Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-16
.BY.ChRlSTlAN. REID,


 my weakness, but feel tired now"
 You will have an hour to rest, she replied and then, if you are not equal to the exertion, pray do not think of at tempting to make it.
 "Oh, shall be all right in an hour. |" he answered confidently
 He did feel very much better when, an hour later, he made his appearance in | the dining room, where Don MauriZio | greeted him cordially, and a tall, dark man rose and offered his hand, with a smile of recognition For an instant Derwent was puzzled Then. like a flash. the scene at the mine occurred to him, and even before Don Maurizio said 'Senor Barrera" he knew who it was. "SenOr Barrera wishes to express to you his sincere sympathy and regret for | your wound He has come, by my re- quest, to talk the matter over, and after awhile we will do SO But now you must sit down and take glass of wine at once, for you are looking fatigued. l am afraid that my daughter and Padre Francisco led you to overtask your strength this morning"
 On the contrary" said Derwent, Il find that 1 am stronger than l thought; and l was too much interested while out to think of fatigue. 1 have been de- | lighted by what have seen of the ha- l cienda.
 | ''The arrangements are only what you l will | Id on any great Mexican estate, y l Don Maurizio answered; "and if there IS any advantage in favor of Mirafores l it is owing to the fact that we give everything personal supervision. My l daughter visits the school and the hospi- | tai daily when she is at home."
 And Padre Francisco visits them when am absent; so they are never with out supervision" said that young lady. with q smile toward the priest
 You liked our gardens, did you not?' Sonora Peralta-who, Derwent learned later was called Dona Luisa by every one in the house-asked, turning to him. While he answered, expressing his ad- | miration in the convenient adjectives ot the French language, he divided his at. | tention between the succession of well made dishes placed before him, and the l simple but elegant furniture of the room especially two graceful sideboards modern Tn design, but made of carved and inlaid Mexican woods, and col, lection of beautiful china plates hung | around the walls.
 | You recognize the sevreS?' said Dona | Zarifa, following his glance. "I brought good deal of it from Paris, and some of the plates seemed to me too pretty tc be used for other than decorative pur- poses.
 You have spent some time in Paris% he asked.
 "l was there for three years, in the Sacre Coeur," she replied And last winter l went into society with my aunt -papa's sister-who lives there." | "It is needless to ask if you liked l Paris?" he said,
 l "lt is needless?" she answered. ''1 don't know how that may be; but in fact | l did not like it very much am afraid was pining for Mexico.
 "She absolutely likes Mirafores better than Paris" said her father, with smile as proud as it was fond
 How could l fail to like it better2' she said simply An my occupation and my duties are at Mirafores, while in Paris had nothing to do but anus, myself And when one has nothing tt do but amuse ones self, one very soo1 wearies of it.
 "l am afraid that most young ladie would not agree with you," said Der went, while he thought how eagerly tn gay world must have opened it's arms t one so beautiful and so rich For, O course, she was well introduced" h added to himself Don Maurizio too thoroughly man of the world t permit his daughter to appear anywher except with the very best chaperonage. And he was justified in this opinion b |, the fact that the aunt of whom Zarif
 had spoken was a French countess, wei ' known i'll the Faubourg Saint Germain The pleasant informal meal over, Do Maurizio sad, Now. MT Derwent, i you will accompany us. shall be yer
 glad to interpret between Senor Bal
 rera and yourself, and something like a
 understanding may be arrived at"
 Acceding willingly, Derwent followe
 his host to a room on one side of tn great passage of entrance, which Do
 Maurizio called his private den." was fitted up very much like an office
 with large. official looking desk, a we
 equipped writing table, and solid bu
 comfortable chairs, and had altogethe | all aspect Ol prdCIlCdl DuSlueSS-CnaC al
 pect which a room always seems to bol
 row from the character of it's occupan l Lighting their cigars and seatin themselves the two men who had las
 met at the mouth of the Buena Esp | ranza looked at each other; and De-
 went was impressed afresh by the stron
 face and the eaglelike eye of Barrer'
 "A man to strike quickly and stril
 hard. when his enemy was facing hin ! but not man to shoot another from 8 ambush, or to cause him to be so shot
 was his final decision.
 "Senor Barrera wishes me to assul you" said Don Maurizio, after the fo - mer had uttered a few sentences
 Spanish, "that he felt not the fainte
 enmity toward you when he was at tt 'I mine, and that if Fernandez asserts thI
 he uttered any threats against you l
 simply lies.
 = "Tell him, pray" said Derwent, "th
 1 have not the faintest doubt but thi