The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-22

denly become aware Of my baleful OK
istence. The saddle and bride she was
slowly becoming accustomed 10, puV
who was tuls living. breathing opJr.l
that had actually touched neI fIt7rnl-
~ her oblique vision was attracted 10y
the nuttering movement of fallen OAK
leaf in the road before her she nad
probably seen many oak leaEes man
times before. her ancestors had 30 doubt
been familiar with them on the track
less hills. and i'm field and paddock. but
this did not alter her profound conVlc-
fi0n chat I and the Leaf were Identical
that our balcful touch was something
indissOIubly connected. She reared before
that innocent leaf. she reVONei around
il. and then fled from IL at the top OF
her speed.
The lane passed before the rear wall
of Saiteiio'S garden. Unfortunately az
the angle of the fence stood beautiful
NadrOne tree, brilliant with it's scarlet
berries, and endeared 10 me as Con-
suelos faVorite haunt, under whose pro-
tcctiug shade ] had more than once
avowed my youthful passion. by the
irony Of fate Gnu chm caught sight of
IL, and with succession Of spirited
bounds instantly made for H. In another
moment l was beneath il and Chu Chu
shot like a rocket into The air ! had
barely time TO withdraw my feet from
the strrups 10 throw up one arm To pro-
tcct my glazed sombrerO and grasp an
oVerhanging branch with the other be
fore Gnu Chu darted OF. But 10 my con-
fIf Il4t Llbllt DIS kffllt'l 70 Hff Ifflfu iI
the tree, and looked about me, I saw
Ler. instead Of running away. quietly
trot through the open safe into the sal
tcllD's garden.
Need / say that il was to the benea-
cent Enriquez that / again owed my sal
VatlOni scarcely moment elapsed before
ms bland voice rose i'm a entrated
whisper from the corner OF the garden be
low me. lie had OWNED tho dreadful
truth,
''For the love of God. collect to yourself
many kinds OF these berry. All you can.
Your fun arms round, Rest Tranquil.
Leave To You ole oncie 10 make for you
Il delicate exposure 1T the instant"
lie was gone again. | gathered, wonder
iusly few ot the larger clusters Of
pafu-coi orrd fruit ana patiently waited.
Presently he rcappcdred, and with him
the lovely tOnSuelu, her dear eyes filled
with an adorable anxiety.
Yes continued EnriqueZ 90 his sister
with Il confidential lowering OF tone but
great distinctness of utterance, lit is ever
SO with the American, III will ever make
tfSt tuc Salutat0n OF the flower or the
ifuit, picked to himself by his own hand
ID the lady where he call. II is the GUS
tom of the American hidaiso. Ny Cod
what VIII you'll make II uOt-it Is sol
Without doubt he IS In this instant doing
thees thing. That Is why he have let go
his horse TO precede him here; Il is always
tine etiquette 10 offer these things on the
feet AM Behold. il IS he Don Francisco.
Even now he will descend from thecs
Tree, An. You make the blush, little sis
ter, (aIchly)-l viii retire, ! am discr5 {,
TWO Is not company for the one. l make
tracks / am gone.
How far Cousuelo entirely believed and
trusted her ingenious brother / DO rot
know. nor even then cared 10 enquire. For
there was pretty mantlins OF her olive
cheek AS l came forward with my Otter-
lns, and certain significant shyness IN
ner manner that were enough 10 throw me
into q state OF hopeless imbecilty. And
ID GfHff
C0nsuelO possessed an exalted sentimen-
tailty, ana a prediction for the highest
medieval romance. Ia which / knew
was lamentably deficient Even in our
most confidential moments / was always
aware that / weakly Jagged behind this
daughter Of eloomily distinguished an
cestry, I'm her frequent incurslOns into a
vague but poetic past. There was some
thing Of the dignity of the Spanish chate-
lame in the sweety grave little finger that
advanced to accept my speclOuS Offering.
! think | should have fallen on my knees
TO present IT, but for the presence Of all
seeing EnriqueZ. But why did | even at
that moment remember that he mad early
| bestowed upon her the nickname OF Pom
pOsay' This, as EnFiqueZ himself might
have observed. was sad and strange.
i managed TO stammer out something
about the MadrOne berries being at her
/ "dispOsiuOn.' che tree was in her own
garden). and she took the branches in
her little brown hand with soft response
10 my unutterdbe glances.
But here Gnu Chu momentarlly forgot
ten, executed a happy diversion. To our
establishment she sraVely walked up to
COnsuelO and stretching out her long
slim neck. not only shifted curiously at
the berries, but even prOtruded "A black
underlip toward the young girl herself
In another instant COnsuelOS dignity
melted. Throwing her arms around Chu
Chu's neck she embraced and kissed her
Young as 1 was. ! understood the divine
significance of girls Vicarious ELUSIVE
ness at such a moment, and felt delight
ed But / was the MORE astonished that
the usually sensitive horse not only sub
mitted to these caresses, but actually
responded TO the extent OF affecting to
nip my mistress little right ear.
This was enough for the mpulsve Con-
sueo She ran hastily In 70 the house
and i'm few moments reappeared ia a
bewitching riding skirt gathered around
her jimp waist. In vain Enriquez and
myself joined in earnest entreaty; the
horse was hardly broken for even a mans
riding yet; the saints alone could tell
what the nervous creature might do with
n woman's skirt Tapping at her sldel We
begged for delay. for reelection, for at
least time to change the saddle. but with
no avail. Consuelo WAS determined. in
digGnt, distressingly reproachful, All WELL
II Don Pancho (and ingenious diminutive
OF my Christian name) valued his horse
so highly, II he were jealous OF the evil
dent devotion OF the animal 10 herself, he
would but here | succumbed. And then
] had the felicity Of holding that little