Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-17

lance Is considerable, and my father has I
business there, we cannot return until
the middle of the afternoon. There
fore thought it well to provide against |
the pangs of hunger: for. though papa |
and myself could take some tortillas ard |
milk at the house of the Ttuchero, you |
know that you do not like tortiEas."
No" he answered with a slight
grimace, Il confess that do not. 1t is
the only Mexican thing don't like"
Then you shall not be forced to eat
them" she said smiling. We will
take our lunch In a pretty place on the
border of the lake. But papa fingers
You may put me up, Mr.. Derwent. and
we will ride slowly forward"
1t was not often that Derwent had this
privilege, for Don Maurizio generally
lifted his daughter into the saddle as
lightly as if she had been an infant. 1t
was an unexpected pleasure, therefore,
to hold out his hand, to have the slen-
der, arched foot placed within it, to aid
her practiced spring into the saddle, and
then to arrange her stirrup and habit
AS, having done this, ne glanced up to
see if there was no other service he could
render, he caught the CLEAN of some
the scant folds of her dress at the side of
her short basque
What he said, involuntarily do
Mexican ladies carry arms alsoP'
She laughed as she drew out from a
pocket at her waist the smallest and
daintiest weapon he thought he had ever
seen-a silver mounted pistol which lay
in his hand like toy, but which. he saw
at once was capable of doing deadly
work
at is very beautiful" he said But
may ask why you carry it? If there is
any danger. surely Don Maurizio and
Juan are sufficiently armed to protect
you-not to speak of myself"
There is no danger" she answered,
little haughtily How could there be
on our own hacienda? If papa puts on
his pistol when he rides out. it is more
from habit than anything else: for there
have been times in Mexico when it was
not safe to be without arms. But when
| wear pistol it is only for amusement
| am very fond of shooting and | have
not tried my hand lately, thought
that there might be an opportunity to do
SO today"
I'VE will make AN opportunity by set
ting up target on the lake." he said, as
he returned the pistol and mounted his
own horse as Don Maurizio came out
and, with an apology for delay. swung
himself on his powerful chestnut.
Their place of dest1 "a. ion was, it ap-
peared, sixteen miles distant-a short
ride over the level plain for horses fresh
and spirited as theirs 1t was a part of
the hacienda which Derwent had never
visited before, and when they drew near
the lake they found themselves in a
more broken country, since one si.le Of
the beautiful sheet of water was inclosed
by forest clad hills rising abruptly from
its edge
There is nothing more charming thar
these lovely lakes which are scattered
over a wide region of the plateau OF
Mexico. Blue as Como or Maggiore
only their own great elevation prevents
their being surrounded by mountain
scenery as grand II the heights thai
inclose them are not relatively as i'm
posing as the Alps, they are none the
less noble and majestic in outline ant
absolutely enchanting in color. So i
was with this lake on the beach O
which the party from Mirafores pres
emily drew rein. They were at it's head
and so commanded a magnificent view
of the shimmering azure water spread
ing for miles, bordered on one side b,
abrupt green heights that. with the haz
of the distance over them, were drapeC
in robes of softest blue and purple
while on the other side of the liquid ex
.'anse the great plain stretched to NEE
the horizon
This is the most beautiful pictur
that | have seen in Mexico" said Del
went. as they paused to admire ii
What paradise Of colorr
, You will be glad to hear that W
q make the rest Of our journey by water,
, said Don Maurizio. Here is our boat.
A large, well built rowboat. name
by four Indian oarsnen, swept around
= headland as he spoke. and came towar
q them.
Everything at Mirahores reminds on
y more or less Of the Arabian Nights.
observed Derwent, but really this sug
:. gests positive enchantment. We ride u
q to the shore of wild and lonely lake
+ not a human being is in sight. and 20
t do not even clap your hands as sign,
:, of arrival. yet here comes a boat, read
j at looks mysterious, ! admit" sal
o Don Maurizio with laugh. "but
a message sent yesterday is the cause {
!, the boat being ready, while our al
h proach was not so unobserved as 20
- thought. The house of the man VIII
r looks after the boat is near by. and W
|. will leave our horses there"
They dismounted and Juan led til
n horses away. while the boat was brougf
e up to a rocky point, from which the
d could step into it. Clean and we'll pain
It ed, with crimson cushioned seats. tt
i little craft lay lightly on the water 1
k Dona Zarifa, with smiling salutatio
a to the men. took her seat at the rudde
Is i like to steer, she said. in answer
It Derwent's glance. as she gathered tt
l cords into her slender hands. The
IS was moments pause, Juan came ru1
* ming lightly over the rocks. the lunchec
ID bags were safely shipped, and then the
n glided out over the shining water.