The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-12-31


her courage. 1T is the nestiso blood" he MUIR
INJURED to himself Then aloud. Thou shoudst
have been q man. 'Nita."
And thou q woman"
"Or priest. Eth. what Is that2'
They had both riscn-Juanita defantly. her
black braids lying as she wheeled and suddenly
faced the thicket Francisco cinging to her
with trembling hands and whitened lips.
stone loosened from the hillside had rolled to
their feet; there was n cracking in the adcrs
on the slope above them.
1T Is bear, or brigand ?" whispered Fran
cisco hurredy. sounding the uttcrmost
depths Of his terror in the two words. =" 1t is
an eavesdroppcr." said Juanita. impetuously;
and who and why. intend to know" and
she started toward the thicket.
DO not leave me. good Juanita." said the
young acoyte. grasping the girls skirt.
Nay; run to the hacienda quickly. and leave
me to search the thicket. RUM"
The boy did not wait for a second injunction.
but scuttled away. his long coat catching In the
brambes. while Juunita darted like kitten
into the bushes. Her search was fruitless.
however and she was returning impatiently
when her quick eve fell upon letter lying
amid the dried grass where she and Francisco
had been seated the moment before. 1t had
evidently fallen from his breast when he had
risen suddenly. and been overlooked in his
alarm. 1t was Father Pedro's letter to the
Father Superior OF San jose.
In an instant she had pounced upon 1t as
vicously rs II it had been tho interloper she
was seeking. She knew that she held in her
fingers the secret OF Francsco's sudden ban
ishment. She felt instinctively that his yellow
ish envelope. with its red string and its blotch
OF red seal. was his sentence and her own. The
little mesti,a had not been brought up to re-
spect the integrity OF either locks or seals both
being unknown in the patrarchal life OF the
hacienda. Yet. with certain feminine in
stinct. she looked furtively around her. and
even managed to disodgc the clumsy wax
without marring the pretty efllgy OF the crossed
keys impressed upon it. Then she opened the
letter and read.
Suddenly she stopped and put back her hair
from her brown temples. Then n succession OF
burning bushes followed each other in waves
from her neck up. and died in drops Of mois
ture in her eyes. This continued until she was
fairly crying. dropping the letter from her
hands. and rocking to and fro. In the midst OF
this she quickly stopped again; the clouds
broke. II sunshine Of laughter started from her
eyes. she laughed shyly. she laughed loudly,
she laughed Historically. Then she stopped
again as suddenly. knitted her brows. swoopcd
down once more upon the letter. and turned u
fly. But at the same moment the letter was
quietly but firmly taken from her hand. and
Mr.. Jack Cranch stood beside her.
Juanta was crimson. but unconquered. She
mechanically held out her hand for the letter;
the American took her little fingers. kissed
them. and said:
How are you again ~
The letter." replied Juanita. with strong
disposition to stamp her foot.
IL. ,.t,l,
ness. you've read enough to know it isn't
for YOU"
Nor for you. either responded Juanita.
True. 1t is for the Reverend Father Supc-
rior OF San Jose Mission. I'll give it to him.
Juanita was becoming alarmed-iirst at this
prospect, second at the power the stranger
seemed TO be gaining over her. She recalled
Franciscos description Of him with something
like superstitious awe.
But it concerns Francisco. 1t contains a
secret he should know"
Then you can tell him it. Perhaps it would
come easier from YOU"
Juanita blushed again. "why?' she asked
half dreading his reply.
Because" said the American quietly. you
are old play .natcs-you are attached to zach
otnet."
Juanita bit her lips. Why don't you read it
yourself?" she asked. bluntly.
Because don't read other peoples letters.
and il it concerns me youll tell me-"
What If don'tf'
Then the Father Superior will"
Il believe you know Francisco's secret al
ready said the girl, boldly.
Perhaps"
Then, Mother Of God! Sehor Crancho.
what do you want?n
do not want to separate two such good
friends as you and Francisco"
Perhaps you'd like to claim us both" said
the girl. with a sneer that was not devoid VI
coQuetry.
Il should he delighted"
Then here is your occasion. Sehor. for here
comes my adopted father Don Juan. and your
friend. Sehor Br-r-own. the American Al
calde."
Two men appeared in the garden path below
them. The stiff glazed. broad brimmed black
hat. surrounding a dark face Of Quixotic
gravity and romantic rectitude. indicated
Don Juan Briones. His companion. lazy. spe-
cous and red faced was Senior Brown, the
American Acalde.
We'll. l reckon we kin about call the thing
fixed" said Sehor Brown with a large wave Of
the hand suggesting q sweeping away OF all
trivial details. "Ez was saying to the Don
yer. when two high toned gents like you and
him come together in n delicate matter OF this
kind. it amt no boss trade nor sharp practice.
The Don is that lofty in principle that lie S
willin to sacrifice his affections for the good OF
the gal and you, on your hand kalkilate to
see all he's done for her. and so your whole pile
better. You'll make the legal formalities good
l reckon that old Iniin woman who can swear
to the finding OF the baby on the shore will set
things all right yet. For the matter o that. il
you want anything in the way OF a certificate
I'm on hand always
"Juarita and myself are at your disposition
caLdileros." said Don Juan. With a grave exal-
tation. Never let it be said that the Mexican
nation was outdone by the great AmericdnOs in
deeds Of courtesy and affection. Let it rather
stand that Juanita was u sacred trust put into
my hands years ago by the goddess OF Amcri
can liberty. and nurturcd in the Mexican eagles
nest. Is it not SO. my soul 2" he added. more
humanity, to the girl. when he had quito rccov.
cred from the ntoxication Of his own speech
We love Utee. little one. but we keep oui
homer"
said Brown. admiringly. with "A slight droopinl
of his left eyelid; his head is level, and h,
| goes with his party"
Thou takest my daughter. Senior Cranch,
| continued the old man, carried away by hi,
emotion; but the American nation gives III,
asOn.'