Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-12-12

"HOto are you feeling todny Mr Der lCentT
 1t is worth a journey to the Sierra | Madre to see Miraflores, said a 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 obstruct this glorious view, with its limitless turquoise sky above, it's shift ing shadows falling here and there, and the wonderful sense of vast space, of boundless freedom and all the conditions of a wild, romantic, patriarchal life which these immense tablelands of Mex ico suggest
 As he lay Tn 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 at 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 pie turesque and extensive than anything at Tacubaya.
 Meanwhile his immediate surround ings were pleasant enough to have satis- fled 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, pretty toilet table of French pattern, a center table also French in design, the slender, curving legs of which were faithfully reflected in the glistening floor, while on it stood a bowl of splendid roses. The couch on which he lay was covered with pretty SlllI ILs CtS were dISO two or three easy chairs; rugs were scattered over the floor, and on a small table beside him was a crystal dish hedped 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 a court, which with its oriental arches and brightly frescoed walls, it's tropical plants and fountain, delighted Derwent' $ eye whenever he obtained 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 | tiOn of extracting the ball from his shoulder he had been partially delirious l from fever and weakness, and had seen as in 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 l 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
 
 nance, with gentle dark eyes and masses of black, curling hair, which belonged to the delft, 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 muct | 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 a servant.
 The soundness of his constitution soor asserted itself, The fever yielded after a few days, and the wound began to hea in a satisfactory manner But he wa. exceedingly weak, and it was only witt RamOn's assistance that he could wall from his bed to the couch by the window where he had now lain for two days, in haling the fresh. delicious air as it came to him over leagues of space, and feast ing his gaze on the wide, beautiful scene. With returning strength came deep sense of gratitude for the wonder ful chance which had thrown him int, such kindly hands and brought him t, this charming place.
 It is not to be supposed that alnon4 elements of pleasure around him he ig nored the probability of seeing again tn beautiful face that had so attracted hin in the Alameda of Mexico and the plazi of Guadalajara But illness dulls al emotions save those of pain, and whel pain ceases, this in itself is pieasur enough for time. AS he grew bette he wondered little if Dona Zarifa wa at the hacienda; but no one had men toned her name, and, had his interes been much keener than it was, he would still have felt that it was not fitting fo him to make any inquiry On the subject But in fact his interest was not yer, keen; and, although the idea of meetin: her was pleasant prospect, he would not have been very much disappointed had this anticipation not been fulfilled.
 While he was lying wondering ittl' -