Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-01-02

perhaps po1t are strong enough rloto for
q little outdoor exercise"
When Derwent opened his eyes the
next morning. bars Of golden sunshine
were lying on the red tiles of the floor
and Ramon stood by his bedside. bearing
the coffee TO which he always looked
forward as a distinct pleasure. His
shoulder WAS less painful, and the recol-
lection that he was to spend an Indefinite
time amid these charming surroundings
was invigorating as tonic. To the
"Buenos dias, senior. Como esta Usted"'
Of Ramon, he answered, "Muy bueno,
gracias," with so much emphasis that
the face of the attendant lighted up with
u bright smile, and he said, "Bueno!
bueno," with an cir Of commendation, as
be set the tray down.
A little later, after the doctor had paid
his visit, and had also said "Buenor' ap-
provingly over the progress of the shout
der, Ramon came in end announced that
el padre desired to see the senior. beg
him to enter" said Derwent, who had
been very much pleased by the gentle,
refined face of the priest. He anticipat-
ed an agreeable visit, in which he could
ask much concerning the country of one
intimately acquainted with its iuner life;
but he was by no means prepared for the
errand on which it soon transpired that
Padre Francisco had come.
"Dona Zarifa, said the priest, after
all due inquiries had been made, thinks
that perhaps You are strong enough now
for little outdoor exercise, and that
you may like to see something of the
hacienda-at least of the portion which
lies Immediately around the casa grande,
II you care to go, she and | will be
happy for you to accompany US on our
usual morning round"
Il shall be delighted" answered Der
went. A man of another stamp might
have been disappointed that he was not
to have tete-a-tete with his fair hostess,
but Derwent was not only too much q
man of the world to have expected such
a thing in country with the customs of
Continental Europe, but he really did
not desire it. He had nothing to say to
Dona Zarifa that the whole world might
not hear; and he was very sure that the
society of the padre would in no degree
detract from the enjoyment of her COM
panionship.
They found her in the court when they
came out, standing under the shade of
one of the Moorish arches, dressed as
Derwent had seen her first, in black, and
drapedwith lace, which she wore in the
graceful Spanish fashion over her head
She gave him her hand, asked how he
was feeling, and IL he was sure that a
walk would not fatigue him. "You must
promise" she said, ''that you will let Us
know as soon as you feel the least weary.
Now, padre mio, think we are ready"
They passed through the wide, vault
ed passage, paved as porte-cochere.
which led to the front Of the house and
out into the arcade, which ran the
length of the long building, and the
great arches Of which framed in sue
cession of pictures the magnificent ex.
panse Of the plain.
Derwent now saw fully, for the frs.
time, the commanding position of the
house. Standing on wide, level emil
nence, which ON one side rolled gently
down to the spreading tableland, it was
inclosed on the other by hills, covered
with verdure, behind which rose the
high crests of greater heights, that,
curving around in the arc of half cir
Gle, lay in splendid masses of blue and
purple on each side of the mesa-their
farthest point forty or fifty miles dis
tant, but looking much nearer in the
clear atmosphere.
"What glorious viewr he exclaimed
mo wonder, senorita, that you like
place which charms you with such pic
lures always before your eyes'
"You should see it during the rainy
season, senor," she answered, smiling,
"when all the plain before us is carpeted
with fiowers-myriads of every kind and
color. 1t is for this reason that the ha-
cienda is called Mirahores.