Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-14

EurOpe KNOWS you Oetter, ne an swered '"Up to the present time all Medco's social and commercial inter- course has been with Europe rather than with her immediate neighbor There was very good reason for this, as you Know. have no excuse to make for my countrymen, senorita. The grasping propensities of the Anglo-Saxon are, un- fortunately, well known. And the mar row minded vanity which induces him to fancy himself the exemplar of the hu man race is not less remarkable"
 You are not very complimentary to your countrymen. she said, showing her pearly teeth in another smile. "Why should be complimentary" he asked Why should not one try to clear ones mind even of natural preju- dice and get as near the truth as possible In this very imperfect world? Every race has les defauts de ses qualities. But It IS great mistake to confound the de- fects with the virtues"
 "Yes," she said meditatively, ''that is very true. Mexicans have undoubtedly some defects. although l really think and it is not only because 1 too am a Mexican-that they have also great vir- tues
 'Even from the little that have seen of them, l am very sure of it" said Der went heartily. But you, senorita, can hardly consider yourself altogether a Mexican"
 "l do, however" she said lifting her head little higher with pride that be- came it we'll 'I am Mexican in heart and soul, as we'll as in blood and birth. It is true that my dear father comes of another race: but he will tell you that he | is altogether Mexican now" 'I am glad that he has at least not laid aside his knowledge of English, and that you condescend to speak it also," said Derwent smiling.
 But here comes one who does not" said the young lady rising.
 Derwent rose, too, as an elderly lady entered the room, He knew her at once as Dona Zarifa's companion when he saw the latter in the Alameda-a handsome, middle aged woman, very brunette and inclined to embonpoint, as all Spanish women are after a certain age. With few words of greeting she held out soft, kindly hand to Derwent. who bowed | over it.
 "This is my cousin, Sonora Peralta," said Dona Zarifa. "She hopes you are recovering If you speak French you can answer her in that language" Derwent did speak French with fuency, so he answered Sonora Peralta's inquiry, and then, in reply to other questions, gave circumstantial history of his wound and all relating to it. Both ladies listened to him attentively, and the sub | Ject was hardly exhausted when Don Maurizio came in.
 ''Ah, MT. Derwent," he said cordially, ''1 am delighted to see you here. You look better already. A little society is good thing; although 1 must warn you that we can offer you very little variety in that line at Mirahores" Derwent replied very sincerely that it was impossible to desire better society | than he found at Mirafores. But have heard, he said, ''that most Mexi- can proprietors of large estates do not live on them. because of their loneli- ness."
 "It is, unfortunately, true." answered his host. "The estates are generally so large, and the distances from one to another so great, that wealthy Mexicans do not, as rule, live on their haciendas, except for a few weeks in the course of the year"
 That is what was told when 1 ex- pressed desire to see something of life on hacienda" said Derwent. No body lives on the haciendas but the agents, was assured. There is no life there of the kind you fancy. Mexicans of the higher class all live in the capital | or abroad"
 Allowing for the exceptions" said Don MauriZio, "that was correct state ment. And the consequence is that half | the haciendas of Mexico are for sale, | destined before long to pass into the hands of aliens, When men leave their estates in the control of agents the re- suit is mismanagement in all respects | Who knows this better than an Irish man? Abseuteeism has been the curse of my country, and it is in great de- gree the curse of Mexico. So when be- came a Mexican 1 determined that l would not follow the prevailing fashion. Great estates came into my hands, and l resolved at once to administer them myself 1have done so for twenty years, and am rather proud of the result"
 And you have not found it very irk- some to live on haciendaT'
 Il cannot understand how man can find anything irksome which is in the clear line of duty and which affords abundant occupation for his hands and head have found infinite pleasure as well as infinite employment in my life. An Eishman from Galway naturally loves everything connected with free. outdoor life, and l have taught my daughter to love it as well as do my self. She is an enthusiastic horsewom- an, and we live in the saddle half our time By the by. if you like riding can give you good mount"
 Derwent's eyes frightened " am a southerner," he said, as if that were an Swer enough. Half of my life have spent in Louisiana and half in the blue grass region of Kentucky-my mother belonging to the first and my father to the last Not even in Galway do you think more of riding than we do."
 And in neither are there such plains over which to ride as in Mexico, am l @oid no~o S.