Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-10-29

swered. up to the present time al
Mexicos social and commercial inter
course has been with Europe rather thai
with her immediate neighbor Their
was very good reason for this. as yol
know. have no excuse to make for IN,
countrymen. senorita. The graspini
propensities of the Anglo-Saxon are. I'm
fortunately, well known. And the mar
row minded vanity which induces hin
to fancy himself the exemplar of the hu
man race is not less remarkable.
"You are not very complimentary I,
your countrymen. she said, showing he
pearly teeth in another smile
"Why should be complimentary" h
asked why should not one try t,
clear ones mind even of natural preju
dice and get as near the truth rs possible
in this very imperfect world? Ever,
race has les defaults de ses qualities. Blu
it is great mistake to confound the de
fects with the virtues"
Eyes" she said meditatively. .'that il
very true. Mexicans have undoubtedly
some defects, although | really think
and it is not only because too am q
Mexican-that they have also great vir
tues"
"Even from the little that have seen
of them. | am very sure of it," said Der.
went heartily. "But you, senorita. can
hardly consider yourself altogether a
Mexican"
81 do, however" she said lifting her
head little higher with pride that be-
came it we'll 81 am Mexican in heart
and SOUL as well as in blood and birth.
1t is true that my dear father comes of
another race; but he will tell you that he
is altogether Mexican now"
81 am glad that he has at least not
laid aside his knowledge of English. and
that you condescend to speak it also. :"
said Derwent smiling.
But here comes one who does not. y
said the Young lady rising.
Derwent rose, too, as an elderly lady
entered the room. He knew her at once
as Dona Zarifa's companion when he saw
the latter in the Alameda--a handsome,
middle aged woman. very brunette and
inclined to embonpoint. as all Spanish
women are after certain age. With a
few words of greeting she held out soft.
kindly hand to Derwent. who bowed
over it.
This is my cousin, Sonora Peralta,
said Dona Zarifa "She hopes you are
If you speak French you
can answer her in that language"
Derwentdid speak French with fiuency,
SO he answered Sonora Peralta's inquiry.
and then, in reply to other questions,
gave a circumstantial history of his
wound and all relating to it. Both ladies
to him attentively. and the sub
ject was hardly exhausted when Don
Maurizio came in.
"Ah, Mr.. Derwent." he said cordially,
II am delighted to see you here. You
look better already. A little society is
4 good thing; although | must warn
you that we can offer You very little
variety in that line at Mirahores."
Derwent replied very sincerely that it
was impossible to desire better society
han he found at Mirafores. but j
nave heard, he said, THAT most Mexi.
;an proprietors of large estates do not
i've on them, because of their loneli-
less"
ut is, unfortunately. true" answered
lis host. 1.-THE estates are generally so
arge, and the distances from one to
mother so great, that wealthy Mexicans
10 not, as rule, live on their haciendas,
kept for few weeks in the course of
he year"
THAT is what was told when | ex-
'ressed desire to see something of life |
N a hacienda, said Derwent. mo |
'ody lives on the haciendas but the
gents, was assured. There is no life
here of the kind you fancy. Mexicans
f the higher class all live in the capital
+ abroad.
ALLOWING for the exceptions" said
ION Maurizio, THAT was correct state
lent And the consequence is that half
be haciendas Of Mexico are for sale,
estined before long to pass into the
ands of aliens. When men leave their
states in the control of agents the re-
alt is mismanagement in all respects.
Who knows this better than an Irish.
lan9 Absenteeism has been the curse
my country, and it is in great de-
rec the curse Of Mexico. So when be-
lme Mexican determined that |
ould not follow the prevailing fashion.
reat estates came into my hands. and
resolved at once to administer them
yself. Ihaye done so for twenty years.
nd | am rather proud of the result
And You have not found it very irk-
me to live on haciendas-
81 cannot understand how man can
nd anything irksome which is in the
ear line of duty and which affords
'undant occupation for his hands and s
'ad. have found infinite pleasure as
ell as infinite employment in my life.
n lrishman from Galway naturally 8
yes everything connected with "A free. 9
Itdoor life. and | have taught my l
tighter to love it as well as do my
IT, She is an enthusiastic horsewom-
j. and we live in the saddle half our
ne. BY the by. if you like riding /
n give you good mount