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

would not stand It.
The boy gazed Admirably at the pidusnt en-
ergy Of the little figure before him. and envied
her courage. It is the mestizo blood" he MUIR
INJURED TO himself. Then aloud Thou shouldst
have been = man. 'Nita."
And thou q woman"
"Or priest. En-. what Is that7'
They had both risen-Juanita dehantly. her
black braids flying as she wheeled and suddenly
faced the thicket. Francisco clinging to her
with trembling hands and whitened lips. A
stone looaened from the hillside had rolled to
their feet; there was cracking In the alders
on the slope above them.
1T is bear. or q brigand ?" whispered Fran
cisco hurriedy sounding the uttermost
depths Of his terror In the two words. 1t Is
an eavesdropper." said Juanita. impetuously;
and who and why. intend to know" and
she started toward the thicket
DO not leave fne. good Juanita." said the
young acolyte grasping the girls skirt.
Nay; run to the hacienda quickly. and leave
me to search tho thicket. RUM
The boy did not walt for second Injunction.
but scuttled away. his long GOAT catching In the
brambles. while Juanita darted like a kitten
into the bushes. Her search was fruitless
however. and she WAS returning impstiently
when her quick eye fell upon a letter lying
amid the dried grass whore 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
viciously as II 1t had been the interloper she
was seeking. She knew that she held in her
fingers the secret Of Francisco's sudden ban
ishment She felt instlnctlvey that his yellow.
ish envelope with Its rod string and Its blotch
OF red seal. was his sentence and her own. The
little n.estiEa had not been brought up to re-
spect the integrity Of either locks or seals. both
being unknown In the patriarchal life OF the
hacienda. Yet. with certain feminine In
stinct. she looked furtively around her. and
even managed TO dislodge the clumsy wax
without marring the pretty efflgy Of the crossed
keys impressed upon II. Then she opened the
letter and read.
Suddenly she stopped and put back her hair
from her brown temples Then a 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 lettsr from her
hands. and rocking to and fro. In the midst OF
this she quickly stopped again; the clouds
broke. a sunshine Of laughter started from her
eyes. she laughed shyly. she laughed loudly.
she laughed hysterically. Then she stopped
again as suddenly. knitted her brows. swooped
down once more upon the letter. and turned to
ny. But at the same moment the letter was
quietly but firmly taken from her hand. and
Mr.. Jack Cranch stood beside her.
Juanita 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.
But" said Craneh. with business direct
ness. you've read enough to know 1t isn't
for YOU"
Nor for you. either" responded Juanita.
True. It Is for the Reverend Father Supe-
rior OF San jose Mission. I'll give IT to him.
Juanita WAS becoming slarmed-hrst at this
| prospect second at the power tho stranger
| seemed to be gaining over her. She recalled
| Francscos description OF him with something
| like superstitious awe.
| But 1t concerns Francisco. It contains
| secret he should know"
Then you can tall him 1t. Perhaps IL would
| come easier from YOU"
Juanita blushed again. "why7" she asked.
| half dreading his reply.
Because" said the American quietly. you
are old playmates-you are attached to each
other"
Juanita bit her lips. why don't you read 1t
YOURSELF" she asked. bluntly.
| because don't road other peoples letters
and ~ II corcerns ma vou'l, tell ma"
what II dontp"
"Thon the Father Sune-ior will"
Il believe you know Francisco's secret al
ready" said the girl boldly.
"Perhaps."
Then. Mother Of God! Senior Crancbo
what do Won went7"
Il do not want to separate two such good
| frIends MS Won and Francisco
PERTAINS you'd like to claim us both " said
the girl. with a sheer that was not devoid of
| coouetry
II should Ia delirhted"
Then here ia your occasion. Senior for bere
! comes nv adopted father. Don Juan and vour
| friend SENIOR Br-r-own the American Al
ealds,
Two men anneared in the oarden natb hollow
,h.m Tha stifr Glazed hrosd .hr;,,n,aa h,n,,.
| ."e"'' Inv '''ii' >'""o.' oio"uo ''"iheu pi"ch
hat. surmounting dark face OF Quixotic
gravity and romantic rectitude. indicated
nor Inv p,,onas His oon,nan;o, ia.. ~.
1