Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 217 — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

20 los Patos, where they could arrive by night- fall, without in the least injuring their animals. This decision was acted upon. After the ani- mals were rested, the start was made for Laguna de los Patos; and we must leave the gallant boys of the Second Cavalry, as they pass over the hot plains of Mexico, their faces filled with a fixed determination that they would defeat the plans of Old Cochise, and rescue Dolores, the Belle of Franklin. When Luny Lize broke from the chaparral, and saw Lorenzo Castro, she at first feared that he might attempt to rescue Don Martineg ; but a moment later, she saw that he was himself doomed to a terrible death, a death that appalled even the poor crazed being who beheld it. No sooner had the Mexican and his horse disap- ared in the terrible chasm, than she turned er mustang and dashed along the river-side, by the edge of the mesquites, for some distance; but it was not of long continuance, for the poor beast was completely broken down. y She then turned, and again spoke to her cap- ive: ‘*Capitan Martinez, you were a very bad man to leave Elizabeth as you did. You were, and are the most miserable, contemptible coward that ever defiled God’s footstool! You little thought, I dare say, that the poor girl you had drugged and ruined would one day cause you tostruggle in a stormy sea of misery through the remainder of your life. You little thought that the babe, your child and hers, would be reared by yourself in luxury, and your daughter, born in wediock, and for whom I had exchanged mins, would be cared for by poor Luny Lize. ** Yet it was, and isso—Marietta Martinez is my child and yours! And then, your promis- ing son, the heir to Rancho del Laguna—yon did not intend him to be reared by old Cochise.” At this very moment, as if her words had con- jured up the savage of whom she spoke, the still night air rupg with the whoops of a hun- dred Apaches, and poor Don Miguel, weakened by horror, privation and mental anguish, really wished that the Apaches would capture him- self and the maniac woman who held bim fast while she upbraided him. Partially prepared theugh he was for the ter- rible revelations she had made, still he had hugged doubts to his bosom: and the fearful truth now tore his already lacerated heart, ren- dering him probably the most hopeless of all angnished beings upon earth. if was that the yells of the Apaches were rather in consonance witb his feelings, and he would have welcomed the savages—have felt relieved to have had the red demons tear him from the, still more tarrible torturer, who clutched him so tightly, and whose insane, flery gaze burned into his very soul. Luny Lize jerked ber mustang toa halt, when the wild whoop rung along the Rio Grande. Well did she know itsimport; and fearful now that she would be robbed of her long-waited-for revenge, she again urged’ her miserably-broken steed on toward the east in order to strike the - wooded bottom of Toyah Creek, up which she could travel, screened from view, toward the Apache Mountains. erfectly safe from detection was the mad- woman, as the attention of the war-party was directed toward the point whence had proceeded the death-how! of one of their number, Not far did Luny Lize follow the creek—in- deed it was impossible for her to do so, as her mustang could proceed no further. Consequently she halted in a screened open space, divested the r beast of its equipments, then grasped Don guelin her arms, and entering a dense thicket, ‘cast him upon the ground), throwing herself by his side, Then exhaustion of brain and bod did its work—the poor, crazed being fell asleep. Although he had reached the very hight of human suffering, the old Castilian could not re- sist the influence of ‘tired nature’s sweet re- storer,” and he, too, fell into a slumber. There, side by side, lay the man and the wo- man he had wronged su many years ago. Such was their meeting after so many days. ‘What would be their partiag? We shall see anon. Had it been pre-ordained that these two should meet in Ei Paso, each to be an eternal curse to the other? a Was it pre-ordained that they should again meet at the Toyah ford of the Rio Grande, that the one who had already crushed and tortured the other into the borders of madness, by her own insane revenge, should torture him still further—even to the death? Who shall say what a casual meeting of two human beings may produce? It is but a slight circumstance oftentimes; a word, or a look, may change our entire aim and life. We will leave them there—Lunf Lize and Don Miguel Martinez. Tne Serpent of El Paso, who has had his fangs drawn, and the once fair Pride of Fort Davis, the bright and happy Lizzie E!lsworth —leave os reposing side by side in the chaparrals cf Tovah Creek, leave them with the deepest regret in our hearts that they ever met, an‘ with none but the gloomiest apprehensions of «what their probable parting _ Wwiil be! The Serpent of El Paso. ————— a Em ee — CHAPTER XXVI. THE BETROTHAL. Eacu event that occurred from the time of the encounter between Pedro and Francisco, which ended so unfortunately for Celesta, fell heavily upon the household of the Lake Ranch. The carrying off of Don Miguel bad paralyzed every one, even the families of the peons up the Rio Carmen; ail the particulars of the sad af- fair having been soon after told from one to another. None except Francisco knew of the dastardl attempt that Pedro had made to abduct Mart- etta. Franciscc had, when he shot Pedro, staggered back to the patio, and ordered the portero to follow him, and carry hie young mis- tress to the casa; he himself being so weak from loss of blood, as to be barely able to walk, and that with great difficulty. Bidding the old peon to keep silence in regard to what he had seen, Francisco followed on, while the portero carried Marietta into the casa, laying her in a room in the wing opposite to that in which was Celesta; the latter having al- ready received shocks sufficient to seriously re- tard her recovery. Francisco, when alone, within’a few paces of the couch whereon lay the fair girl who had risked her life for him, began to recall each word and act that had in any may been asso- ciated with himself, originating with Celesta. He was forced to admit that he had beena blind do:t; and, at the same time, the maiden had been so circumspect, had guarded her love so sacredly, that he would probably never bave noticed the *‘ trifles light as air” that now, in the aman’, pointed unmistakably to the truth. He now knew thatit would be impossible for him to love Marietta, and indeed he was very positive that she cared nothing for him. No, he believed that there was no such feeling as love, for any man, in the heart of Marietta. As to Celesta, though coy and diffident, she was all love—love to the death—and he, Fran- cisco Martino, was the object of it. And when he recalled ber many virtues, her angelic beauty and graces, her child-like sim- plicity and melting eyes, that seemed created to be vehicles of the fondest love—when in pan- oramic array, allher winning ways and charms of body and mind came up before him, the yassion which he had once supposed he felt for Marietta seemed to dissolve into nothingness, and the last self-sacrificing act of Celesta, as it came upon the scene, seemed to finish the busi- ness, causing to be born, in the beart and soul of Francisco Martino, an honest, true and un- dying love for Celesta Carasco. Celesta herself was totally unconscious of the presence so near her, of the caballero for whom she had risked her life. Long time had bis image been engraved upon her heart, but she had thought it hidden there, secured from every chance of detection. Now she felt, with bitter shame, that she had betrayed her love to its object, Francisco himself! ut, even with these self-reproaching thoughts a vision glided slowly before her eyes, wwich however, she could not believe to be real. It was Francisco in form and face, and every movement; but his face was ghastly as that of a corpse, and her lips parted to cry aloud. Never was there sucb a sudden transition from the feelings mentioned to heavenly relief. Fran- cisco, for it was he, laid his hand upon hers, knelt upon the floor, and leaning over her; pressed his lips to ber brow, while he said: ‘“*Celesta, my darling, Francisco kneels to thank you—to pray Madre de Dios to bless you; and to offer you thelife that you have saved.” For a time, need we say, both forgot their wounds and the tragic scenes that had, the few previous hours, cccurred around Rancho del Laguna. The old nurse succeeded in reviving Marietta, | but the heiress of Rancho del Laguna lay in an horrified at seeing the oe of the gate-keeper, va they did not give a glance to the plain be- ond. Had they done so, they would have seen a woman, her bair flying behind ber, and lashing her horse at headlong speed over the same trail that bad been traversed by Frontier Frank the night previous. And this was none other than | Marietta, the beautiful heiress of Rancho del a ib $e " en teneen eee TT LS si TOO OO UME TEESE L-Series i unconscious state for some time, her brain being | so shocked as to render her incapable of speech | or action. During the night, a score of peons guarded the casa, the gates being closed se- curely, and during all this time Pedro Mercedo lay silent and still in the shrubbery without the gates where he had fallen when struck by the. | bullet from the rifle of Francisco Martino. The latter bad some doubts if Pedro were really dead, and he therefore determined to make a personal inspection some hours latter. Th: result showed that his doubts were well founded; for the moment he entered the bushes, | | and cast his eyes toward the opening where he | had seen Pedro the previous night, and where he had shot him while engaged in his vile at- | tempt, he saw the coward striving to arise to his feet. Darting forward as fast as his feeble strength would permit, be gave the ruffian a blow on the head with his revolver; then, securing him hand and foot, he called to the old portero, and together they bound him to a tree, Francisco deciding to aweit the return of the Texan scout and Don Martinez before taking any fur- ther action in regard to the fate of the dastard- ly and perfidious villain, | Upon re-entering the ,ates, both men were so —_————.—__— - - Laguna! It was she indeed. Desperate, and apes en in regard to her father, and possi- y something of the same feeling with re- ference to Frontier Frank, the impulsive gir] was now defying every danger that lay in her way. On she went, mounted upon a milk-white steed—her favorite, which she had saddled and bridled with her own hands—stealing along by es shore of Laguna de los Patos, unknown to all. Both Don Martinez and his daughter were one. : Not one of the Martinez name was left, But Marietta could not be far away, so te old nurse asserted, when her absence was dis- covered. While these things were transpiring, on to- ward Laguna de los Patos, skimming the prai- rie on bis. noble blac« steed, came Frontie1 Frank. The san was now sailing upward, and sending down its withering beat upon the plain. At last, far ahead, the scout sees a white speck, that grows larger and larger as he gallops on- ward; and he is filled with wonder, knowing that some one is on the plain, and riding to- ward him. Not long is it before he knows the rider to be a woman, and when he associates that woman with a milk-white horse, his heart sweHs, and the blood rushes through his veins with doubly acclerated velocity. He knows that Marietta Martinez is riding to me: t him. She comes for tidings of Don Miguel, her father. W hat can he tell her? The scout shudders from head to foot. He feels that Don Martinez has met a terrible fate, from which it was impossible to have saved him. He has but one hope. The mus- tang of Luny Lize was too broken down to travel a mile from the Rio Grande with its double load. And on this slight hope Frank now depends, He will begin bis search for Luny Lize as quickly as the meditated attack of old Cochise is defeated. He is confident of help fron: Lieu- tenant Morse, and he has a presentiment that all will yet be well. This braces bim up to meet the queen of his heart, but whom be does not dare dream will ever be his. She comes toward him, a perfect picture of angelic loveliness, her eyes growing brighter, her cheeks flushing, as she nears the man who has, regardless o. her proud, haughty nature, humbled her, without attempting to do so. She has perceived long since that her father is not with the scout, and her pallid faee had grown more ghastly; but as she draws near to Frontier Frank, the love that she had never previously so much as dreamed of, rules her whole being. But she crushes it down, crowds filial love to the front, and determines to think only of the missing one. White and black steeds meet side by side. Man and maid gaze into each other’s eyes, each striving to mask an almost ungovernable love. Frank was the first to speak. ‘*Senorita, why bave you left Rancho del Laguna in such a time of danger?” ‘Senor Frank, | come to get tidings of my fatber. Where is Don Miguel? My brain is bursting. Tell me, where is my poor father?’ ‘‘Senorita Martinez, I cannot say. He is in God’s hands, as we are ourselves.” ‘* You have not seen him, then?” ‘*T have seen him.” ‘ And why did you not bring him to me?’ ‘* Because I was prevented from doing so by a war-party of a hundred Apaches.” ‘* Madre de Dios !” she exclaimed, in horror. ‘‘ And not only did they prevent me, senorita, but I was forced to fly on the wings of the wind, to protect you; for these merciless fiends, mur- derers, and torturers of women and ehildren, will be at the walls of Rancho del Laguna the coming night!” ; “« Dios Grande !” she said, crossing herself, and | gazing prayerfully skyward. ‘* Come, senorita,” he said, “‘we must on to- ward the hacienda. There is much to be don: to put the place in a condition of defense,” “Bat my father, Senor Frank?” she began, tearfully. : ‘1 swear to you that I will save Den Mar- tinez, if it isin the power of man to do so, after we have driven back the Apaches from Rancho del Laguna!” ‘‘ Gracias a Dios!” said the beautiful girl, placing her hand in the broad pa'm of thescout, and looking trustfully into his eyes. So changed was Marietta since these recent terrible events had travspired, so stricken wiih anguish at the capture of her father, that the great heart of the brave Texan bled for her. He sprung from his horse, removed his som- brero, and pressed ber little hand to his bins, JOO EGOmiie * + Se ae ee a ee pa \ a > | ’ . 7 = te 2