The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-06-05

wives Of the miners and the cherishe
womenfolk Of the landowners, the
| were all crowded inside the broad hall
of the big house: and seventy cd,
Americans. armed with company rifles
paced nervously along the broad veran
walls that inclosed the summer garden
behind
Along with the rest went Hooke
and Gracia. and, though her mother
beckoned and her father frownet
sternly. the wilful daughter OF the Ara
CONS did not offer to leave him as they
scampered up the hill. In fact. she
rode close beside him. squirting wher
he spurred and. finally. when the
shower of stray bullets had passed
she led on around the house.
Won't you help me take my horse
inside the walls?" she asked. Bud
followed after her. circling the fortress
whose blank adobe walls gave shelter
to the screaming women. and she
smiled upon him with the most en-.
gaging confidence.
Il know you will have to go soon. "
she said. and suppose I've got to be
shut in with those creatures. but we
must be sure to save our horses. Some
bullets might hit them, you know. and
then we could not run away!
you remember your promised" she
reminded. as Bud gazed at her in as
constituent. "Ah. yes. knew you did
you would not have picked
such a good horse for me. This roam
is my fathers best riding horse. You
must put yours inside the wall with
him, and when the time is right We
will get them and ride for the line"
What" cried Hooker incredulous-
ly, with the country full of rebels?
They're liable to take the town In half
an hour!"
mo. indeed they will mott" respond
ed Gracia with spirit. you do not
the spirit of US Sonorans!
Can you see how the firing has slack
ened? The miners have driven your
rebels back already. and they will do
will follow them up and
kill them! Then. when the rebels are
IN flight and Del Rey and his rurales
ire away. that will be a good time for
10 to slip OF and make our dash for
he line!"
Nothing doing!" Announced Hooker.
u he dismounted at the corral. You
lon't know what you're talking about!
But I will leave my horse here" he
ldded; Il sure don't want him to get
,urt."
But you promised" protested Ora
10 weakly.
Promised nothingi" retorted Bud
II promised to take care
4 you. didn't I! Well. what's the use
4 talking. then1 You better stay hight |
lere. whore you're safe. Come ON,
st's 90 to the housed"
moi" cried Gracia, her dark eyes
urning misty with imminent Jars.
Oh. Mr.. Hooker!" she burst out,
didn't keep them all waiting while I
at on this riding-skirt? thought you
I'd como to take me away! What DO
care to be safe? want 70 be free!
want to run away-and 90 across the
ne to dear PHIL" she faltered. Then
he looked up at him sharply and her
dice took on an accusing tone.
"Aha!" she said. a. II making some
xpected discovery. so that IL It'll
bought perhaps you were afraid"
''What?" demanded Bud. put sud-
emily upon the defensive.
Il might have known It," soliloquized
racia with conviction. you are
,alous of dear Phil"
Who? Me?" cried Hooker. smiling
own at her grimly. well. let it go
that" he said, as she regarded him
18th an arch smile. I'D certainly be
fool to take all those chances for
othing. Let him steal his own girl
lat's what l say!"
Now that, Mr.. Hooker" burst out
racia in a passion. lis very unkind-
Id rude! Am woman OF the town,
be stolen by one man or another? ,
m /"
That's what you would be-" put In
I'd. with brutal directness, III these
bells got hold of you. No, ma am. l
ouldn't take you out of this town for {
hundred thousand dollars. You don't ,
low what you're talking about, that's
|! Wait till the fighting is over
,e! Did you hear that? Come, on,
Is get into the housed" ,
He ducked suddenly as a bullet went I
ang against the corrugated iron roof :
'ove them and. Selling her by the !
md, he half dragged her through a r
lie door and into the summer garden. =,
Here sudden outcry OF women's
ices assailed their ears like a rush =
wind and they beheld peon mothers r
ming to and fro with their scream :
9 children clasped to their breasts or :
aging at their skirts A faw halp