Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-12-10

shawl around her head, hnlulaG Us toll Is Ia
her little brown hand. In TINS s,1aGon they
were, aD different times during the ,.at two
hours, interrupted by five coIsr,..Wc three
senator's, u cabinet officer and a judge OF the
supreme bcnch--cach of whom Nos quickly
bat courtoousy dismissed Popular sontl-
mcni, however, broke ouj in the hail.
"Non, I'm banked, but thi, gct,mc." (rhc
speaker was n territorial dcc-atcJ
AT this time o life, too, loo.,in' over pic
lures with II gal young enough to be his
grdndchild." Qhis from a venerable o.li,ial,
since suspected of various crotc Irregular
itics)
"She don't handsome any" Crho honorable
member from Dokota)
This accounts for his protractcd silence
during the sessions "a serious colleague
from tlo senator's own state.)
"Oh, blank it all" (Omncs)
-Four went home to tell their wives. There
are few things moro touching i'll the matri-
monal compact than the superb iranl;ncsS
with which each conldcs to each the various
irregularities Of their friends. 1t is upon
thee sacred condolences thaO the firm founda-
tons of marriage rest unshal;cn
OF course the objects Of this comment at
least o'tc of them, were quito oblivious. 81
trust" said Carmen, timdly, when they had
for the fourth time regarded i'll rapt admira-
ton an abomnablo something by some Dutch
woodchoppcr, 81 trust | am not keeping you
from your ere,,, lricuds"-hor pretty eyclids
were cast down in tremuous distrcss-"I
should never forgive myself. Perhaps it is
important business OF the statc.'
ooh, dear, no! Ihey will come again-it's
Meu business
The senator meant it kindly 1t was as near
the perilouS edge of compliment rs your
average cultivated Boston man ever ventures,
and Carmen picked it up, feminnely, by its
sentimental end And | suppose Shall not
trouble You again"
81 shall always he proud to place the port
folio ut your disposal. Command me at any
timc," said the senator, with dignity.
"Iou are kind You are good said Car
men, land IL am bullock you--only Il
poor girl from California, that YOU know
mott
pardon me, know your country well"
And indeed he could have told her tho exact
number Of bushels of wheat to the acre in her
own county of Monterey, its voting popula-
tion It's political bias Yet of the moro i'm.
potant product before him. after the manner
of book-rcad mon, he knew nothing.
Carmen was astouishcd, but respectful. 1t
transpircd presently that She was not aware
OF the rapid growth of the siliworm in her
own district, knew nothing of the Chinese
question, and very little of the American
mining laws. Upon these questions the SEN
ator enlightened her fully. Your name is
historic, by the way" he said pleasantly
There was a Knight of Alcantara, de
Haro,' one Of the omigrants with La Casas."
Carmen nodded her head quickly. "Yes;
my great great-g-r-c-a-t grandfather!'
The senator stared.
"Oh, yes. am the niece of Victor Castro,
who married my fathers sister,"
"Thc Victor Castro OF the 'Elue Mass
minei' ASKED the senator abruptly.
YES" she said quietly.
Had the senate? been Of the CashWilor type
be would have expressed himself. after the
aycraSe masculine fashion, by a lons-,rawn
whistle. DUJ lis only parcopuble appylcia-
ton of Il sudden astonishmcnt and Suspicion
in his mind was II lowering of the social
thermometer OF the room so decided hat poor
Carmen locked up innoccnty, chilled ard
drew her shawl closer around her shoulders
81 have something more to ask" said
Carmen, hanging her head-"it is Il great uh
a very great favor"
The senator had rctreated bclmd his has
ton of books again, and was vishysprcpar-
ing for an assault. He saw it all now. lie
had been, in some vague way, G,iudcd. lie
had given confidential audience to the niece
of ono OF the Great Claimants before con-
gress. The inevitable ak had come TO he
grindstone. " hat might not thi, woman
dare ask of him' lie was the moro implaca-
bic that lie felt he had already hrrn p.cpos-
sessed-and honestly proposes o.-in her
favor. lie was angry with her lc: having
pleased him. Under the icy polish oi his
manner thcre were certain Puritan "a! o,ites
caused by carly straight laciA.,. II. vas not
yet quite free from his ancestors cheerful
ethics that Nature as repres ntcI ny an I'M
pulse, was Us much to be restrained a, Order
represented by II Quaker.
,
Carmen went on, with certain potential
freedom ofstyle, gesture and manner scarcely
to be indicated in her mere words. "You
know, then, am Of Spanish blood. and
that, what was my adopted country, our
motto was Goa and Liberty 1t was Of you,
sir-tho great Emancipator-the apostl, Of
that Liber.y-thc friend of the down-trodlon
and oppresscd-that l, as a child, first knew.
In the histories of this great country | have
read of You, have learned your orations.
have longcd to hear you i'll your own papit
deliver the creed Of my ancestors. TO hear
you, of yourself, speak, all Madrc de Dios!
what shall | say-speak the Grafton eloquent
to mako thc-what you call-thc debate,
that is what | have for so long hoped. Eli!
Pardon-you are thinking me foolsh-wild,
eh! a small child CHIP
mn ",