The Oold-Seekers.
obstacles which ever supervene at the moment of departure, and cause a lengthened
delay for no visible reason.
The sun set behind tne Peak of Tequilla, and the Cerro del Col disappeared in the
centre of the chain of tall, ahrupt hills wnich borders the Rio Tololotlan : gradually
the scene was veiled in darkness. The travellers progressed gaily conversing
together, while following the winding and accidented course of the Rio Grande del
Norte, along whose banks their road ran. The latter was wide, well made, and easy
to follow.
"Angela, mv child," the colonel presently remarked, "you are wrong to tease
your horse so. Rebecca is a good beast, very gentle, and very sure-footed ; and you
should je .nore merciful to her than you are."
" 1 assure you, papa," the pretty girl answered with a laugh, " I am not teasing
Rebecca.    1 arp only tickling her to render her lively."
" Yes, and to make her dance too, little madcap. That would be all very well if
we were only taking a ride for a few hours, instead of a journey which will last a
month.    You would not like, I fancy, to be left on the road by your horse."
" Heaven forbid, fatiier ! If it be so, I will obey you. Rebecca may be at ease
in future."
And, while speaking thus, she bent over her horse's neck and gently patted it.
" Right ! " the colonel continued ; " and now what do you think of our way of
travelling?    Does it please you ? *'
" I think it charming, father.    I never was so happy."
" All the better, my child, because I so feared the effects of such a journey for you,
that I was on the point of leaving you at the convent."
" Thank you, father, for bringing me wilh you. I was so wearied with that
wretched convent ; and then it is so long since I have seen my dear mother, whom 1
long to embrace."
" This time, child, you will have ample leisure to do so, for I propose leaving you
with your mother."
"Then I shall not return to Guadalajara with you ? "
" No, child : you will live at my large hacienda, with your mother and servants,
during my absence ; for so soon as 1 have ended the urgent business that demands
my presence at San Bias, I shall go to Mexico and join General Santa Anna."
" Oh ! " she said, clasping her hands in entreaty, " you ought to take me with
you to the ciudad."
" Uttle madcap, you know perfectly well that is impossible ; but on my return I
will bring you and your mother the finest things from the Portaies des Mercaderes
and the Parian, in order that you may eclipse the mcst coquettish senoras of Tepic."
" Oh ! that is not the same thing," she said with a charming pout ; " and yet,"
she added, suddenly regaining her good humour, " I thank you, father ; for you are
kindyou love me."
"I am glad tnat you recognise tht fact, and at length do me justice, little rattle-
brain."
The girl began laughing, and by a sudden impulse lening her reins fall, she
thiew her arms round hei father's neck and kissed him several times."
" Take care what you are about," the colonel said, at once happy and alarmed.
*' If R brcca were to bolt you would be killed.**
" Nonsense I " she said, laughing ; " Rebecca is too well trained to behave in such
a way."
Still she caught up her reins and settled herself in her saddle.
** Angelita mia," the father continued, " you are no longer a child.   You ought
<o begin to grow more reasonable."
" Do you scold ine tor loving you, my father?"