The record-union., 1892-09-24

broad abyss where once murmured the
waters Of prehistoric sea. Let us return
TO the cool and fragrant security OF the
Generals ranch.
FAT right angles to the main body of the
house extend two wings, thus forming
three sides OF square, the interior of
which is the courtyard. Here the bust
ness OF the establishment is conducted. 1t
is the nyeilest spot on the premises,
though 1t is liyelinesS Of very indolent
sort. The veranda, built around these
sides is twenty feet in breadth, paved
with tiles that have been worn into hol-
lows by innumerable lazy footsteps,
mostly shoeless, for this side of the house
is trequented chiefly by the servants OF
the place. who are Mexican Indians. An
cient wooden settles are bolted TO the
walls, from hooks hang Indian baskets
OF bright colors, i'll one corner are
stretched raw hides which serve as beds.
Small, brown children. half-naked, trot,
Chamber and crawl about. Blach-haired,
swarthy women squat on the tiled floor,
pursuing their yocations, or often doing
nothing at all beyond continuing placid
organic existence. Boys and men saun-
ter In and out OF the courtyard chatting or
calling In their musical patois; once in
Whlle there is thud and clatter Of hoofs,
rider arriving or departing. 1t is an
notony OF small changes and evolutions:
you can sit watching it in half-doze for
twenty years at d stretch and it may seem
only as many minutes, or vice versa.
Most OF the rooms in the wings are used
Tor the Kitchens and other servants
quarters, but one large chamber is de-
voted TO special purpose of the Generals
own-it is a museum, the curiosity-room
he calls 1t. 1t is lighted by two windows
opening on the opposite side, one on the
courtyard, the other on an orange grove
at the south end OF the house. Besides
being in itself cool and pleasant spot. it
is full of interest to any one who cares
about the relics and antiquities of an an
cient and vanishing race, concerning
whom little is or ever will be known.
There are two students in it at this mo-
ment, though whether they are studying
antiquities is another matter. Let us
give ear to their discourse and be in
structed.
but this was made for you to wear,
Miss Trednoke. Try it. 1t tits you per-
tectly, you see. There can be no doubt
about your being princess now!"
Il sometimes feel it-herer' she said,
putting her hand on her bosom. She
was looking at him as she said it, but her
eyes, instead of any longer meeting his,
seemed to turn their regard inward, and
to traverse strange regions not of this
world. ~ see some one who is myself
though can never have been she; she is
surrounded with brightness, and people
not like ours: she thinks of things that 1
have never known. 1t is the memory of
dream, l suppose" she added, in an
other tone.
"Heredity is queer thing. You may
be Aztecan over again in mind and tenn
permanent, and any one knows how i'm
pressions are transmitted. Ii features and
traits OF character why not particular
thoughts and feelings?''
II think it is better not to try to ex-
plain these things" said she, with the
unconscious haughtiness which maidens
acquire who have not seen the world and
are adored by their family. "They are
great mysteries or else nothing,n She
now removed from her head the curious
cap or helmet, ornamented with gold and
with the green feathers OF the humming
bird which her companion had crowned
her with, and hung it on it's nail in the
cabinet. Perhaps the thoughts came
with the cap" she remarked, smiling
slightly. Il don't feel that way any
more. L ought not to have spoken of it,"
u hope the time will come when you
will feel that you may trust me-"
You seem easy 10 know, Mr.. Free
man." she replied, looking at him con-
templatively as she spoke, land yet you
are not. There is one of you that thinks,
and another that speaks. And you are
MeSchlnes that you are to me-"
What is the use of human beings ex-
cept to take one out of ones self"
but 1t is not your real self that comes
out" said Miriam, after little pause.
She never spoke hurriedly, or until after
the coming speech had passed into her
face.
:. Freeman laughed. "Well," he said,
''if Pm a hypocrite Pm one of those who
are made and not born. As a boy was
frank enough. But good part of my
life has been spent with people who could
not be trusted, and perhaps the habit of
protecting myself against them has grown
upon me. If l could only live here
for while it would be different. Here's
an odd-looking thing. What do you call
that?"
1--WE call it the Golden Fleece
The Golden Fleece. / can imagine a
Medea, but where is the Dragon?"
III Jason came, the Dragon might ap-
pear"
II remember reading somewhere that
the Dragon was less to be feared than
Medea's eyes. But this fleece seems to
have lost most of its gold. There is only
little gold embroidery"
1T shows where the gold is hidden"
Its you that are copcealing something
now, Miss Trednoke. How can WOODEN
garment be talisman?"
10.
perhaps" replied Miriam, passing her
fingers caressingly over the soft tunic,
linen, when the right person puts it on
lt would But you don't believe in these
things"
Il don't know. You don't give me a
chance: But who is the right person?
The thing seems rather small. Pm sure
couldn't get 1T on"
1t can tit only the one it was made
for," said Miriam, gravely. 'And if you
wanted to find the gold you would trust
to your science rather than to this.''
ell, gold-hunting is not in my line
at present. Every nugget has been paid
Tor more than once before it is found Be-
sides, there is something better than gold
ln Southern misunderstanding worth
any labor to get"
What is it?" asked Miriam, turning
her tranquil regard upon him.
Harvey Freeman had never been de-
1clent IN audaclty: But, standing in the
dark radiance of this maiden's ewes. his
self-assurance dwindled, and he could
not bring himself to say to her what he
would have said to any other pretty
woman he had ever met. For he felt that
great PRIDE and passion were concealed
beneath that tranquil surface; it was
nature that might give everything to
love and would never pardon any friyo-
lous parody thereof. Freeman had been
acquainted with Miriam scarcely two
days. but he had already begun to per-
ceive the main indications OF a character
which lifetime might not be long enough
wholly to explore. Marriage had never
been among the enterprises he had, in
the course of his career, proposed to him
self. He did not propose it now; yet he
dared no. risk the. utterance of a word
that would lead Miriam to look at him
with an offended or contemptuous glance.
LII was not that she was, from the merely
nj Of