The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-07-25

tention Of smashing his elegant dinner sci
OF glass, and putting down the decanter,
and raising q finger to his forehead, he
said, How did TINT wine come into my
possession?" =.
Somebody gave II to you, perhaps
Quien sabe? who knows?" suggested Don
Ignacio.
Without needing the interruption, the
captains eye rested on the brilliant snuff
box on the table beside him, where the let
ter L was set in diamonds and blue enamel
on the back, and catching it with ran, hi
face lighted up, and as he took a pinch and
passed the boz to the padre, he exclaimed.
All! now I remember, my old friend-thc
Portuguese Countess from Oporto. Whata
stately beauty was her daughter.
Here Captain Band sneexed, and drawing
delicately perfumed lace handkerchief
from his waiscoat pocket, blew his nose.
Meanwhile, the box went round the table;
Padre Ricardo took huge pinch with his
dirty paws. and Toasted his eyes upon the
precious lid The doctor scarcely gave the
elegant bauble glance rs he helped him.
self. Tho Don, however, examined IL with
the eye OF connoisseur, and not only that,
but he threw q spark at the captains fashy
wnistcoat, and thought he detected some
other article in the capacious pockets be-
sides the handkerchief. Perhaps he may
have been mistaken and perhaps not, though
he was SO very suspicious M old villian,
that he sometimes did his friends injustice.
Nor did he put his thin brown fingers, with
the few grains of snuff he had dipped from
the box, to his shecpsk!n nostrils, till he
had watched tho effect it had produced on
those around him.
"Ah! my friends, remember distinctly
now all about it," continued the captain, as
he returned the handkerchief, and shook q
few specks Of the titillating dust from his
point-lace sleeves; ut is about three years
ago, just before you came to live with me,
padre, that we fell in with large ship bound
to Porto Rico. She had been disabled in
an awful hurricane, which had taken two of
her masts clean off Mt the decks, and was
leaking badly. We, too, had been little
hurt in the same gale, and having made n
pretty good season. was anxious to get
back here and give the crews q rest. Well,
We made out the ship about an hour before
sunset, and IT. was quite dark before we
came up with her. There she lay, rolling
like log, though there was not much sea
on, and We could hear her chain pump
clanking, and saw the water spouting on
from scuppers, as pure almost as it went
into her hold. As We came up alongside,
they hailed me for assistance, and said the
ship was sinking, and could not live till
morning. OF course could give them no
actual assistance, situated rs l was'-here
the nnrrator smled-"it would have been
simply aburd, you know: the idea of my
putting men on board to keep her afloat for
the nearest gibbet,.I did not dream of.
However, determined to make her visit,
and if there should be anything to save
he in Ii,
ton, why should look around; not too
much of that Porte, mi padre: think of your
rheumatism in the morning! Doctor, You
don't drink! Well, going on board, I found
two lady passengers; the wife and daughter
of an old Judge Of the island of Porto Rico,
with half dozen servants, who were all
screaming, and Praying. and besceching me
to save therl-all but one, tall graceful
girl, with a large India shawl wrapped
around her shoulders, her white arms
glancing through the folds, and q pair of
dark, liquid, almond shaped eyes, such as
l had never before seen. The fact is, nv
friends, II had always before fancied blue.
But there stood this girl, with eyes like n
wounded stag; saw in moment, MS she
leaned up against the weather bulwarks, by
the light of the open cabin door, Babettc,
take away all but the wine and fruit, and
bring fire. Pass that box this way, if you
please, compadre! Thank you"
Don Ignacio seemed to have IN affection
for the triae, and had counted the brilliants
over and over again, and made mental
calculation of their weight and value; and
when he did move it, as he was desired, his
greedy eyes followed it with fascination.
Yes, it's very pretty, and set great
store by it. !" parenthesised tho host, rs he
resumed his tale-