Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1891-11-14

direction was moving throng OF prom
enaders, while two bands alternately
flooded the air with melody 1t is i'm
possible to imagine anything more ami
mated than the scene. The long vistas
of shade. the masses Of green turf and
foliage, the sparkling fountains, the
statues and great clumps of lilies, made
a picturesque background for the figures
that passed in well bred throng among
them-graceful women in every variety
of fashionable toilet, distinguished look
ing men and fairylike children. 1t was
the Champs Elysees transferred to the
tropics, with such color as only the
tropics can give; while here and there
through the brilliant crowd, brushing
silken skirts and point lace parasols, came
men and women who might have stepped
from an aboriginal forest, with their
dark faces and 1.-THE, sinewy forms draped
in serape or rebozo-some passing with
calm unconcern through the elegant
throng, others offering here and there
the bright hued dulces which they bore
on trays.
at is the most charming picture have
ever scent" Derwent declared, as he
watched the scene with eyes full of in
terest, while Morell kept up running
commentary of description concerning
the chief personages who passed. Sud
denly the young man broke in upon this
with a quick exclamation. What
beautiful womanr he said. WHO is shep"
There were number of women in
sight, most of them with claims to
beauty more or less pronounced, but
Morell had no doubt to whom he allud-
ed. Two ladies were passing at the mo-
ment, both wearing the charming Span
ish costume, which no creation of Worth
or Felix can rival in becomingness, and
on the younger many eyes besides those
of Derwent were fastened. She was in
deed beautiful creature-her beauty
being the supreme expression of the type
Of loveliness peculiar to her country.
Soft brunette tints, delicate features and
dark eyes had been common enough in
the faces that went by, but here was
face that fascinated by distinction alto
gether its own. The complexion was
like ivory in tint and texture, the fea.
lures, Of exquisite delicacy. had GER
tain fine nobility of outline which gave
a lofty expression to the countenance
that was only redeemed from haughti-
ness by the sweetness of the lovely lips
and the softness of the eyes, so large and
dark and splendid that they would have
suficed to lift a plain face into beauty.
Somewhat above the average height, her
figure was nodded in faultless lines, and
che walked with the unconscious grace
which all Mexican women display, and
a proud dignity that seemed specially
her own. Dressed simply but richly in
black. with the lace mantilla draping
her beautiful head, she passed among the
throng like stately young queen among
her subjects
"Of course you mean that lovely girl
In black" said Morell. "She is the most
beautiful woman in Mexico, and one Of
the richest-Dona Zarifa Ornond
Cardella.
"Ormond!' repeated Derwent. Surely
that is not Spanish name?"
mo. Her father-lucky dog-is an
lrishman. The younger son of an Irish
baronet, he married Senorita Cardella,
an only child, and the heiress of prin-
cipality. Ormond, who had little be-
sides good birth and good looks to recon-
mend him when he secured, by sheer
audacity it is said, the lady and the for
tune, has made himself very popular in
Mexico by heartily adopting the country
and managing his wfe's estates admir-
ably. He is a great swell when he comes
to the capital, but he spends the larger
part of his time on some one or other of
his immense haciendas His wife is
dead, and Dona Zarifa, whom you have
Just seen, is sole heiress of one of the
greatest estates in Mexico"
Fate has given her too much" said
Derwent. such beauty, and the for
tune of princessv
"But you must agree that the beauty
and the fortune are well matched. She
looks like a princess, besides being dow
cred as few princesses are. Be sure the
men who hope to marry her would not
have the least charm lessened," he added
with "A laugh.
"Some women should never marry"
one of them. She looks too regal, too
fine, to stoop to any man of ordinary
mold, and men of extraordinary mold
do not abound"
"Most of those in sight would differ
with you" said Morell did you ever
know man who thought himself of
mold too ordinary for any woman to
stoop to? Dona Zarifa has suitors and
to spare. and unless she is very unlike
other women, she would not dispense
with one of them"
"Her looks are deceptive if she is not
unlike other women" said Derwent.
81 should like to glance into the future
and see what she will make of the gifts
fortune has showered on her so lavish
ly-what part she win play in the world;
but probably | should only be disap-
pointed if did"
"Not doubt of it," said Morell. "A
man is always disappointed when
woman whom he admires has the bad
taste to marry another man. | have
heard that Dona Zarifa will probably
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