The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-07-08
WRATH AT
RISING WATER
A Well Merited Punishment
BY W. EDISON SMITH
BY w. EDISON SMITH
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey c.

Just above where the Rio Santa Fe
runs laughingly into the reservoir there
Is a place where one may cross its
shimmering shadows easily enough by
means OF thickly scattered stepping
stones.
Lolita Martinez had loitered along
he white sand carpet Of that same
line shaded water course hundreds of
times in her seventeen years.
Ii was pleasant place to pass an
idle hour. and idle hours were not a
few. But the hot Spanish blood was
racing now as she came out of her IA
theirs house, and. with an assumption
of lazy nonchalance, she picked way
slowly. gracefully. across the river.
The beating Of her heart could be
pardoned. Perfect May days, enchant-
Ing with the magic fragrance Of mil
lion apple trees. are many in this hap
p. valley. But It is on only one May
LOy In a lifetime that girl runs away
to be married-and 10 an American!
| OF course an American! Suppose 1t
had been Francisco Gonzales-there
would have been no running away!
They would have been welded at
the cathedral with all the ancient cere-
monial, and Francisco would have tax
EN- her to his new built home.
Even drunken Manuel Valdez, who
had no house on his barren hillside
acres, whose name was a byword for
wickedness. even he would have been
an easier sutton for her father to ac-
cept than Bross the American.
over the girls arm was flung the
folds of light, many colored Navajo
blanket. 1t was draped around long.
capacious pasteboard box.
The shadows were shortening toward
noon when she came around the last
winding turn of the white ribbon of
sand, flushing wildly as a tall, hand |
some young man leaped to his feet
from the grassy bank where he had |
been lying and, throwing away his |
cigar, came forward eagerly.
He caught the girls 1.-THE, unresist-
ing body close.
Sweetheart, my dearest! You've
come at lastr' he murmured.
"Yes. beloved" she answered in the
slow. sweet music of careful English.
"I've come for good and all-forever
and ever. All, wonder II you want
me enough-as want your"
want your" cried Bross. want
you, my Lolita? You do know, don't
you, chiquita2 You're going to be my
own loyal. beautiful, stately wife, Lo-
lita. until the end OF time. would do
anything, anything. for your sake,
sweetheart And you'd do anything (
for me. know. Wouldn't your
YES" she whispered fervently. "Oh. 1
love you! would give my life +,
more than that ! would kill any one
who came between u.s." I
'Only 1t will not be necessary" smil-
ed her lover, Were just to be happy. {
and that's ALL" G
I'm afraid OF something
that is going to come upon you and l
me-" she said. "Who can tell what 1t
may be1 II is like the strange wind :.
hat blows-icy and cold-in your face c
md through your hair when the grave O
plot where you are to lie is trodden d
lpon.- '
Dearest how could it7" he laugh
I'd gayly. "Over beyond the hill, Just O
tut Of sight Of the east road, is my a
,ur-own team. Wen drive to Las v
Vegas and take the train. So all we G
ave to do. dear. is TO climb to the
rest hand In hand. Kiss me, and let's g
,e on the way" a
Lolita seemed to shake or the vague W
depression. She laughed deliciously.
Not ALL" she protested merrily. a
I've the most beautiful dress In this n
'ox you ever beheld. and a hat-a new
at-and-and-other things. Now | OF
hall go up the hillside and make my d
elf presentable while you sit here and
moke. When l am ready will call, b,
nd you can follow. OF
"But before go"-the liquid voice
altered-"let us go and drink where hs
he spring flows into the pool above. W
/ may be long-long-before drink OF
again. | will have played here since It
was but little girl. Come ag
Together they clambered up the pr
reen bank at the side of the arroyo. m
The rocks below the ever flowing de
brings had been followed In places
nd Mt others walled higher by long tie
cad hands. ch
Into this basin the crystal current al
ickled continually. The pool itself HI
as only a foot deep. for there was a sli
arrow break at one side. through ST
hich the overflow ran away down phi
lie grass into the thirsty white sand
the famished water course ST
Only for that the water would have an
zen four feet and more from its sur
ce to the stony bottom. DIR
The Spanish girl looked at the scene co
ith tender eyes; then she turned ST. Ia!
ntly away and. smiling back at the
an, went upward toward a thicker Y"
lister OF green upon the long. swell
z slope.
Lolita passed a whole wonderful hour WI
tent upon her toilet.
Then she came down the hill to q
lint where she could be seen ard sn
ard. working patiently at one OF the ~
w CLOVES the while ="