Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-07-01

Eustaqula: every one else had gone to
the gardens, and she told me that you
were here"
Chonita's heart was beating as fast it
had beaten that morning; even her hands
shook little. A glad wave of warmth
rushed over her. She turned to him i'm
petuously. Tell mer' she exclaimed,
why do feel like this for you? hate
you; you know that. There are many
reasons-fve; you counted them. And
yet feel excited, almost glad. at your
coming. This morning l was disap-
pointed when you did not. Tell me-
you know everything and SO little
why is it?'
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes terri
fed and appealing. She looked very love-
ly and natural. Probably for the first
time in his life Estenega resisted temp
t&tion. He passionately wished to take
her in his arms and tell her the truth
But he was too clever a man. Their
was too much at stake If he frightenet
her now he might never even see hei
again. Moreover. she appealed to his
chivalry. And it suddenly occurred to
him that 80 sweet heart would be
warped in its waking if passion bewil
dered and controlled her first.
"Dona Chonita," he said, like all
women-all beautiful and spoiled WON
en-you demand variety. | happen t.
be made of harder stuff than your cabal
leros, and you have not seen me for two
months. That is all"
"And if saw you every day for two
months, would no longer care whether
you came or wentY
"Undoubtedly.'
"Is it sweet or terrible to feel this
way?" thought the girl Would re-
gret if he no longer made me tremble, or
would l go on my knees and thank the
Blessed Virgin?" Aloud she said: 1T
was strange for me to ask you such
questions; but it is as if you had some
thing in your mind separate from your
self, and that it would tell me and you
could not prevent its being truthful |
do not believe in you. You look as If
nothing were worth the while to lie or
tell the truth about; but your mind is
quite different. 1t seems to me that it
knows all things; that it is as cold and
clear as ice"
"What whimsical creature you arel
NV mind, like myself feel as if | were
twins-is at your service. Forget that
am Diego Estenega. Regard me as
sort of archive of impressions which may
amuse or serve you as the poorest of your
books do. That they happen to be cata-
logued under the general title Of Diego
Estenega is a mere detail-an accident,
for that matter-they might be pigeon
holed in the skull of Bandini or Pico
l happen to be the magnet; that is all.
IF l could forget that You were an
Estenega-just for q week-while you
are here" she said wistfully.
"You are woman of will and imag-
Nationalist of variety. Make an ex
pertinent. 1t will interest you. OF course
there will be times when you will be bit
terly conscious that / am the enemy of
your house; it would be idle to expect
otherwise; but when we happen to be
apart from disturbing influences let us
agree to forget that we are anything but
two human beings deeply congenial. As
for what said in the garden at Mon
terey the last time we spoke together. |
will not bother you"
"You no longer carer" she exclaimed.
II did not say that. said would not
bother you-recognizing your hostility
and your reasons. Be faithful to your
traditions, my beautiful Doomswoman
No man is worth the sacrifice of those
dear old comrades. What presumption
for man to require you to abandon the
cause of your house, give up your
brother, sacrifice one or more of your re-
| hgious principles-one. too, who would
open his doors to the Americans you
hatel No man is worth such a sacrifice
as that"
No" she said, mo man." But she
said it without enthusiasm.
"a man is but one; traditions are sew
enfold and multiplied by duty. Poor
grain of sand-what can he give com
parable to the cold serene happiness Of
fidelity to self? Love is sweet-horribly
sweet-but so common q madness can
give but tithe of the satisfaction of
duty to pure and lofty ideals"
II do not believe that" The woman
in her arose in resentment. "A life of
duty must be empty, cold and wrong
1t was not that we were made for"
"Let us talk little of love, senorita.
It is dangerous subject"
But it interests me, and should like
to understand it."
II will explain the subject to you fully
some day, have fancy to do that on
my own territory-up in the redwoods"
Here is Prudencia."
A small black figure swept down the
steps of the church. She bowed low to
Estenega when he was presented, but ut
tered no word. The Indian servants
brought the horses to the door, and they
rode down the valley to Casa Grande.
UVJIND