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


The evening before the wedding Pru-
dencia covered her demure self with
black gown and reboso, and accompanied
by Chonita went up to the mission to
make her last maiden confession. Cho-
nita did not go with her into the church,
but paced up and down the long corri-
dor of the wing, gazing absently upon
the deep. wild valley and peaceful ocean,
seeing little beyond the images in her
own mind.
That morning Alvarado and several
members of the junta had arrived, but
Estenega was not with them. He had
come as far as the Rancho Temblor, Al
varado explained, and there meeting
some old friends had decided to remain
over night and accompany them the
next day to the ceremony. AS Chonita
had stood ON the corridor and watched
the approach of the governors cavalcade
her heart had beaten violently, and she
had angrily acknowledged that her nerv-
business was due to the fact that she was
about to meet Diego Estenega again.
When she discovered that he was not of
the party she turned to me with pique.
resentment and disappointment in her
face.
Even if cannot ever like him" she
said. "at least | might have the pleasure
of hearing him talk There is no harm
in that, even if he is an Estenega, a rene
gade and the enemy of my brother
can hate him with all my heart and like
him with my mind. And he must have
cared little to see us again, that he could
linger for another day"
be Il am mad to see Don Diego Este
mega" said Valencia, her red lips pout-
ing why did he, of all Others, tarry?"
"He is tickle and perverse," l said.
"the most uncertain man know"
Perhaps he thought to make us wish
to see him the more, suggested Valencia.
mo" | said. ''he has no ridiculous
vanities."
Chonita wandered back and forth be-
hind the arches, waiting for Pruden-
cia's long confession of sinless errors to
conclude.
What has baby like that to con-
fess?" she thought impatiently. she
could not sin if she tried She knows
nothing of the dark storms of rage and
hatred and revenge which can gather in
the breasts of stronger and weaker be-
ings. never knew, either, until lately;
but the storm is so black dare not face
it and carry it to the priest. am sort
of human chaos. and wish were dead.
l thought to forget him, and see him
as plainly as on that morning when he
told me that it was he who would send
my brother to prison"
She stopped short with little cry.
Diego Estenega stood before the mission
in the broad swath of moonlight. She
had heard horse gallop up the valley,
but had paid no attention to the familiar
sound. Estenega had appeared as sud-
denly as if he had arisen from the earth.
ut is !, senorita." He assembled the
mission steps. ''Do not fear. May !
kiss your hand?"
She gave him her hand, but withdrew
it hurriedly. Of the tremendous mystery
of her sex she knew almost nothing.
Girls were brought up in such ignorance
in those days that many a bride ran
home to her mother on her wedding
night, and books teach innocence little.
But she was fully conscious that there
was something in the touch of Estenega's
lips and hand that startled while it
thrilled and enthralled.
II thought you staid with the Riveras
tonight" she said. Oh, blessed conven-
tionalitiesl