Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-08-22

St1Ai EN-
sIlnmediately to get into this cart. l
have a little business affair to settle with
you"
Her voice was commanding, and the
worc.s fell from her lips like clean, crisp,
sharoly-cut coins.
Fairfax saw there was nothing else to do
but obey. With eyes fastened upon the
ground, with laggard steps and silent as
the grave, he slowly took his seat by Lydia's
side.
He knew he was taken wholly at q disad-
vantage; beside he had by no means recov-
cred from the shock of the last scene with
Natalie. He seemed to have lost control
over his wits; to be utterly powerless to
cope with even a child, much less q woman
Of the mental caliber of lydia, whose feel
ings were stirred to the utmost; whose
faculties were at their brightest and
keensst; who also seemed to have them
under perfect control. There was remain
ing TO him mind enough to know that
silence was his strongest hold, until those
scattered senses of his could be collected.
He had offered to take the reins as he en-
tered, feeling that, as a woman, with her
fingers occupied with fancy work, has the
advantage over an awkward youth who
seems unable to dispose of his hands; so he,
Will LUt ftIlS. Cpulu tIL DtbttE Bdlil hls
i~self-control, while Lydia would be more apt
to lose hers.
"I prefer to drive, myself, sir,n she re-
piled with dignity.
Then the suppressed fires of her anger
famed forth.
"Are you q professional briganda Pos
sibly, this is the usual way with American
gentlemen; their method of protesting de-
votion, chivalry and all that is noble. Are
lcourtships commonly conducted in this
manner, in this model Republic of yoursf'
Fairfax answered nothing.
He was now gaining ground, n she rap
idly losing. II h would only persist in
keeping up this TRADE, he soon would have
the upper hand.
ain nv country" continued she. in those
Icy, cutting tones, "when a gentleman pro-
fesse8 to know nothing about a woman and
to care less, we hardly look to see him, a
day or two afterwards. run away with her
in a manner bcfitting i barbarian. Alto
gether, sir, you have placed yourself in q
position exceedingly unenviable, and have
lost the confidence of all respectable per-
sors''-Whom she meant by ''all respecta.
BILE persons was a trile uncertain.
Snow" said she, beginning to grow irri
tated under Fairfax's persistent silence and
ucE ltsnuTt W Gill d6c UNI INV, SI 4 lis
no time to waste with you in this matter
nor Go I care so to do with a man Of the
vague ideas Of right and wrong you seem to
possess" Her voice assumed a regretful
tone, tinged with a shade of tenderness as
she proceeded. There was a time when
matters appeared differently"-here she
turned and gave Fairfax a sidelong glance
that presented a curious compound of shy.
ness, scornful defiance, yet curiosity.
Fairfax, too, at this singular remark,
raised his eyes in an upward inquiring look.
What could she mean.
ResumIng her chilling hauteur, she went
on:
~ shall not ask. nor do / care to know
your motives, or your course in this out
rageous affair, this was a deliberate false
hood. She was burning with desire to learn
it all.--"I want to tell you that Natalie must
be Immediately released and, what is more,
sent safely back. Do you mean to say,
.wretched fool that you for a moment sup
posed you could win her love III this way
Even the most obtuse villain could not fai
to sec such q thing were impossible. And
I'm surprised that n man of the cunning
which this performance of yours shows you
to possess, should fail to perceive it."
She continued for some time in this bit
Itcry DiLiuS AIdliuCI-
Meanwhile Fairfax was fast regainine
his old-time composure.
There was something about this strange
imam that was irresistible. Even his silence
was often more effective than the words
Of others. Lydia became conscious of thi;
powerful influence of his over her.
It was the old story of the subtle strength
OF will which silently forces one person Il
recognize another as his superior.
She tries to lash up her anger, but onlJ
succeeds in feeling her growing weakness:
more and more.
Then she began to reflect, and, in an act
i've contest, reflection generally loses thu
day. What was this she was doingl Here
In a strange country, with a man she hat
seen but once before, and on an errani
that few women would have dared, ani
most women been ashamed to undertake.
She stole another glance at her compan
ion, ard now began TO notice that firm
hard mouth; those tightly-eompressed lip
and tho stern, daring look about the face