Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 239 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

lll lll li ed — ee ee The major almost worshiped Lionel, who bore a strong likeness to his dead mother; and the father and son were as two boys when to- gether, so free and bappy were they when in the company of each uther, But Major Lacrosse had suffered so many hardships during the campaign in Montezuma- land, that he seldom rode far from home. As the years rolled on, and Lionel had finished his studies in a private boarding-school in Eastern Texas, he began gradually to leave most of his business affairs in the hands of his son, who gladly relieved his father to the ex- tent of his knowledge and power, studying in every way to make things run smootbly for his aged parent, For some six miles below Lacrosse Ranch, on both sides of Salado Creek to the stage- road of the Austin and San Antonio line, which passed through the German settlement of New Braunfels, on the Guadalupe River, were scattered other ranches, some of the own- ers of which made a specialty of breeding bogs, and others sheep, while a few bad invested their capital in horses and cattle, as was the ease with Major Lawrence Lacrosse. These rancheros often made up equestrian parties, including their wives and daughters, visiting each other, and also other prominent settlers on the Guadalupe River. Shooting-matches were very popular, as were also trials of skill with the lasso; wild steers and horses being driven in from the prairie, in full view of the ladies, and the older members of the party, while the young Texans perforin- ed feats of horsemanship and rope, each vying good-naturedly with the other to win the praise and commendation of the spectators. And in these Texan sports Lionel Lacrosse almost invariably threw his companions into the shade; but he received the cheers and ap- plause bestowed upon him with modest diffi- dence, showing uaugbht of pride or exulta- tion. ‘ Nevertheless, as might be supposed, taking the general run of human nature into consider- ation, Lionel, by his superiority in almost every grace and accomplishment, made enemies; many of the young rancberos hating and de- testing him, though they feared to show these frelings to any extent. Every triumph of the young man caused his father much pride and happiness, and he took great delight in accompanying his son to all social gatherings, the latter attending these en- tertainments more to please bis father than to gratify himself. However, the time was to come when his feeiings and inclinatious were to be greatly changed. Situated as he was, with all the luxuries that were attainable in that section of the counvry at his command, and with great wealth in prospective, his future life-trail seemed des- tined to be bordered with flowers, and arche.l by a bright and cloudless sky. And thus it seemed to Lionel himself; for be loved his home and father, and was happy in both, little dreaming what the future had in store for him—little thinking that he was des- tined to experience morc torture of mind and body than any one in a hundred thousand are called upon to suffer. But before this was to come upon him, he was to enjoy such extreme bappiness as be had never dreamed of in his wildest fancy—a hap- piness that would cause his futura anguish and agony to bear with ten-fold force upon him Some three miles down the Salado from La- crosse Ranch lived quite a wealthy ranchero, William Brown by name, whose family con- sisted of a wife and three children; the eldest a son named Baldwin, but who was familiarly known everywhere as Baldy Brown. Baldy was the same age as Lionel Lacrosse, and the other two children were quite young girls, It so happened that in the year 185—, a brother of Mrs. Brown, Captain William War- rington, of the —th U. 8. Infantry, a portion of which was stationed at San Antonio and the remainder of the regiment at different frontier posts, came, while on a short furlough, to visit his sister. Captain Warrington was a widower, with but one child—a lovely daughter named Win- nette, but called Winnie by all with whom she was intimate. Winnie Warrington was just seventeen, with bright biue eyes and golden hair, which she Wore, girl-like, flowing free. She was of medi- ‘\ v 7 Se . P | Lionel was more particular in his toilet than | a The Terrible Trio. ee a ee mee ee um hight, and with a constant flush upon her cheek tbat rivaled the bursting rose-bud. . Graceful as a prairie fawn, bright and joy- ous, continually roaming the creek-bottom and p'ain, she was one that banished aught but hap- piness wherever she went; and her father, al- though considered a martinet in his regiment, put no restrictions on the actions or movements of his lovely daughter. The advent of Winnie Warrington on Salado Creek created intense excitement, especially among the young rancheros; and Lionel La- crosse was not long left in ignorance of ber presence in the neighborhood. Baldy Brown, who was a sincere friend of Lionel, was extravagant in his descriptions of his cousin Winnie’s great beauty; and the young ranchero, for the first time in bis life, felt an interest in such topics, and at once ac- cepted the invitation of Baldy to visit him and receive an introduction to the “ Angel of the Army,” as be facetiously termed her. A shooting -match was gotten up in honor of the new arrival, and the young people of the neighborhood were not slow in getting to- gether, on any previous occasion. He was also doubly careful to have his rifle cleaned, and the silver ornaments polished; and this fact was noticed by Jim, his body servant, who commented up- on it with Aunt Huldy, the cook. ‘* Mars’ Lionel am gwine ter fall in lub with dat army gal, dead suah, you mind!” Quite a number of people were congregated upon and near the wide, roomy veranda, and all eyes were fastened upon the young ran- cbero, as he dashed toward them, elaberately oe ee eo ee ee 3 — — fair cousin, and invited Lionel to accompany them, But, deep and impressive as were the thoughts of Lionel and Winnie, they were as a ripple on a lake’s surface to the raging sea, in comparison with the fury, the jeajous frenzy of Bird Blackwell, who, like all the young rancheros, had fallen madly in love with Win- nie, Blackbird was not an inappropriate cogno- men, even when the young man’s character was not taken into consideration, for Bird Blackwell was dark-skinned and swarthy, with black, treacherous-looking eyes and ebon hair; tall in stature, as was Lionel Lacrosse, but thinner in flesh, and with a slight stoop in his shoulders. This las', his associates laughingly asserted, came from bending over @ carde- ‘ table. He had been engaged in more than’ one | ‘* personal difficulty,” but had, as many said, | ‘‘ the devil's own luck;” escaping each time with slight wounds, or none at all. He had, indeed, the name of pulling trigger ° in one duello before the word, killing his an- tagonist; who was a penniless cowboy, wit:- ouc friends to avenge him. Blackbird’s face wore a most devilish scowl | as he noticed the unmistakable interest that | Winnie Warrington betrayed for Lionel, and j the latter for her. And when the two young | —_ a ' men walked away with the angelic object of | his passion, neither of them deigning to takes the slightest notice of bim, he was murderous-} ly furious, and would have shot bis rival with | as little compunction as be would have felt in ; crusbing the head of a rattlesnake. Not a few § ‘of the ,uests observed his excitement, and * gotten up in a fancy buckskin suit, with a | wide-brimmed black sombrero, presenting a very manly and striking appearance. Dismounting some fifty yards from the dwelling, Lionel loosened the lariat from his saddle-horn, and secured his horse to a tree; then, with a rifle carried gracefully in hand, he approached the house, Baldy Brown meet. ing him half-way. Among the assembled guests were a number of the young men who had for some time felt a strong enmity toward Lionel Lacrosse, made a mental note of it, believing that mat- | ters would not end there, but that blood would | yet be spilled. 4 born of the knowledge that he was, in every | way, sO much their superior; and they were far from pleased to see him on the prevent oc: casion. Well knew they that none present could equal him in the day’s programme of sports, or trials of skill. This Blackbird indeed vowed, and it was a vow that he would keep uppermost in his mind until fulfilled, He felt sure that some opportunity would present itself during the day, and he stole away from the assembly down to tho creek bottom amid the dense timber, and there seated bimself, nursing his fierce anger in hig bosom. So infatuated was he with the laughing, blue-eyed beauty, that he felt he could give . up everything to win her, With this thought, =f and close following upon it, came a resolve to The leader among these young men was one | Bird Blackwell, who was also present. But few men on the border escape being dubbed with some sobrique , and Bird was not exempt; being known far and wide as ‘*‘ Blackbird.” He, as well as those with whom he affiliated was addicted to drinking and gambling; and, although furnished with abundance of money by a wealthy father, bad the name of being ‘‘loose in the deal,” that is, of cheating at cards, But he was of good family, and had the entree into the best society. Hence his pres- ence at the Browns’. Much to the disgust and indignation of Baldy, who could not well avoid inviting him, Blackbird was in earnest conversation with Miss Warrington, at the very moment that he advanced with his friend Lionel Lacrosse. However, at the moment of introduction, when the eyes of Winnie met those of Lionel, he felt that ber gaze was in consonance with her former peal of merry laughter—a sound that had quite electrified bim—and his whole being was ruled by a look from her bright blue eyes. Never before had be felt such ecstatic feel- ings. It seemed as if the world, as it bad ap- peared to Lim previously, was all a dream, dull and utterly meaningless. Soul gazed into soul, and man and maid each felt and knew that they had met their fate, Both almost trembled, as they stood speech- less, and the conventional greeting they had framed to speak died to a whisper on their lips. CHAPTER II. NOT RUNNING SMOOTH. So embarrassed did both the young people act at this, their first meeting, that Baldy Brown good-naturedly suggested a walk to his ~“ _ ~~ | ate. possess her, even though she should spurn his love. He would abduct her and fly toward , the Rio Grande, beyond pursuit, \ He knew where his father kept a large amount of money, and this he would appropri- — - . It would be his eventually, and this was an epoch in bis life when it was most needed. With such thoughts ruling bis brain, Blactk- bird sat on the creek bank until he bad wrought himself up iato a more murderous fury then when at the ranch; and had Lionel appeared upon the scene, he would without doubt have forced him into a duel. \' Nor was his rage abated when, upon return- | ing to the ranch, he discovered the pair walk- ing amid the scattered oaks; and both so much interested in each other, that they were igno- rant of the fact that the eyes of most of the company were bent upon them. . This was not strange, for a handsomer and more graceful pair could not well be found; each seeming to have been created for the : other. The guests enjoyed themselves as they pleased until dinner was announced. This was quite a grand affair, the tables being set be~ f neath the shade of the oaks; and, to increase. " the jealous fury of Blackbird, Lionel Lacrosse g was seated beside Winnie Warrington. & But a short distance from them, were Black- bird and a number of his dissolute compan- panions; be having gotten them together pre- oe vious to the dinner-hour, and treated them ; = freely to brandy, which he had brought in bis saddle-bags. Every motion of the fair girl was watched by him; but, by a powerful effort of the will, he kept down all signs of bis insane rage and » ‘ jealousy. But his brain was ever active, and it was , with exultant satisfaction that he saw the dis- s pleasure of Captain Warrington at the sudden . intimacy which had sprung up between the young ranchero and his fair daughter. It was evident to Blackbird that the captain oe Ae was anything but pleased with the turn affaira had taken, Eomiecbooks a