The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-02-02

the daughter IN
meant the liberty HLT SKI
of the parents. dgiH n
The big hacen- 1sN
dado had sworn ~
! II. He was
good man and
would keep his
word Camilla
knew that. The prelado who was to
perform the ceremony had called to
congratulate. He told her any maiden
IN the province would be rightly proud
10 win the love of de Gomara, and
left her quite dutiful
The wedding was a fine affair. Look
ing like some glorious bird OF the
tropics. the little bride smiled sweetly
beside her lordly husband. Military
men from the Alailela mountain gar
rison formed a fair proportion Of the
guests. and their smart uniforms
blended artistically IN the sparkling
I panorama under tie chandeliers.
The perfume OF rare flowers, the
languorous melodies OF CASTLE and
! the subtle magnetism OF bright eyes
that outshone their own diamonds
chased the glad hours away.
ITS the birth of love" murmured
the adoring husband; "it's a good
omen, sweetheart"
Camilla assented. her coral lips
showing the white gems beneath.
They had reached the far end of the
lawn, where de Gomara stopped and
raised his hand to the star-decked
heavens
May thy richest blessings"
Quicker than the stealthy action OF
tiger two dark-eyed men came out
Of the shadows and. leaping upo the
haeendado. gagged him and bound his
hands. Then AS swiftly and as .roise-
lessly they gently picked up Camilla
and gently passed her across the
hedge. where a sinister crew OF dark
figures awaited, like vampires Of abe
swamps.
The music and the dance went on;
the stars glowed out OF the dark
canopy and now and then Carriage dis
charged column of White hot flame.
Then a discovery was made by a pair
OF promenaders. The stricken hacen-
dado was released and the military
gentlemen mounted ir hot haste.
Ten thousand pesos for the hrigand
Moreno. dead or alivei"
SO cried the lord OF San Jose valley
as he climbed into the saddle on his
great black stallion and led the way
Under the tropic heavens, through
the perfumed foliags. into the wild
mountains rode the rescuers, three
hundred strong
AS the ascent grew sleeper the party
deployed. De Gomara and his retinue
keeping straight ahead, turned sudden
~ into a roadway cut into the side OF
the mountain. Across the abyss was
Moreno and his fantastic crowd Of
outlaws lined up as if waiting. Camilla
sat on the saddle in front OF her cap
tor De Gomara, with cry of rage,
raised his carbine. The bandit held
up his right hand
"Senor de Gomara." he said, 1T
would be pity to slaughter hundred
good men when two win suffice"
The haeendado understood.
so be it," he returned; you on
that side and I on this till one shall
die
Moreno dismounted and gently as
sisted Camilla to alight He indicated
a safe place for her to stand and /
walked down the road bordering the 1
ohasm on his side. It was agreed that /
a captain in the pursuing party should !
count The bandit stepped boldly out /
in the center of the road.
No one could tell just how it hap
pened. or when, but at the last count 4
the two carbines spoke simultaneously
and Camilla sank at the feet Of the (
brigand chief with a bullet in her
breast. De Gomara's risht arm was
perforated by the ball from the enc |
my's detected weapon. With a strange |
cry Moreno stopped and lifted the (
stricken girl. Then he looked across
the gorge.
"A truce, gentlemen. he said; the I
lady's hit. ''Wnl Senior de Gomara
please come over2 My men Will guide
MN anu pFoteCt MN.
Moreno walked down the narrow
cIiff roadway and then disappeared in I
rude shanty on the mountain side
When the hacendado entered few
minutes later he saw the brigand on I
his knees beside the cot. the dying
girls arms around his neck. Her eyes
were looking into his with pathetic
devotion
"They made me do it, my dear No
reno.' she murmured; thou wilt for
give poor Camilla, who never ceased +
to love thee?'
= The brigand run his hand through /
the tawny tresses and whispered some
thing no one else heard The dark (
eyes smiled; then closed forever.