Los Cerrillos rustler. (Cerrillos, N.M.) 188?-1891, 1891-06-05

trrsN I went with her O. thc store.
and she searched very quietly In every
place where Il was possible that the
money could have been druppcd uuno-
ticed Maria had written down the
number 81 the note. and said that she
had also marked itwith worcd crosses
that she might always identify IL /
made her promise not 70 speak without
my consent but my heart began 10
grow sad. for circumstances looked
black against poor Mary.
III that girl Is guilty. I shall never
trust a mortal ON earth, said l.
Il feel Just ~ you do, brother john
said Maria. ''and then how ] pity poor
David"
l went home 20 tea with my brothers
widow, hut we did not feel like eating.
She promised not 10 come down TO the
| store until I sent for her next day, and
seemed very mcrciful and tendertoward
the unhappy girl.
1 had never liked Maria as well as !
did that evening. / couldn't help want
ing 10 kiss her. so | arose 90 say good
night" and came around the tea table
20 take her hand. when my coat caught
IN a little willow w~ork-basket that
stood by, all full Of sewing, and, Of
course. IL tumbled over. out rolled
spools and thimblcs and buttons and
scissors and as / stopped 10 gather
them up ! saw n small door.sey, tied
with n narrow black ribbon, and with
a deep notch cut into the handle.
felt my heart stop beating, but had
presence OF mind enough 10 catch up
the key unseen and put II back In the
basket
Yes, Il was .dary's doorkcy. How
did Il happen TO be in Maria's basket?
| dared not linger any longer with my
brothers widow. but went home and
walked the floor all night The mo-
ment had seer the key | remembered
Mary saying they would leave the other
KEY under the door-mat, and from tina,
/ determined on my mode OF action.
In the morning I went to the store
and told them ! should be absent al
day. Then in a short time ! was a'
Mary's home, where, as ] had expected
/ found the key under the door-mat
By its aid | was soon inside, and, after
T, locking the door after me, / walked
about trying 10 find a hiding place.
felt like u thief as | walked around the
small room that Mary had left in sucl
! order. with many n dainty touch herr
: and there TO add TO its attractiveness
In one corner was a closet. whore
. few garments hung upon hooks. Int
|, the place | wentAnd sat down upon Al
old trunk and waited.
As | sat there | felt more than one
like a mean. suspicious villain. aske'
myself: us this the way you take ear
of your brothers widow" But all tn
: same | kept on waiting and whispering
: May the Lord forgive me II | al
wrong"
. lheard the town clock strike the hour
! ten, eleven and twelve-and 500
y afterward | heard Il noise at the doc
: Quickly closing the closet, | left ju'
II enough room to watch what happened
~ There was another tap-a pausc-an
~ then the door opened slowly and Mar.
entered. Quickly she looked about Il
y room, then shut the door, locked 1t, al
* hurried across the floor. AS quick
- she lifted up the mattress OF the sma
~ white bed, and taking a red pocketboo
IN from out Of q package, thrust 1t und'
and pulled the covers neatly about u
i, bed again.
God forgive you, woman! WI
have you done this?" | cried, burstir
!. out of my hiding place. She turn'
and faced me, looking white with RAJ
and despair at being detected. st
~ she could not hold her venomo'
~ tongue.
Nc well. | didn't know Miss Ma
Owen entertained gentlemen In h
Io bedroom" she said, with n regul
vixenish look.
" MARIA, hush. you know you u
talking nonsense. | have been here
long while waiting for You. | kn'
you would come, for saw Mary's k
n in your basket last night. Now bril-
10 me that pocketbook."
She obeyed me. Pale as death,
=, " saw she was overwhelmed. and ] pitt
her.
After all she was my brothe
1, widow and he asked me TO be kind
her.
nm Now Maria, | will never speak
ms this TO a human being If you "
promise me W. things"
in- well, tell me what they are, for
red can t help myself" she said, in a sui
err tone.
You must let me manage the bl
i've ness to suit myself, and you must &
our that hundred-dollar bill to Mary Ov
e." for Il wedding present"
see Il won't do IT," she exclaimed,
one look ut me made her change
mind.
uld About a month after that we all
tended a quiet wedding in MAJ
girl house. and Maria was there, an h