Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-11-05
lance ia considerable, and my father has

lance is considerable, and my father has
business there. we cas..5t return until
the middle of the afternoon. There
fore thought it well to provide against
the pangs Of hunger: for. though papa
and myself could take some tortillas and
milk at the house of the ranchero, you
know that you do not like tortillas.
NO. he answered. with a. slight
grimace, Il confess that | do not 1t is
the only Mexican thing don't like.
Then you shall not be forced to eat
Them she said. smiling. I'VE will
take our lunch in pretty place on the
border of the lake But papa fingers
You may put me up. Mr.. Derwent, and
we viii ride slowly forward.
1t was not often that Derwent had this
privilege. for Don Maurizio generally
lifted his daughter into the saddle as
lightly as if she had been an infant 1t
was an unexpected pleasure, therefore.
to hold out his hand, to have the slen-
der. arched foot placed within it, to aid
her practiced spring into the saddle. and
then to arrange her stirrup and habit.
AS, having done this, he glanced up to
see if there was mother service he could
render, he caught the CLEAN of some
thing like the handle OF pistol among
the scant folds of her dress at the side of
her short basque.
"Whatir he said. involuntarily. do
Mexican ladies carry arms alsog'
She laughed as she drew out from a
pocket at her waist the smallest and
daintiest weapon he thought he had ever
seen--a silver mounted pistol which lay
in his hand like toy. but which, he saw
at once was capable of doing deadly
work
1T is very beautiful" he said. "Bnt
may ask why you carry its If there Is
any danger. surely Don Maurizio and
Juan are sufficiently armed to protect
you--not to speak of myself.
''There is no danger. she answered. a
little haughtily How could there be
on our own hacienda? If papa puts Oh
his pistol when he rides out. it is more
from habit than anything else; for there
have been times in Mexico when it was
not safe to be without arms. But when
wear pistol it is only for amusement.
am very fond of shooting, and ! have
not tried my hand lately. | thought
that there might be an opportunity to dc
SO today"
1--WE will make an opportunity by set
ting up target on the lake." he said, as
he returned the pistol and mounted his
own horse as Don Maurizio came out
and. with an apology for delay, swung
himself on his powerful chestnut.
Their place of destination was, it ap-
peared. sixteen miles distant--a short
ride over the level plain for horses fresh
and spirited as theirs. 1t was a part OF
the hacienda which Derwent had never
visited before. and when they drew neal
the lake they found themselves in d
more broken country. since one side OF
the beautiful sheet of water was inclosed
by forest clad hills rising abruptly from
its edge
There is nothing more charming Than
these lovely lakes which are scattered
over wide region of the plateau of
Mexico. Blue as Como or Maggiore,
only their own great elevation prevents
their being surrounded by mountain
scenery as grand If the heights that
inclose them are not relatively as i'm
posing as the Alps, they are none the
less noble and majestic in outline and
absolutely enchanting in color. So il
was with this lake on the beach OF
which the party from Mirafores pres
emily drew rein. They were at its head.
and so commanded magnificent view
Of the shimmering azure water spread
ing for miles, bordered on one side by
abrupt green heights that. with the haze
of the distance over them. were draped
in robes of softest blue and parple
while on the other side of the liquid ex
panse the great plain stretched to meet
the horizon.
"This is the most beautiful picture
that | have seen in Mexico" said Der
went. as they paused to admire it.
"What paradise of colorr
"You will be glad to hear that we
make the rest of our journey by water.
said Don Maurizio. "Here is our boat
A large. well built rowboat. manned
by four Indian oarsmen. swept around a
headland as he spoke. and came toward
them"
Everything at Mirahores reminds one
more or less of the Arabian Nights
observed Derwent. but really this sug-
gests positive enchantment We ride up
to the shore of a wild and lonely lake.
not a human being is in sight. and you
do not even clap your hands as signal
of arrival. yet here comes boat. ready
to convey You where you will
at looks mysterious. admit. said
Don Maurizio with a laugh. but
message sent yesterday is the cause of
the boat being ready. while our APP
proach was not so unobserved as you
thought. The honse of the man who
looks after the boat is near by. and we
will leave our horses there.
They dismounted and Juan led the
horses away, while the boat was brought
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