back to
his meal.
When they rose from the table the
girl seated herself upon the skin COW
cred couch. He dropped to the floor
and rested his head against her silk
covered knee.
Hand me. your guitar. heart of
mine,' he said, and when he had re-
ceived il, touched the strings with ex-
pert and loving hands. II will sing
you a song of two lovers, Ysleta, who
were true-in the song?'
The sudden darkness of the land
which knows no twilight had blotted
out the desert, but a pearly light in the
east gave promise of rising moon.
He sang on and on, his voice clear and
low as the Ginning of distant bells.
In the darkness he could not see the
sudden blanching of the girls face
when she first observed the light grow
ing whittier in the east.
Mother of Jesus. but 1 had forgot
ry," she whispered brokenly. 1 have
heard it said that one might trust an
English heart"
Perhaps" he answered lightly, and
struck a jarring note. "Perhaps-but
not one that was once an English
heart"
She did not heed the bitterness of his
voice, but continued earnestly.
Dearest, do you believe that I have
loved your"
answered carelessly.
"And you have said, Harry. when my
arms were about your neck, that you
loved me-"
And yet, and yeti have done no
wrong thing, Harry, though-Mother of
Christ, I was tempted! You-you ask
ed me to go with you Harry. but you
never once spoke of a priest"
He shrugged his shoulders, but new
light came into his eyes. The moon
had now swung clear into the sky, and
the girls face was lined and haggard.
And when refused she continued.
you asked no more. Yet, now-now I
ask you toto take me with you-to-
night
"Truly, the gods are very good to
me-" he replied cooily. I'VE will go,
then, just before your esteemed parent
NO. Let US go at once-quickly, in
Gods name!" she begged, pulling with
childish hands at his arm.
But why, Ysieta?'' he asked, his
voice silky as the skin of mountain
Hon.
"Then usten" she replied, holding
herself erect and rigid before him. Amy
moment the Rangers may be here-they
know that they will find you, and they
will be in sufficient force to take you
this time. They were to surround tho
place when the moon had been a half
hour risen" She concluded abruptly,
11rl1 {afn oil
youth gone out of her fair face
And you told them-you who held
my life in your hand?" he said slowly,
but there was no note of surprise in
mis- voice.
. Yes. I loved you. They said-they
"a ha