Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-03

once. Do not let him have the chance
again"
do you think, thcn"- he began, but
before he had finished a sentence she was
gone. mo" she answered lightly as she
fed; 1T do not think; know"
She had given the Englishman plenty
to think of at all events. He had never
been able to quite analyze his feelings for
Ditas nor hers for him. HVhad notion
that she must despise him because he
cou,u GCV ..GO LJI shoot 40 i.ss.J J...,.5
as her brothers and Manuelo could. But
II 1t were possible that Ditas' alterations
of apparent coldness and interest had an
other origin then light was thrown on
Manuelo's probable attitude toward him
self, for Manuelo's attitude toward her
needed no light to be thrown on It, He
was the lover, in the undisguised vet dig
nifled Spanish style, of his beautiful cous-
In. And Ditas feeling was supposed to
be reciprocal. Hitherto the Englishman's
relations to Manuelo had seemed to him
purely those of business, for though he
was out here as the guest Of old Patronez,
working out a return for part of his hos
pitality by labor on the ranch, yet his real
business was with Manuelo, who was rep
resentative of the older branch of the fam
lily owning the mines back in the foot
hills, which it was the Englishman's spe-
cial mission to inspect.
He had come out a month or two before
with the iron bound boxes for carrying
home samples of the ore. He had now
these boxes filled under seal and lock and
key beneath his bed. The mines had been
thoroughly inspected. 1t was constant
reproach to him on Manuelos part that
he would tell nothing of the report which
he should make to his employers-the
English capitalists who might buy the
NINE Manuelo might have argued i'll
from his secrecy, but in truth it was but
part of his English nature. What his
opinion of the mines might be Manuelo
did not know. He only knew that this
secret man had the samples Of ore tightly
locked, and safely kept in that room in
which they slept.
The day after the fire Manuelo left the
ranch and went up into the mountains to
the mines.
AS the days drew on the Englishman
felt that he could no longer with decency
prolong his visit. Already he had well
outstaid the limit which he had mental
ly fixed for himself on his arrival He
was scarcely conscious of the attraction
which had kept him lingering on in that
fairy land of humming birds and flrefies
and all fair sights and scenes. When he
did grow conscious that the attraction was
Ditas, the necessity grew but the more pat
ent for breaking it. he must go. The
idea that there was anything of mutual
feeling was absurd. He must go before
the tie grew more binding.
These great haciendas in the midst of
desolation as big as an English county are
places of rest and refreshment for all and
sundry. All are welcome. The English
man knew nothing of the customs. He
knew not whether to offer payment for the
hospitality he had received, but in the end
his tact saved him from this blunder. He
thanked his host with the gratitude owed
to free hospitality and went his way, re-
solved to send out from England present
which should be something in the way of
a return.
Old Patronez sent him in the wagon O
days journey across the prairie to the sta
ton where he could take the narrow gauge
train. In the body of the wagon were his
boxes of ore and his personal luggage. By
Ditas as he parted from her, he had sent
farewell message to Manuelo, who was
still at the mines. What was the strange
look in Ditas' lovely dark Spanish eyes2
he asked himself as he said farewell. Had
he answered the question Alright he might
never have set out ON his journey.
You will keep lookout as you drive"
she said. Il cannot think what Mauuelo
is doing. He knows you are going. "
How do you know that he knows" the
Englishman asked.
II know many things" she answered
tightly. my little hawk tells them to
me-"
"Goodby," he said "You will write to
me sometimes in England"
"Adiosl Yes, if you will write to me. "
1t seemed to the Englishman that her eyes
were swimming as she said the words, but
1t might have been but the swimming In
his own which obscured his clear vision.
"Goodbyl" He choked down a sob and
sprang into the wagon.
Then all through the day behind the
team of six mules they jolted and toiled
over the prairie, now and again dipping
into clump of ebony, variegated by the
white cluster of the San Paolo palm,
which has deluded so many traveller by
its likeness to a whitened chimney top
In the end they came about shutdown to
the little station, without sight of a hui
man being save q horseman, fully armed,
Mexican fashion, with sword and pistol as
well as rifle, ambling along on pacing
horse They were an hour and half in
advance of the train If the latter was
punotual, which was improbable. 1t grew
dark. The Mexican women at their little
orange booths lighted their torch fires. At
length a growing hustle betokened the
approach of the time for the train. The
station became thinly peopled, chiefly with
loiterers come to enjoy the spectacle The
Englishman expressed" his portmanteau
and his precious boxes, keeping charge
himself of his hand valise Presently the
train steamed in. He stepped ON board,
with his eyes blinking in the unaccustom-
ed gaslight. He went to the Pullman car,
where he found a vacant compartment,
and sat down to await with patience the
pleasure of the porter in getting ready his
sleeping berth.
He glanced at his fellow passengers with
the injurious eye of a constant traveller,
then gave himself over to his thoughts, in
which Ditas played a cruelty large part.
Even now the temptation was strong on
him to get off at the next station and 20
back to try his fortune with her. Yet
still-no-surely her certain scorn of him
as lover would be harder to bear than
her tolerance of him as friend. For an