Mexico weekly ledger., 1877-01-18
A EPISODE.

Picture to yourself a struggling viii
iage, with a massive church for its most
prominent object, embosomed amongst
hills. Rich pasture-meadows dotted
with grazing herds, cultivated fields,
and orchard-grOves, spread around on
all sides; but the arabic land is bare
and the fruit-trees are stripped, for
autumn is far advanced and the winter
season approaching.
On the outskirts of the village and
bordering the rutty road which runs
through it there is a large farm-yard,
with plenty of poultry pecking about
and capacious out-buildings well stored
with corn. The farm house, being
raised on posts, is open on what would
be the ground floor, where heavy
clumsy wagons, and instruments of
agriculture which the British farmer
would consider very primitive, are visi-
BILE; here, also, a pair of hardy horses
are stabbed. The dwelling-rooms are
reached by an outside permanent lad
der which politeness might call a stair
case.
At the foot of this ladder there is
standing a remarkably pretty girl,
whose hands, though evidently used to
harder work than playing the piano.
are small and shapely; the beauty of
whose feet, well displayed below the
short skirt she wears, thick wooden
stockings and stout shoes can not con-
ceal. Her figure is supple and grace
full; her hair is twined in two long,
thick, silken plaits which hang down
her back; she is looking on the ground
and %twitching %nervously at a coquettish
little apron.
Before her, rather close, there is a
young man, clean shaven as regards
the face, with the exception of a black
mustache, but wearing his hair long.
He is dressed in q sheepskin cap0te, a
white kilt, leather leggings; a skull
cap is set jauntily on one side of his
head, and he is leaning dejectedly on a
long staff which he grasps with both
hands.
Time, evening.
"And is that your last word, Marie?'
said the youth, dejectedly. "Don't
you remember the old days when we
went to school together and you always
took my hand because you were young
er and smaller; and | carried you over
the bad places in winter when it was
wet? AND that long frost when we met
the wolf and | was too frightened for
you to be frightened for myself, and
drove it off? And when Milosh wanted
TO take your new picture-book away
and [ would not let him, and he drew a
knife and stabbed me in the arm? l
was always fond of you ever since I can
remember, Marie, and when l got to be
Did enough to think ABOUT having a
wife | never cared about any girl but
you. At fetes and fairs you always liked
% dance with me, and I hoped we were
never to be separated and 1 was to be
and now all this has come to an
nd, and | am to be miserable all my
life: but it shall not be a long one."
al can not help it, Stephen" said
darie, crying. ga girl can only do
her father ami mother say is best.
am sure l do not want to make any
ne unhappy, and / should have liked
0 remain a child always; it was very
ice for you to be my little friend; but j
nave grown up, and my father says
must marry some one else, and I |
ont like it; but what is to be done? |
We can't always have what we wish" I
At this moment it seemed to Marie's t
That the interview, which they b
al connived at rather than permitted, b
nd lasted long enough, for the door t.
oove opened, and they both appeared
the entrance. The mother, a bux- d
N, middle-aged dame, called to the t,
ri, who held out her hand to her e.
yer, and then a up the staircase, n
hich her father Immediately after ii
ards descended, pipe in hand. II
"Look here, Stephan" he said, lead 81
g the young man a little away from sc