The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-27

hexagonal towers at diagonal corners.
Sentries paced the ramparts with unre-
mitting vigilance.
Within were the long, low building
occupied by the governor and officers,
the barracks, and the Russian church,
with its belfry and cupola. Beyond was
the "town," collection Of huts accom-
modating about 500 Indians and Siberian
convicts, the workingmen OF the COM
pany. All the buildings were OF redwood
logs or planed boards and made very
different picture from the white towns
of the south.
Estenega threw his bride to soldier
and went directly to the house. A serv-
ant met him on the veranda and con-
Quoted him 10 his room. IL was late and
every one else was dressing for dinner.
He changed his riding clothes for the
evening dress of modern civilization and
went at once TO the drawing room. Here
all was luxury, nothing TO suggest the
privations Of new country. A thick,
red carpet covered the floor, red arras
the walls; Mozart and Beethoven were
on the grand piano. The furniture was
rich and comfortable; the large, carved
table was covered with French novels
and European periodicals.
The candles had not been brought in,
but logs blazed in the open fireplace.
AS Estenega crossed the room a woman
dressed in black rose from deep chair,
and he recognized Chonita. He sprang
forward impetuously and held out his
arms, but she waved him back.
"No, no." she said hurriedly. 81 want
TO explain why am here. / came for
two reasons. First, l could refuse the
Princess Helene no longer; she goes so
soon. And then-I wanted TO see you
once more before leave the world"
Before you do what"
~ am not going into convent; / can
not leave my father. am going to re-
tire to the most secluded of our ranches
10 sec no more of the world or its people.
/ shall take my father with me. Rel
naldo and Prudencia will remain at Casa
Grande."
"Nonsenser he exclaimed impatient
ly. "Do you suppose shall let you do
ANYTHING of the sort? How little you
know me, my Lowell But we will discuss
that question later. We shall be alone
only few moments now. Tell me of
yourself How are your"
II will tell you that also at another
time"
And at the moment door opened, and
the governor and his wife appeared and
greeted Estenega with cordial hospital
ity. The governor was a fine looking
man, with courteous, affable manners.
The blend harmonious loveliness of the
princess was properly framed in toilet
of mignonotte greens, fresh from Paris.
A momerc<later Reinaldo and Prudencia
appeared, the former as splendid a
caballero as ever, although wearing the
chastened air of matrimony; the latter
prematernally consequential. Then came
the officers and their wives, all brilliant
in evening dress, and q moment later
they went to the dining room.
Estenega sat at the right Of his host
ess, and that trained daughter of the
salon kept the table in light ripple of
conversation, sparkling herself without
striking terror to the hearts of her
guests. She and Estenega were old
friends and usually INDUCED in lively
sallies, ending sometimes in a sharp war
of words, for she was very clever wom-
an, but tonight he gave her absent at
tention. He watched Chonita furtively
and thought of little else.
Her eyes had darker shadows beneath
them than those cast by her lashes. Her
face was pale and slightly followed. She
had suffered and not for her mother.
"She shall suffer no more" he thought.
"We hunt bear tonight" he heard the
governor say at length.
81 should like to CO." said Chonita
quickly. "Ishould like togo out tonight"
Immediately there was chorus from
all the other women excepting the Prin-
cess Helene and Prudencia. They want
ed to go too. Rotscheff, who would
much rather have left them at home,
consented with good grace, and Estene-
gas spirits rose at once. There was pros
pect Of talk with Chonita that night
something he had not dared to hope for
and he suspected that she had promot-
ed the opportunity.
The men remained in the dining room
after the ladies had withdrawn, and Es-
tenega, restored TO his normal condition
and in his natural element among these
people of the world, expanded into the
high spirits and conviyial interest in
masculine society which made him as
popular with men as he was attractive
through the exercise of more subtle facul-
ties with woI2en. Reinaldo watched
him with jealous impatience. No one
cared to listen TO his eloquence when
Estenega talked, and he had come to
Fort Ross only for the purpose of having
a conversation with his one time enemy.
AS he listened to Estenega, shorn for
the time being of his air of dictator and
and watchful ambition, n man of the
world taking an enthusiastic part in the
hilarity of the hour, but never sacrific-
ing his dignity by assuming the role Of
chief entertainer, there grew within him
dull sense of inferiority. He felt
rather than knew that neither the City
of Mexico nor gratifed ambitions would
give him that assured ease, that perfec-
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