Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-06


The tone of uncertainty and the abrupt
ness of the question discovered to him the
f ct of her embarrassment and gave him
that feeling IF superiority that enabled
him to regain his self-possession.
From the Blue mountains, he ans
wered. with a smile.
The Blue mountains?"
Eyes; you have not heard of them?
They are far away north from here, many
hundred miles. | have travelled alone for
many months. Until now have not seen
human being for weeks
But how did you know that we lived
here?'
II did not know
Then why did you Gomez
Il travelled for pleasure, for curiosity
| wished to see the southern country,
where the sun burns you up. am King
George man. You do not understand? [
hunt and kill game for the Hudson Bay
company. But | have left them behind
81 do not understand" she said, simply
Where are you going?"
Il do not know. Anywhere. | am 60
ing now to those mountains, pointing to
the distant line of hills.
But you will first come with me? You
must rest until it is cooler. Nobody
travels here in the heat of the day, It
would kill you. You must come and eat
with US, and then we can give you horse
to continue your journey, and tell you how
to go. Por misericordia de Dios! 10
think of walking!"
Il thank you, no. | must go on
I'm the heat? You will die You must
come with me- The father and mo-
Their will welcome you. ! wish you to
come.
He looked at her closely for the first
time, and then he wondered why he had
not noticed her beauty before She was
dark, with that Spanish complexion
through which the warm blood showed
with rich color, heightening the bril-
Iiancy of her lustrnus black eyes, which
lighted up her whole face with tender
trusting expression. Her raven hair hung
IN masses upon her shoulders, and as she
leaned forward with couiding, entreat-
ing gesture he thought he had never seen
so beautiful a woman.
Il will come" he said briefly, and as
size turned her horse in the direction of her
home he walked on by her side So they
journeyed in silence for time
Il must thank you for saving my life, -
he said at length. They would surely
have killed me, and you ran great risk
yourself"
eff you would have shot at them could
not have turned them away" she answer
ed. They would have been angry. You
should not have walked here; they do not
attack one who rides, but when you walk
they will kill you"
Before ong they came in sight of the
hacienda. long, low adobe house, upon a
fiat with neither tree nor shrub near but
on one side of the deep spurs of the range
of hills came almost to the house, forming
deep cany Ons.
The old folks received him kindly, lis
tened gravely to the story of his adven-
ture, and they showed him to an apartment
In the house where he might rest until his
meal was prepared. But he was in no
mood to rest. The indolent Spanish Gus
toms suited him but i'll, for he was unac-
customed to the heat of the weather and
the habits that it necesslated. Besides, |
his mind was far from easy. He was of
quiet disposition naturally and loved soil ,
tude. His long, weary journey from the
settlements Of the north had been under
taken mainly to satisfy his restless nature
and to carry him away from where he |
would be in the society Of men. His i'm
pulse, even while prompted by gratitude |
to the girl for the service she had rendered |
him, was to retreat from the settlement. |
where he would not again be thrown into |
Intercourse with his fellow-men. But she |
exercised a strange fascination over him. |
and though he would not confess it even
to himself it was to be near her, to feast |
his eyes upon her beauty, that he had ac-
cepted her invitation.
1t was with pleasing fiction by which
he only half deceived himself, therefore,
that he now sought the low veranda in
front Of the house Ito enjoy the fresh air
outside"
"Josefa is preparing little supper for
you, explained the old man, as he sat
putting a cigarette.
The stranger seated himself near the
door where he might see the 1.-the, slender
figure of the girl as she fitted about in
side, produced pipe, after having refused
prOtfered cigarette, and was soon enter
tanning the old man with stories of his
adventures among Indians and wild beasts
The Mexican listened gravely, only half
understanding the illusions of his guest
to unfamiliar localities and customs, yet
refraining from asking questions lest he
might seem inquisitive about the visitor
antecedents
Soon Josefa, having finished her prepar- |
tons inside, came and styod by her father,
and the stranger found fresh enthusiasm
for his narrative in her evident admiring
interest.
The afternoon shadows heightened i'm
perceptib!y as he continued his reminis-
cences, and the sun was almost disappear
ing behind the distant hills vixen they sat
down for the meal which Josefa had pre-
pared some hours before. He became
more aud more interested IN the girl, and
i required but little pressing to persuade
him 10 stay with them that nj ght. The next
day he was even more reluctant to leave,
and they seemed equally loath to have him.
and so his stay was extended two or three
days.
One evening as he stood with Josefa,
talking of anything so that he might have
the peaure of her company, and wonder
ing whether the moon ever shown so
brightly or so beautiful before, she sudden
ly said to him: Manuel is coming home
tomorrow.
Manuel! Who is Maruei?"
''Ah, you do not know him. she said
Then. after a pause, as if reluctant yet
anxious to tell her secret, she added: 1--WE
are 10 be married; he is my lover and |
shall marry him next week. Oh. you
should see Manuel. so handsome, not hand
some like you are, but like a Spaniard
You must stay and see Manuel; |
would show him the big, strong man |
saved
Tit would no doubt entertain him. It
was the tone rather than what he said that