The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-12-10

Bottom back on his launches. Tn,
leader Of n long line of horsemen wa:
just coming up the other side-therC
man and woman who had found them.
selves.
Twenty miles ahead lay the northern
pass, and from there Il was ten more
to Gadsden. but they spoke neither OF
the pass nor of Gadsden nor OF who
would be awaiting them there. Their
talk was like that of children. incon'
sequential and happy. They told OF
the times when they had seen each
other. and what they had thought: OF
the days OF their childhood. before
they had met at Fortuna: OF hopes
and fears and thwarted ambitions and
all the young dreams OF life.
Bud told OF his battle-scarred father
and their ranch in Arizona; OF his
mother and horse breaking brothers,
and his wanderings through the West
Gracia Of her mother. with nothing OF
her father. and how she had firted In
order to be sent to school where she
could gaze upon the outstanding Amer
leans. Only Bud thought OF the trail
and scanned the horizon for rebels,
but he seemed more to seek her eyes
than TO watch for enemies and death.
They rode on until the sun sank low
and strange tracks struck their trail
from the east. Bud observed that the
horses were shod. and more tracks OF
mounted men came in beyond. lie
turned sharply toward the west and
followed a rocky ledge to the hills.
without leaving a footprint to mark
the way Of their retreat
those hoof prints brought Bud back
from the land of dreams in which
he had been wandering TO a realiza-
ton Of the dangers that lurked about
them. But a little way ahead was the
pass they must cross. and he sud
denly realized that they could not
safely do so In the broad light OF
day. He must not take such chances
OF losing his new found happiness.
BY the signs the land ahead was full
OF bandits and ladrones. men to whom
human life was nothing and a woman
no more sacred than a brute. At the
pass all trails converged. from the
north and from the south. Not by any
chance could man pass over II In the
daytime without meeting some one on
the way. and IL the base revoltosos
once set eyes on Gracia IL would take
more than a nod TO restrain them.
So, in a sheltered ravine they sought
cover until II was dark. anc while
Gracia slept, the heavy headed Bud
watched the plain from the heights
above.
As he watched he dreamed OF
home in which this woman now sleep
ing beside him was the queen. He
dreamed Of years to come with un-
bounded happiness throughout all OF
them. Thoughts OF Phil and duty 10
his pardner we're far away. Nothing
on the plain below served to distract
him from this dream OF happiness
As far as he could see there was
nothing that savored OF danger for
the woman In his keeping There
were no sounds or signs OF either
federal or revolutionary troops. from
both Of which they were fleeing and
from both OF which he must guard
her. Again they were In a world that
was all their own. an Eden with but
one man and one woman.
For an hour and more he watched
and dreamed, and with the dreams
came the desire for sleep. the cry OF
nature for rest. Gracia stirred. then
spoke softly to him. calling him by
name. and her voice was as music
Tar away.
When she awoke and found him nod
ling Gracia insisted upon taking his
place. Now that she had been re
'reshed her dark eyes were bright and
sparkling. but Bud could hardly see
rhe long watching by night and by day |
lad left his eyes bloodshot and swol- |
en-, with lids that dropped in spite OF |
him. II he did not sleep now he
night doze In the saddle later. or ride
,lindly into some rebel camp; so he
made her promise to call him and lay
Town TO rest until dark.
The stars were all out when he
woke, startled by her hand on his
lair, but she treasured him with a
word and led him up the hill to their
ookout II was then that he under
TODD her silence. In the brief hours
Turing which he had slept the de-
erted country seemed suddenly to
lave come TO life.
BY daylight there had been nothing
o suggest the presence OF men.
But now as the velvet night set
led down upon the land II brought
ut the glimmering specks OF a hun
red camp-fres to the east and TO the
orth. But the fires TO which Gracia
ointed were set fairly in their trail.
nd they barred the way to Gadsden-
Look" she said. 81 did not want
o wake you. but the fires have sprung
ID everywhere. These last ones are
light in the pass"
When did you see themY" asked
locker. his head still heavy with
leep. Have they been there long?"
mo; only a few minutes" she an
wered. AT shutdown saw those over
D the east-they are along the base