Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1917-11-23
By Rex Beach
Copyright b. Harper q Brothers

It was evident, from the words of the
others, that the Jonesville Guards were
indeed quite as needless Of interna-
tional complications as was their COM
mander. One and all were highly in
censed at Long0rio's perfidy, and, had
Alaire suggested such a thing, it was
patent that they would have ridden on
La Feria and exacted reckoning from
him.
Such proof Of friendship affected her
deeply, and it was not until they were
sll under way back toward Romero
that she felt she had made her appre-
citation fully known. When she reflect
ed that these men were some Of the
very neighbors whom she had Stunned
and sighted, and whose honest interest
she had so habitually misconstrued all
these years, it seemed very strange
that they should feel the least concern
over her. It gave her new apprecia-
ton Of their chivalry and their worth
it filed her with humble desire to
know them better and to strengthen
herself in their regard. Then, too, the
esteem in which they held Dave-her
husband-gratified her intensely. 1t
made no more difference to them than
to her that he was poor man, man
without authority or position; they evil
IDENTIFY saw and loved in him the quail
ties which she saw and loved. And
that was as it should be.
They were gentle and considerate
men, too, as she discovered when they
told her, bit by bit, what had happened
during her absence. She learned, much
to her relief. that Eds funeral had
been held, and that all the distressing
details Of the inquiry had been attend
ed to. Jose Sanchez, it appeared, had
confessed freely. Although her new
friends made plain their indignation
at the manner Of Eds taking away,
they likewise let her know that they
considered his death only slight loss,
either to her or to the community. Not
one of them pretended 1t was anything
except a blessing.
The journey drew to an end very
quickly. Romero, deserted now by Its
garrison, stirred and stared sleepily at
the invaders, but concerned itself with
their presence no more than to wonder
why they laughed and talked so spirit
edly. Plainly, these gringos were a
barbarous race of people, what with
their rushing here and there, and with
their loud, senseless laughter. God had
wisely placed them beyond the Rio
Grande, said the citizens Of Romero.
The crossing was made; Alaire found
herself in Texas once again. and 1t
seemed to her that the sun had never
been so bright, the air so clear, the
sky so high, the world so smiling, as
here and now. The men who had rid
den forth to seek her were smiling,
too, and they were shaking her hands
and congratulating her. Even the Guz-
man boys, who were shy in the pres
ence of American ladies, were wishing
her the best of fortune and the greatest
Of happiness.
Blaze Jones was the last to leave.
With especial emphasis upon her name,
she said: 'Miz Austin, Paloma and
me- would like to have you come to our
house and stay until you feel like goin'
back to Las Palmas."
When Alaire declined with moistened
eyes. explaining that she could not well
accept his invitation, he signified his
understanding.
'sWe're goin' to see lot Of you, just
the same" he promised her, "'cause we
feel as If you sort of belonged to us.
There's lot Of good people in this
part Of Texas, and them that amt so
good, God and the rangers is slowly
weedin' out. We don't always know