The herald., 1893-12-25

from ehcn SIDE TO the centcr, anu slueWdiks
were never dreamed of by that simple peo-
Pile Here and there a little path ran along
the uneven ground under the walls to avoid
the pools OF water in the rainy season.
These followed from habit more than
necessity, for the street t was dry and clean.
But walking in the middle Of a street nev-
er did look riaht-to ME. was not GER
tain of the place Carlotta had pointed out "a
place looks so differently by day to what it
does at night, but paused and walked
more slowly when / supposed | had come
TO it.
A high wall ran along the street for a
long distance and over it were visible the
tops of orange and fig trees. A narrow door
(how longed To stop and look through its
crevicc-5) pierced it about the middle, and
near the corner was u smaller door, which
had no crevices. | passed on and looked
down the cross street, upon which stood
large stone house. This was sure was the
house, and was about to turn down, when
the little door opened and boy ran out,
beckoning me to follow him in. did so
without moments hesitation, and he
locked, the door stealthily and took out the
key.
This way senor," said he, and started
at quick pace down one of the shell walks
which travcrscd the garden in every direc-
ton. He hurried me so fast and was SO
agitated that had hardly time to notice
the beauties of one of the most charming
retreats | ever beheld The grounds were
not extensive, containing perhaps not more
than three acres, but within that small
space we're crowded charms which would
have beauti6ed ten times the extent.
Over all this scene of enchantment hung
veil of repose, and the air was as still as
we see it on q summer day in the country.
The silence was broken only by the hum
ming Of bees and the murmuring of the
streamlets as they lnved the vines which
hung in the ripples, swinging lazily up and
down. When placed my foot upon fiat
stone, which led across one of these, heard
the echo come back from the wall, and the
boy held up his finger to enjoin caution.
l followed him in silence almost to the
end of the garden, when, crossing stream
and turning suddenly to the left, he pointed
me to rustic summer house and turned
back. Two vines were SO bent as to
form an opening, and a mass of matted
vines hung swinging over it for shutter.
| drew this aside and found myself in the
presence of Carlotta.
/ She sat half reclining in a hammock of
silk cord, swung across from tree to tree,
and was dressed in the usual afternoon
costume of the country; loose flowing
/ robe of white muslin, not confined at the
waist, but lett loose alternately to hide and
disclose the sweeping contour of her form.
Her hair was arranged in heavy madonna
I plaits, only confined at the end and falling
loosely over her spotless neck. She wore
small red morocco slippers, but when / en-
tered one of them had fallen off and was
| lying on the ground, and the foot from
which it had fallen was hanging coquet-
tishly over the cord of the hammock, and
alas covered by no stocking. She had
large, swimming black eyes, a small, pout-
( ing mouth. red lips and clear though
/ somewhat brunette complexion.
"Bueuos tardi. senor," she said, at the
same time throwing fold of her robe over
her blue veined foot, not, however, until it
/ was plain that she wished me to see it first.
"Sentarse, senor," she continued, draw
ing up h.r feet and pointing to the end of
/ the hammock, where l was not long in
seating myself. Reaching over the side Of
the hammock, she took up small maquey
basket filled with oranges, figs and grapes
and presented it to me with one of those
smiles which only southern coquette
knows how to use. | took an orange, and
we began to talk.
"How long will you be in Merida?" she
asked.
'As long as l can enjoy myself" re-
piled, "and that promises Il long visit"
She turned those large eyes upon me
searchingly and asked:
is there anything in Merida to interest
yonS"
"Oh, muchl' exclaimed; more, much
more than had imagined"
Until whenP" she inquired quickly, still
I gazing at me.
Until last night,"I replied, returning
the look with interest.
''At the fandangos" she pursued.
"Yes; and on the balcony, in the moon
light" | answered.
She turned the conversation most abrupt
| ly, but in such manner as to let me see
that it cost her an effort. We talked for an
hour of Indifferent things, she always turn
ing away from personal topics as soon as
we had approached them nearly enough to
feel that we were upon uncertain ground.
/ was too near her. Her glances and tones
were too ardent for this to last long. l was
young, impulsive, giddy headed and full
hearted. | threw my arm around her
waist and poured ont, fear, very inco-
/ herent medley of English, French and
! Spanish She hid her face, blushing and
trembling, but as | proceeded she timidly
raised her eyes and listened quietly, max
ing no effort to escape my arm.
Indeed | could see plainly enough that
she was pleased. | knew that in a minute
should press my lips to hers unresisted.
was just about to do SO, when noise be
hind like the jumping of heavy man
from the top of the wall made me start
! ard spring to the ground. Before | could
reach the door, however, the vines were
jerlled aside and o. Farrell strode hastily in.
''Iom, my boyr' he exclaimed without
noticing Carlotta, you must come away
from here, quick. | haven't even time to
tell you why till we get into the street.
! Gomez he continued, dragging me almost
off my feet, this way ovcrthe wall. QuickP'
Scarcely knowing what | was about,
leaped down into the street. Jerry fol
lowed, and seizing my arm he hurried me
away down small narrow street and by
circuitous route to the nleson.
you are young and impIudentr' he ex-.
claimed almost breathicss, as we at last
! slackened our pace Il wouldn't have you
killed for all old De la Torres wealth.
"killedln said |. What do you meanW
"Meanl Why, mean if you had staid
there Is minutes longer you would have
been dead man! | saw the skClking ras-
cal Benito talking to the same cutthroat
he hired last year TO shoot at me. man
aged to listen, and sou can guess what
heard frorl what l did. You must be
more careful. You are young and green"