Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1892-01-16

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.
ut is very beautiful" he said. "But
may l ask why you carry it? Ii 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, a
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
l wear pistol it is only for amusement.
am very fond of shooting, and have
not tried my hand lately. l thought
that there might be an opportunity to do
80 today"
1--WE 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 destination was, it ap-
peared, sixteen miles distant-a short
ride over the level plain for horses fresh
and spirited as theirs. 1t was 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 side OF
the beautiful sheet of water was inclosed
by forest clad hills rising abruptly from
its edge.
There is nothing more charming than
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. If the heights that
inclose them are not relatively as i'm
posing as the Alps, they are none the
less noble and majestic in outline and
absolutely enchanting in color. So ii
was with this lake on the beach OF
which the party from Mirahores pres
emily drew rein. They were at its head,
and so commanded magnificent view
of the shimmering azure water spread
ing for miles, bordered on one side by
abrupt green heights that, with the haze
of the distance over them, were draped
in robes of softest blue and purple,
while on the other side of the liquid ex-
panse the great plain stretched to meet
the horizon.
"This is the most beautiful picture
that ] have seen in Mexico" said Der
went, as they paused to admire it.
"What a paradise of color!"
"You will be glad to hear that we
make the rest of our journey by water,
said Don Maurizio. "Here is our boat.
A large, well built rowboat, manned
by four Indian oarsmen, swept around a
headland as he spoke, and came toward
them"
Everything at Mirafores reminds one
more or less Of the Arabian Nights,
observed Derwent, "but really this sug
gests positive enchantment We ride uI
to the shore of wild and lonely lake
not human being is in sight, and yor
do not even clap your hands as a sigma
of arrival, yet here comes boat, ready
to convey you where you will"
ut looks mysterious, admit" said
Don Maurizio with a laugh, "but {
message sent yesterday is the cause oi
the boat being ready, while our ap
proach was not SO unobserved as yor
thought. The house of the man who
looks after the boat is near by, and we
will leave our horses there"
They dismounted and Juan led the
horses away, while the boat was brought
up to q rocky point, from which they
could step into it. Clean and well paint
ed, with crimson cushioned seats, the
little craft lay lightly on the water a:
Dona Zarifa, with smiling salutatior
to the men, took her seat at the rudder
81 like to steer" she said, in answer tt
Derwent's glance, as she gathered the
cords into her slender hands. There
was moments pause. Juan came run
ming lightly over the rocks, the luncheon
bags were safely shipped, and then they
glided out over the shining water
1t was day, scene, an hour o.
which to dreaml Derwent was abso
lutely silent as he sat drinking it all in
sleeping his spirit, as it were, in the
golden charm which he knew would bt
so 6eeting. Every element of the beau
tiful picture added to his enjoyment
while, let his glance wander as it would
over exquisite heights and broad
stretches of cleaning water, it con
stantly returned to dwell on Zarifa Al
she leaned back on the low seat, with
the steering cords in her hands and hel
wide hat shading her face-the "tressy
forehead" with its delicate tendrils Of
dark hair, soft and silky as floss; the
dusky splendor of her eyes, with theil
golden lights, set under perfect brows
the fine straight nose with Its arched
nostrils, and the curving lips, forming
in Solomon's words, "a thread of scar
let" on the creamy softness of her skin.
They rowed three or four miles dow
,, the lake, keeping sometimes near enough
shore to be almost within the shadow o
the hills, and at last entered lovel,