The Silent Rifleman! A tale of the Texan prairies

ions of the dragoons, who had already lighted a fire near the fountain and having rubbed down their chargers which we

, went back and entered the rancho, and crossing over to

No harm shall come to her, save through my life. You shall f

it, Marguerita. Yet, I think we shall ne

mphantly. "If not on earth-there, there, where there are n

replied

died away in the distance, and Julia had wept herself in

croix and his companions from the ruined rancho, dawned

as she awoke from her slumbers; and the soft, melancholy

w open, and Marguerita entered, leaving several c

services upon you, for the fortunes of war have imposed the task of such light labou

n one, who is so far in every way beneath you. Except," she added, with a winning smile, "that in al

ndeed?" cried Marguerita, ha

y, "will you call me Julia? I called

hought not to wound you, but my heart bleeds, my heart burns when I think of my

at the sudden change in her tone, manner, and countenan

inger upraised, her head thrown a little backward, her lips apart, her nostril

clang of a steel scabbard on the stone pavement of t

tened for a moment as she s

"it is my brother, and

the Antinuous, without his effeminacy-it was the head of the conquering Bacchus, wit

s, who is thi

ed Marguerita, seizing him in her

girl? Who is this, I say,

sister, a sister of the Partisan-of

uttered the word, and his eye growing lurid with a concentrated fire, then laying his

no, brother, no; not while I live! He brought her here. He that preserved your life and m

r aside violently, "Carrera will be here within ten mi

nchez and Estefania and Francisco need but a hint to make the

he very gate. A wounded soldier saw them leave their hiding-place, and

is Este

arre

Franc

e like

we are

sav

r hospitality by menace, which we could not resist. They

ave us-wh

Do it. Away! Every

of the shallow niche in which the crucifix stood flew open, turning outward on a hinge, disclosing a sm

imed, shaking Julia

Spanish maiden, Julia did rise, pale as a ghost, but calm and firm, and kissed and blessed h

g of hoofs, the orders of the officers, the din of the m

t when she thought that all was safe, and the steps of the officers were heard in the outer hall, she sat down quietly to her embroi