Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-12-19

tCentf"
at is worth journey to the Sierra
Madre to see Mirahores, said gentle
man in the City of 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 a bullet in the
shoulder, when a week after the acci-
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 DISTRACT 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 TO turn his
head little and there was glimpse at
one side of a pleasance that recalled the
beautiful huertas which he had seen and
admired ut 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-a bedstead OF
polished brass, a pretty toilet table or
French pattern, center table also
French in design, the slender, curviug
legs of which were faithfully reflected
in the glistening floor, while on it 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 u 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 a 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 a 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 glance
or gesture to 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 q servant.