The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-18

that Jose has been partaking too freely of
aguardiente-it is possible. will see the
priest myself: But what possesses theei
Collect thyself. good Nascio."
But the man was still trembling. ut 10
not all, Mother of God! 1t is not all. mas
ter" he stammered. dropping to his knees
and still crossing himself. This morning,
beside the corral, they find the horse Of
Pedro Valdez spiashed and spattered on
saddle and bride and in the stirrup, dost
thou hear, the stirrup, hanging the torn
off boot of Valdez-ah. God the same as
his! Now. do you understand! 1t is his
vengeance-no-Jesus forgive me! 1t is
the vengeance of God"
Clarence was staggered. "And you
have not found Valdez? You have looked
for him 2" he said, hurriedly throwing on
his clothes.
"Everywhere-all over the plain. The
whole rancho has been out since sunrise
here and there and everywhere. And
there is nothing! OF course not; what,
would you?" He pointed soiemnly to
Nonsense said Clarence, buttoning
his coat and seizing his hat. Follow
me-"
He ran down the passage, followed by
Incarnation, through the excited, ges-
ticulating crowd of servants in the patio,
along the wall of the casa toward the
barred window of the boudoir. Then Q
cry came from Incarnation.
They ran quickly forward. Hanging
from the grating of the window like
mass of limp and saturated clothes was
the body of Pedro Valdez, with one I'M
booted foot dangling within an inch of
the ground. His head was passed inside
the grating and fixed rs at that moment.
when the first spring of the frightened
horse had broken his neck between the
bars as in garrote. and the second plunge
of the terrified animal had carried off his
boot caught in the stirrup when it escaped.
CHAPTER XI.
The winter rains were over and gone.
and the whole long line Of California coast
was dashed with color. There were miles
of yellow and red peoples, leagues of lu-
pines that painted the gently rounded
hills with soft primary hues and long, con-
| tinuous slopes-like low mountain sys-
| tems-of daisies and dandelions. At Sac
| ramento 1t was already summer; the
yellow river was flashing and intolerable;
the tule and marsh grasses were lush and
| long; the bloom OF cottonwood and syca-
| more whitened the outskirts of the city,
and as Abner Hopkins and his daughter
| Phoebe looked from the veranda of the
| Placer hotel, accustomed as they were to
the cool trade winds of the Coast valleys,
they felt homesick from the memory of
Eastern heats.
Later. when they were surveying the
long dinner tables at the table d'hote with
something of the uncomfortable and
shame-faced lonliness Of the provincial,
Phoebe uttered slight cry and clutched
her fathers arm. Mr.. Hopkins stayed the
play of his squared elbows, and glanced
inquiringly at his daughters face. There
| was q pretty apimation in it as she pointed
| to figure that had just entered. 1t was
| that of q young man attired in extrava-
| gance rather than the taste of the prevail
| ing fashion, which did not however, in
| the least conceal decided rusticity of
limb and movement A long mustache,
which looked unkempt even in its poma-
TUNED stiffness, and lank, dark hair that
had bent, but never curled under the bar.
heterogeneous assembly.
That's he" whispered Phoebe.
| who 2" said her father
Alas for the Inconsistencies of love. The
blush came with the name and not the
vision. Mr.. Hookeri" she stammered
| Ii was, indeed, Jim Hookerl But the
role OF his exaggeration was no longer the
same; the remorseful gloom in which he
had been habitually STEPPED had changed
into a fatigued yet naughty fastidiousness
more IN Keeping with his fashionable gar.
inen's- lie was more peaceful. yet not en-
sireiy placsbie. and rs he sat down AT a
side table and pulled down his striped
CUTS with his clasped fingers. he cast a
glance OF critical disapproval on the gen.
erai company. Nevertheless, he seemed
10 oe furtively watchful of his effect upon
them, and as one or two whispered and
looked toward him his consciousness be.
came darkly manifest.
All OF which might have intimidated
The gentle rho.be but did NOT discomnose