The Argosy, November 1908 — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

592 it, anyway? But—” “There are no buts about it,’’ I said. ‘“The circumstances are these.’ I then gave him a full account of how Consuelo came to be in my care. “Well,” he said, ‘‘Saxe gave his own interpretation of the law, and I don’t know but what it was a pretty good one. It's a queer case, but once the girl is your wife, nobody can take her away from you. Where is she?” I called Consuelo. She blushed when she saw the justice. “Do you know, young lady,” he said, “that you are taking a serious step?” 66 Yes.”’ “Do you know that it amounts prac- tically to an elopement?” 6¢ Yes.”’ “And are you ready and willing to marry Jack Denny now, knowing there may be trouble to follow?” ce Yes.” » “ Well, you are a nervy youngster. I'll take the chance because I sympa- thize with you. I know something about Hernandez. I wouldn’t want my daughter to marry him. We'll get it over as quickly as possible. And then we'll eat. I’m half starved.” It was a small wedding-party. Sam, unable to keep himself out of it, came to the door and sat in a wicker chair to be a witness. “Stand here under this fig-tree,” said the justice, indicating a tree I had planted near the porch. “I’ve read of a man sitting under his own vine and fig-tree, but never heard of a man being married there. However, it is appro- priate. Now, join hands.” Consuelo shot me one of those thrilling glances I had learned so suddenly ‘to love, and then placed her hand in mine. Brown began the ceremony. “Do you, John, take this woman to be your wedded wife—” and all the rest of it. ‘Do you, Consuelo—” Suddenly there was the sound of gal- loping horses. Up the trail from Valle- cita came a cavalcade of Mexicans and Yaquis, led by Bonilla himself. In through the osage hedge they came, and Brown, who knew the man who led, stopped in the middle of his ceremony. He said it was a wedding. THE ARGOSY. ‘“Ah, I am in time!’ roared Bonilla: He fired a revolver at me, the bullet just grazing my ear. Then, with a Yaqui horseman on his right side, he swept down upon us. Consuelo gave a cry of fear and start- ed to run into the house. But the Yaqui was too quick for her. He leaned over in the saddle. She was snatched up, and before either Brown or I had recov- ered enough to stop them, the whole cay- -alcade was galloping off toward the border. Brown coolly took a cigar from his pocket and lit it. “Well,” he said, ‘I consider that well done. You didn’t give her back. You were willing enough to do your part. And after all, a father has a right to his child.” “Has a right!” I cried. not my wife?”’ ‘“ Well—that’s a question. The cere- mony was only half performed. Of course, so far as her intention and yours went, she is your wife. But I can't file any certificate that I married you, be- cause I didn’t.” “But I regard her as my wife!” I said. ‘You may. You may regard her as your grandmother for all I care. I doubt, however, if you will find the law with you.” To say that I was enraged would be but poorly to express my emotions. Had the girl gone home of her own will, I would not have murmured. But she had expressed her love for me. She had shown not only a willingness, but a desire, to marry me. And I had pictured our happiness in my cozy little home so much that now, when she had been taken away from me, I felt like killing both Bonilla and Hernandez. Sam was standing up. He had for- gotten his wound. ‘“Now, we have each a wife to get,” he said. ‘‘ Come—we will go into the place called Vallecita and get them.” My blood was boiling. Brown coolly went into the house, and of course I had to set food before him. “If you take my advice,” he said, “you will let this matter drop.” “ But I won’t let it drop,’ I replied angrily. “If I am half married to ““Ts she comicloooks.conn