Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-15

yellow of ounces, the dull greens and
browns of almond and walnut husks
were every where seen. In the vineyards
the stacks of boxes and throngs of China
men told that the vintage was at hand
At length they turned into a place
which although much less extensive
| and important than its neighbors, had
somehow a different and distinctive
look. Perhaps il was because of the
background OF hills rising SO majsstically
behind it; possibly because of the
! fringe of forest trees at one side, or
the avenue of grand old syoamores
| leading straight from the gateway to
the door. The gateway itself was
something to be studied. 1t vas high
! rustic arch, and there were rude letters
above. The children spelled them out:
] FS-o-m-b-r-a.'
''Sombra. What does that mean?''
asked Martin.
cit is only fanoy-the name 1 call
my place. 1t is the Spanish for shadow,
and you see am the shadow of the
| hills.
''The shadow Ned felt that the
| name had some deeper meaning.
The garden through which they were
passing was unlike any that they had
ever before seen. It had none of the
stiff lines and angles which possess most
California gardens like a blight. This
was genuine old fashioned garden, I'M
der new fashioned cline and in new
fashioned land. Rose hedges raised
defense of fioweH and thorn about the
patches of green lawn. Sweet scented
white and purple violets fringed their
margin. Castilian roses rioted every
where and filled the air with their fra
GRANGE. There were tree-Iike fuchsias
and great clumps Of pampas grass and a
hollow filed with fleur-de-lis of melting
colors. In deep pond gold fish glanced
and a pond lily bloomed. The house was
SO lost in vines that it was impossible to
follow its outlines, but it had strangely
silent and deserted look.
CHAPTER VIA STARTLING ADVENTURE.
elbow do you suppose 1 am going to
get you across the Rubicon, and why
don It you ask after your freight?' in
Quired DR.. John, gaily, as he drove
down a shaded road at the rear of the
house. Chow do you know 1 haven't
oonfiscated it, and may even now be
leading you into some dangerous pit
falI?''
"You look as if you could be trusted -
said Hope, quantity.
Ned laughed boyishly, but Martin saw
DR.. John give quick, strange glance at
the little girl.
They soon came to the bank of beau
tiful stream, with tall sycamores and
bending willows grazing either margin.
Beyond, on the further shore, was dis
closed a,yiew which filled them with de-
light, for there, on gentle slope, which
seemed to be followed out of the noun
tains, was their own dear home to be-
They had glimpse of some rude build
ings, then heard low, contented
''moo, - and saw Beauty but few rods
below them, grazing happily away for
the first time in her life upon legitimate
fodder. The children sprang out of the
wagon, and the horse was tied to a tree.
"Why, DR.. John, here's something
that looks like raft cried Ned bend
ing over and looking in the shadow of
the willows.
cit is a raft, replied DR.. John, "or
at least IL tries hard 10 be one. 1t has a
good deal of business before 1t and we
must have confidence in it or perhaps it
will founder and go down. / think it
will carry everything but your horse.
He is welcome to quarters IN my stable
until Ned finds time to take him around
by the hill trail.
A dozen times the little craft Travelled
back and forth across the stream. Beauty
made the voyage like an old and expe-
rIenced sailor, though plainly consumed
with curiosity to know what it all meant.
''You II come up with us?' DR.. John
asked Ned, as the doctor handed Hope
ashore with grave courtesy.
''Not new Ned. i have some patients
that l must be off to see. Don't at
tempt to do too much to-day Your
goods are perfectly safe where they are.
If you cannot make yourself comforta BILE
for the night-oh, well; i shall be over
to see how your are DOING
was it any wonder that the children
could hardly wait to see him off, before
starting on their explorations. Hand III
hand they climbed the brooks steep
bank, leading Beauty by her rope. Then
they paused, dismayed by the prospect
before them.
Their way was barred by a miniature
forest of tall mustard stalks, twelve to
fifteen feet in height and an inch or SO in