The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-29

,.,,,., % our performance-but I do not
.tG,r' we would have contemplated I'M
s,cn without it. During one OF ouI it i'i',
axrursions we were 10 secure tne 81 -,
eN0u p,othodIst minister In the ad1oinihB
oI "a and later that OF the Mission
padre' when the secret was out. VIM
~ her away" said Enriquez confidently.
81 viii on the instant propitiate inc oin
and withhold his jaw y little cnin il lbsI
srnn, your onkle Array shai
finish ~ Remain tranquil-and iorset d mo-
a ring! one does not always IN asonS .imeI
dissatisfaction OF the moment, TINS
remember. I shall bring two In the pocK-
ct OF my dress ,.,.
n did not entirely participate In thus
roseate view It may have been because
Enriquez. although Few years my
senior. was much younger looking anu
With his dernure deviitry OF eye, ahd ms
unner lip-ciose shaven for this occasion
he suggested depraved acoiyte rather
than responsible member or lai..lS,
Consuelo had also conhded 10 me thal
her father possibly owing 10 some ru-
mors OF our previous escapade, had Tor
hidden any further excursions WIN me
alone. The innocent man ala nor knC"
that Chu Chu had forbidden IL also, ana
that even In this mOmentouS occasion
both Enriquez and myself were ooiife4
To ride in opposite fields Ike out-nankers
But we nevertheless felt the tH'i belle
OF disobcdionce added 10 our ueEpcl"',,
enterprise. MtslllNulit tiAH'Nc'
for time and subject TO discovery az any
moment. / managed at certain points on
the road 10 dismount ana Walk pest,,e
Chu Chu who did not seem 70 recos M 1
mo on foot holding Cor SueloS mana ~
NV own. with the discreet Enriquez lead
ing my horse IN the distant field re-
tain a very vivid picture OF that wax
the ascent Of gentle slope TOWARDS =
prospect as yet unknown but run OF
glorious possibilities; the tender drop,
ping Of an autumn sky, slightly nlneh
with the promise OF the future rains
like foreshadowed tears. and the hair
frightened. half-serious tax INTO , wnlch
Consuelo and ] had insensibly fallen:
And then--I don't know how II happened
but as We reached the summit Gnu Gnu
suddenly reared wheeled, and the next
moment was flying back along the ROAD
we had Just Travelled at the top OF heT
speed. II might have been that after her
distracted fashion she only at that mo-
ment detected my presence-hut so sud-
den and complete was her evolution that
before ] could regain my horse from the
astonished EnriqUeZ. she was already a
quarter Of a mile ON the homeward
stretch. with the frantic Consuelo pulling
hOpelessly at the bride We started tn
pursuit. But horrible despair seized US.
To attempt to oVertake her-to even fol-
low at the same rate Of speed-would
only excite Chu Chu and endanger Con
suelO's life. There was absolutely no help
for it-nothinR could be done-the mare
had taken her determined long. continu-
Gus Stride-the road was straight. steady
descent all the way back 10 the Village
Chu Chu had the bit between her teeth.
and there was no prospect Of swervins
her We could only follow hOpelessly
idiotically, furiously-untii Gnu Gnu
dashed trumphantly into the SaltellO S
courtyard, carrying the haif-faintsng Con
suelO back 10 the arms Of her assembled
and astonishel family.
II was our last ride together II was
the last | ever saw Of COnsueiO before
her transfer 10 the safe SeclusiOn Of q
convent in southern California. II was
the last | ever saw OF Chu Chu. VINO
iu the confusion OF that recoDtr" was
overlooked in her half loosed harness,
and allowed TO escape through the back
gate TO the fields. Months afterwards IL
was said that she mad been identliled
among n band Of wild horses In the
Coast Range. as q strange ana beautiful
creature who had assumed the brand OF
the rodeo and had become as myth.
There was another legend that she had
been seen-slcel, fat, and SorgeouSlF
caparisoned-isSuing from the gateway
OF the Rosario patio before a numbering
Spantsh Gabrielle IN which a short stout
natron was seated--bct / Will have
none of H. For there are days when she
still lives. and can see her plainly
stll climbing the gentle slope towards
the summit with Consuelo on her back,
and myself at her side-pTessing eagerly
forward towards the hiintable prospect
that opens in the distance.