Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-07-07
WRATH AT
RISING WATER
A Well Merited Punishment
~ ". EPSON SMITH

Just above where the Rio Santa Fe
runs laughinSly into the reservoir there
Is place where one may cross its
shlmmerina shadows easily enough by
means Of prickly scattered stepping
stones.
Lolita Matinee had ioitered along
the White sand CARPET Of that same
pine shaded water course hundreds of
times In nes seventeen years. =
II was pleasant place to pass an
idle hour. and idle hours were hot a
few. But the hot Spanish blood was
racing ruv as she came out OF her IA
theirs house, and. with an assumption
Of lazy no,achaisnce. she picked . way
slowly. gracefully. across the river.
The awssing of her heart could be
parioncd. Perfect May days. encaant-
Ing with tne magic fragrance Of A MIL
lion apple trees. are many In this hap
ny valley But !, Is on only one May
day In .sietsme that girl runs away
to be rrrvied-and to an Americana,
OF course al American. Suppose II
had bcea Francisco Gonzales--shere
would hare been no running away.
They uouid have been welded ut
the cathedral with all the ancient cere-
nonial. ard Francisco would have TAX
en- her ta his new built home.
Even .'-unkeE Manuel Valdez. who
bad no sopse on his barren hillside
acres. whose name was a hywori for
wickedness. even he would have been
an easier suitor for her father to ac-
eept THAI Bress. the American.
Over the girls arm was flung the
folds OF light. many coiored Navajo
blanket. 1t was irapesi around long.
capacions pasteboard box.
The shadows were shortening toward
noon when she came around the last
winding turn of the white ribbon Of
sand. finshing wildly as tall. hand
some ycrng man ieapci to his feet
from thr grassy bank whore be had
been ly5ag and, throwing away bis
cigar. came forward eagerly.
He esuSht the girls 1.-THE, unre~ist-
Ing body close.
Sweetheart, my dearest, You've
come al last," he murmured.
''Yes, beloved" she answered In the
slow. sweet music 81 careful English.
tive cptae for good and~all forever
and ever All. wonder II you want
me enouvh--.as want yoHs"
"Wart your cried Bross. want
you. my Lolitaf You DO know. don't
you. ctiauitas You're going to be my
own LOCAL. beautiful. stately wife. Lo-
iita. urtti 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 fcryently. '.oh.
l love .ou. would give my life
more than that. | would kill ans one
who came between US"
only 1t viii not be necessary" smil
ed her love-. We're just to be happy.
and that's ALL"
I'm afraid of something something
that IL going TO come upon you and
me- size said. Who can tell what 1t
may b., II Is like the strange wind
that blnws-icy and colsl--in your face
and through your hair when the grave
plot where you are to lie is troiden
upon
Dearest how could ify' he laugh
ed gaylt. over beyond the hill. Just
out Of sight Of the east road. Is my
our-ows team. Wen drive tc Las
Vegas and take the train. SO all we
have to Go, dear, Is to climb To the
crest hardin hand. Kiss me. and let's
be on thr way"
Lolita seemed to shake OF the vague
depressic1. She laughed deliciously.
Not si.'' she protested merrily.
I've the most beautiful dress Ia this
box you ever beheid. and hats new
hat-and- snd-other things. Now /
shall go ur the hillside and make my
self presea,able while you sit here and
smoke. when am ready I viii call,
and you ON follow.
But before l go''-the liquid voice
faltered--~'e us go and drink where
the sprinr flows into the pool above
II may he long long before drink OF
It again. viii have played here since
| was but little girl Come"
Together they elambered up the
green bank at the side Of the arroyo
The rocks below the ever flowing
springs had been followed In places
and at Others walled higher by long
dead hands.
Into this basin the crystal current
trickled continually. The pool itself
was only.a foot deep. for there was
narrow break at one side. through
which the overflow ran away down
the grass into the thirsty white sand
Of the famished water course.
Only for that the water would have
been four feet and more from its sur
face TO the stony bottom
The Spanish girl looked at the scene
with tender yes: then she turned 81
lently away and. smiling back at the
man. went upward toward a thicker
cluster Of green upon the long, swell
hr xf0rla