Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-10-22

UcntY'
1T is worth a journey to the Sierra
Madre to see Mirafiores. said a gentle
man in the Cityof Mexico. many months
after this. TO Derwent The latter agreed
with the sentiment before having heard
it, and added on his own account that it
was well nigh worth bullet in the
shoulder, when week after the acct
dent he lay on a couch near an open
window with an enchanting picture be
fore his eyes.
Through the arches OF a gallery be
yond he looked out over the great plain
that rolled away like verdant sea from
the foot of the slope on which the
hacienda stood. stretching in level ex-
panse for miles. until it melted into blue,
magical distance. Nothing WAS allowed
to obstruct this glorious view, with its
limitless turquoise sky above. its shift
ing shadows falling here and there. and
the wonderful sense of vast space, Of
boundless freedom and all the conditions
of wild, romantic. patriarchal life
which these immense tablelands Of Mex.
leo suggest.
As he lay in the pleasant weakness
that follows the cessation OF fever and
pain. Derwent felt as If he could never
weary of the wide, marvellous scene.
But if he did. he had only 10 turn his
head a little and there was glimpse at
one side of a pleasance that recalled the
beautiful huertas which he had seen and
admired at Tacubaya. near the city of
Mexico. Like these. the grounds of Mira.
flores were half garden. half park. but.
as he learned later. were far more pic
turesque and extensive than anything at
Tacubaya.
Meanwhile his immediate surround
ings were pleasant enough to have salts
fed any but the most wandering fancy.
The apartment in which he found him
self was large and airy, with floor Of
shining tiles, frescoed ceiling and deli
cately painted walls The furniture was
simple, but very GRACEFUL bedstead Of
polished brass, a pretty toilet table OF
French pattern, a center table also
French in design. the slender. curving
legs of which were faithfully reflected
in the glistening floor. while on ii stood
bowl Of splendid roses The couch on
which he lay was covered with pretty
chintz. as were also two or three easy
chairs: rugs were scattered over the floor
and on small table beside him was a
crystal dish heaped with oranges, Three
immense windows. opening on the gal
lery already mentioned, gave light and
air to the room: while on the other side
the double door opened on court.
which, with its oriental arches and
brightly frescoed walls. its tropical
plants and fountain, delighted Derwent's
eye whenever he obtained glimpse of it
But there had been days after his ar
rival when not even these picturesque
surroundings had power to charm him
when. indeed. he had hardly been con
scious of them. After the painful opera
ton of extracting the ball from his
shoulder he had been partially delirious
from fever and weakness. and had seen
as in dream the people around him.
He was not certain whether he had
really seen or only imagined fernandez
standing by him once. regarding him
with look in which he had felt that
there was little real compassion. But
he had never any doubt when the hand
some, kindly face Of his host bent over
him; and presently he began to know
equally well delicate brown counte-
nance. with gentle dark eyes and masses
of black. curling hair. which belonged
to the deft. noiseless attendant detailed
for his service As he grew better he
found that Ramon needed only a glance
or a gesture 10 understand and fulfill his
wants. And so willingly, with SO much
gracious charm of manner. WAS this ser.
vice rendered that Derwent. when he
placed his arm around the offered
shoulder to raise himself. felt as if he
touched an affectionate friend rather
than a servant.
The soundness of his constitution soon
asserted itself. The fever yielded after
few days. and the wound began TO heal
in satisfactory manner. But he was
exceedingly weak. and it was only with
Ramon's assistance that he could walk
from his bed to the couch by the window.
where be had now lain for two days. in
haling the fresh. delicious air as it came
to him over leagues of space. and feast
ing his gaze on the wide. beautiful
scene. With returning strength came
deep sense of gratitude for the wonder
full chance which had thrown him into
such kindly hands and brought him to
this charming place.
1t is not to be supposed that among
elements Of pleasure around him he ig-
nored the probability of seeing again the
beautiful face that had so attracted him
in the Alameda of Mexico and the plaza
of Guadalajara But illness dulls all
emotions save those Of pain. and when
pain ceases, this in itself is pleasure
enough for a time. As he grew better
he wondered a little if Dona Za-fa was
at the hacienda; but no one had men,
toned her name. and. had his interest
been much kecner than it was. he would
still have felt that il was not fitting for
him II make any iuouirv. q the euil7ect