The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1913-05-16


him. Then turning her back toward
the Mount, shadowy pyramid in the
distance, she seated herself in the
grass with her eyes to the woods.
Not long, however, did my lady re-
main thus; soon rising, she walked
toward the shadowy depths. At the
verge she, paused her brows grew
thoughtful; what was It the woods
recalled? Suddenly, she remembered
"a boy she had met the night she
left for school so long ago, had told
her he lived In them. She recalled,
too, as a child, how the woman, Marie,
who had been maid to her mother,
had tried to frighten her about that
sequestered domain, with tales of
fierce wild animals and unearthly
creatures, visible and invisible that
roamed within.
She had no fear now, though faint
, rHstlings and a pulsation of sound
held her listening. Then, through the
leafy interstice, cleaning and flash
ing, as If some one were throwing
jewels to the earth, lured her on to
the cause of the seeming enchant-
ment-a tiny waterwall!
The moment passed; still she lin
gered. Around the Mounts high top,
her own home, only transcendent 81
! lence reigned; here was she surround
ed by babbling voices and all manner
of merry creatures--lively little squir-
rels; winged insects, romping in the
| twilight shade; portly and well-sat-
istied appearing green monster who
regarded her amicably from a niche
of green. A butterfly, poised and
waving its wings, held her a long
time-until she was suddenly aroused
by the wood growing darker Raising
her eyes, she saw through the green
foliage overhead that the bright sky
had become sunless. At the same time
Q rumbling defamation, faint, far-otf,
broke in upon the whisperings and
tinklings of that wood nook Getting
up, she stood for moment listening
then walked away.
Near the verge of the sand, Saladin
greeted her with impatience. tossing
his head toward the darkening heav-
ems. Nor did he wait until she was
fairly seated before starting back at
a rapid gate along the shore. But the
girl offered no protest; her face
showed only enjoyment. A little wild
he might be at times, as became one
of rugged ancestry, but never vicious,
only headstrong! And she didn t
mind that
Already had he begun to slack that
first laundering pace when something
white-a veil. perhaps, dropped from
| the caValcade of lords and ladies some
days before on the land and waited to
the beach-huttered like live thing
suddenly before him. In his tense
mood, Saladin, affrighted, sprang to
one side; then wheeling outright,
madly took the bit in his teeth Per
force his mistress resigned herself,
sitting straight and sure, with little
hands hard and firm at the reins.
Saladin was behaving very badly, but
at least he was superb, worth con-
quering, If
brief thrill of apprehension seized
her as, again drawing near the point
of land, he showed no signs Of yield
ing; resisted all her attempts to turn,
to direct him to It, With nostrils
thrust forward and breathing strong.
he continued to choose his own
course; to whirl her on; past the
promoHtory; around into the great
bay beyond-now a vast expanse, or
desert Of sand, broken only, about half
way across, by the small isle of
Casque. Toward this rocky forma-
ton, a pygmy to the great Mount
from which It lay concealed by the
intervening projection of land, the
horse rushed.
On, on In vain she still endeavored
to stop him; thinking uneasily of
stories the fishermen told OF this
neighboring coast; Of the sands that
often shifted here, setting pitfalls for
the unwary. She saw the sky grow
yet darker, noted the nearer Hastings
of light. and heard the louder rumb-
lings that followed. Then presently
another danger she had long been con-
scious of, on sudden became real.
She saw, or thought she saw, faint
streak, like silver line drawn across
the sky where the yellow sands
touched the sombrous horizon. And
Saladin seemed to observe It. too; to
detect in It cause for wonder; reason
FOR hesitation Ar any rate that head.