Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-07-13

Now ana then, therefore, she spurred
TO his side and spoke softly, caressing-
y. At such times he reached for her
hand and chung to it.
Dave was indeed weary; he was, in
,act, in sort Of stupor, and not infre-
Iuently he dozed for a moment or two
n his saddle. Some two hours out
from La Feria the riders halted at a
point where the road dipped into a
rocky stream-bed; then, as the horses
drank, Dolores voiced thought that
1ad troubled all of them.
IF that bandit really means to spare
is, why did he send us away in the
night, like this?" she asked. II shall
De surprised if we are not assassinated
before morning.
HE must have meant it." Alaire
spoke with a conviction she did not
entirely feel: Father O'Malley aroused
the finer side of his nature
Perhaps" agreed the priest. "Some-
where in him there is a fear of Cod"
But Dave was skeptical "More like
ly fear of the gripgo government"
said he. "LongOrio is a fourflusher.
When he realized he was licked he
tried to save his face by grandstand
play. He didn't want to let us go"
"Then what is to prevent him from
well, from having us followed?"
Alaire inquired.
UNotbino - Dovo fold how
AS they climbed the bank and rode
onward into the night she said: "No
matter what happens, dear, I shall be
happy, for at last one of my dreams
has come true" He reached out and
patted her. you've no idea what a
coward I was until you came. But the
moment I saw you all my fears van
lshed. was like lost child who sud-
denly sees it's father; in your arms
felt perfectly safe, for the first time in
all my life, I think. II couldn't bear
to go on without you, after this"
Dave found nothing to say; they
rode aiong side by side for time in
great contentment that required NO
speech. Then Aaire asked:
'Dear, have you considered how we
ARE going to explain our marriage?"
wont the circumstances explain
lt?"
perhaps. And yet 1t seems ages
since 1 learned-what happened to Ed,
but in reality it's only a few hours.
Won't people talk?"
Dave caught at the suggestion. i
see. Then let's keep it secret for the
present"
With a little reckless laugh she con-
fessed, "I-I'm afraid TIL find it diff
cult to be conventional"
"My !" he cried in sharp agony.
Leaning far out, he encircled her with
his arm; then, half lifting her from
her saddle, he crushed his lips to hers.
1t was his first display of emotion since
Father O'Malley had united them.
There were few villages along the
road they followed, and because of the
lateness of the hour all were dark,
hence the party passed through with
out exciting attention except from an
occasional wakeful dog. But as morn
ing came and the east began to glow
Dave told the priest:
'We've got to hide out during the
day or We'll get into trouble. Besides,
these women must be getting hungry"
81 fear there Is something feminine
nh hn
"I'm furnished, too
At the next rancho they came to they
applied for shelter, but were denied /;
In fact, the owner cursed them SO
roundly for being Americans that they
were glad to ride onward. A mile or
two farther along they met cart the
driver of which refused to answer
their greetings. AS they passed out OF
his sight they saw that he had halted
his lean oxen and was staring after
them curiously. Later, when the sun
was well up and the world had fully
awakened, they deserted a mounted
man, evidently cowboy, riding
through the chaparral. He saw them,
too, and came toward the road, but
after a brief scrutiny he whirled his
Aorse and galloped off through the cac-
tus, shouting something over his Shout
der.
"This won't do" O'Malley declared,
uneasily. 81 don't like the actions of
these people, Let me appeal to the
next person we meet. can't believe
they all hate u.s."
Soon they came to rise in the road,
and from the crest of this elevation be-
held ahead of them small village OF
white houses shining from the shelter
of grove. The rancheria was perhaps
two miles away, and galloping toward
1t was the vaquero who had challenged
them.
"Thats the Rio Negro crossing"
Dave announced. Then spying little
house squatting a short distance back
from the road, he said: 'We'd better
try yonder. If they turn us down We'll
have to take to the brush"
O'Malley agreed. eyes, and we have
no time to lose. That horseman is go
t,,o. ~ ,.o,,co 4bo f0xUr1 I'm afraid