Kate stood and watched him, a new light coming into her eyes, and a sigh escaping her, coming from the profoundest depths of her nature. The seeds of a hopeless passion had been planted in her heart.
Carlos’ thoughts were different. As he turned toward Dalton he was filled with terrible though vague apprehensions. Although he drove rapidly, he approached the villagewith fear and trembling, and felt that he was rushing into the jaws of death. And even at the early hour at which he entered the town, he saw that there was an unusual stir. The few that were out, instead of going quietly about their usual business, were talking with one another in excited tones, with sober looks and blanched faces.
Well did he know the terrible nature of their half-whispered words and low-spoken discussions.
CHAPTER V. THE WRONG MAN.
THE WRONG MAN.
The masked stranger tore through the shrubbery in mad pursuit after Carlos, uttering the most fearful imprecations.
pursuit
He strained every nerve to increase his speed, and groaned in desperation as he saw Carlos jump into his buggy and drive off. He ran on to the spot where his horse was stationed, and, once mounted, there was a chance that he might overtake the object of his pursuit.
But Carlos drove rapidly, and, by the time the assassin was mounted, was out of sight.
The man applied the spurs and whip, and his horse galloped along swiftly, making the dirt and stones fly far behind him.
On they flew, swifter and swifter. Like an arrow they shot by the road where Carlos had turned. It was well that the latter adopted this ruse, or he would inevitably have been overtaken, for his pursuer’s horse was a fleet one.
Soon the rider began to grow uneasy.
“I should have come up with him by this time,” he thought. “There’s no horse in the Dalton livery-stable that mine ought not to have run down before this.”
He strained his eyes to look ahead, but the gathering clouds prevented him from discerning objects at any distance. Then he
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