Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-11-12
some poor woman wno IS wandering in

And / am going to try and sketch the
canada. Win you come, padre mic, and
see my failure?"
II will come for little while and see
your success" the padre answered, ''for
do not think that you are likely to at
tempt anything in which you would
fall
II should not wish to attempt what
knew to be beyond my powers, certain
ly. But man cannot always tell De
forehand whether he will succeed in an
Effort, even when he thinks he may
IF he has gauged his powers correctly
he can generally tell. at least, in some
degree. You, Senior Derwent, know
pretty accurately, think, what you can
do
81 wish didt' said Derwent devoutly.
"But lam, like other men, misled by van
ity; / sometimes essay tasks beyond my
strength and fail. / shall probably fail
in making this sketch. but mean to try.
Fortunately have sketching materials
with me, for thought would do some
thing of the kind in Mexico. This will
be my first attempt
A few minutes later, with portfolio
under his arm and accompanied by the
padre, he was on his way to the ravine,
where he had spent many delightful
hours since the day when he was first
introduced TO it. They tried various
points of view, and it was finally de-
cided that the sketch should be made
from the pavilion So Derwent settled
himself, with the more satisfaction be-
cause he had support on the railing for
his book and roof overhead TO keep
away the intrusive rays of the sun. Pa
Dire Francisco fingered, talking pleasant
~, until he was finally at work; and
then, saying that his own work awaited
him, he took his departure, with many
wishes for the success of the picture.
AS his slender, cassocked figure went
down the glen Derwent watched it with
a smile, saying to himself that If his
picture was a success that figure should
enter into it. "Dona Zarifa will like
that, he thought, for he knew how dear
the gentle priest was TO every one at
Mirafores He had heard from Don
Maurizio that he belonged 10 one Of the
prescribed religions orders. which,
robbed, exiled aud defrauded by the gov
eminent, are yet quietly doing the work
Of God in poverty and obscurity all over
Mexico.
The young man was thinking of that
figure. and of all the long line of such
figures which had Christianized and
civilized savage people, as he worked
with facility that surprised himself.
Perhaps the stimulus was the desire to
crafty Dona Zarifa--for love can do
wonderful things and develop powers
almost undreamed of-or perhaps he
possessed more talent than he had hither-
TO imagined. At all events his sketch
was growing in the most satisfactory
manner, and he was so absorbed in its
progress that he had almost forgotten to
wonder if Dona Zarifa would appear ac-
cording 10 her promise, when Suddenly,
in such quick succession as TO be almost
simultaneous, two shots rang sharply on
the air, the last-a rifle ball-jnst graz
lug his ear and then fattening itself on
the stone column beside which he sat
The book dropped from his hand and
the sheet of paper on which he was sketch
ing was borne by current Of air over
the railing and fiuttered unheeded into
the current below, as with a violent start
he looked up to sec Doua Zarifa stand
ing on the path below. with a still smok
ing pistol in her uplifted hand.
In an instant he was by her side. for
instinct told him that the shot had not
been fred idly. ''For Gods sake, what
is it," he cried. gazing with establishment
at the pale. set face. the shining eyes and
the uplifted hand pointing SO steadily
without a tremor in the direction Of the
pavilion.
"There is a man, an assassin, behind
yonder rock, she answered, in clear,
vibrant tone. pointing to low. long
bowlder that crowned the hill which rose
in the rear of the pavilion.
Il saw him about to shoot you, and
fired just as he had his finger on the trig-
ger. His aim swerved and he fell. think
| killed him.
Il will see said Derwent. turning
quickly; but she stopped him by mo-
ton and extended the pistol. He may
be merely wounded she said. BE
cautious
With no recollection of his weakness
he sprang forward and FASTENED up the !
steep ascent. Eighteen or twenty yards |
brought him TO the bowlder, and there |
On the ground behind it was the assassin.
his rife where it had fallen beside him. |
AT the first glance Derwent thought he
was dead, but on examination discovered
that, though insensible, he was still |
Throwing open his loose
white upper garment, the young man
saw that the pistol ball had entered his
chest some little distance below the
heart. A stream of dark blood was
lowing from it. and Derwent's first act
was TO place his thumb on the bullet
lole. The next moment he heard step,
and turning his head saw Zarifa stand
ng beside him. looking dosn at the
mans face with an exDreSsion of in