Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-10-25

vent sisters TO keep us youngsters aloof,
for we have never been able to manage
an introduction. F"
docs she never speak Of Miss Valen-
cia?'
"Yes, frequently. Says Dona Teresa
is brilliant and accomplished, speaks
Spanish and English equally well, is
we'll read in ancient and modern litera-
ture, reads French, plays, sings and
draws and is gentle and sweet-an angel,
with wings just sprouting, l suppose.
Mrs. Stockton makes herself miserable
over the thought that so much concen-
trated sweetness and excellence are to
be wasted upon q monte playing, bull
tailingN Mexican, for it is reported that
matrimonial bargain has already been
made between the girls parents and
those of a cheap fellow in Las Lunas,
named Ortega-a cowardly scamp of no
account whatever Has money, that's
all. Mrs. Stockton further says that if
she was young American gentleman
she would make it the object of her life
to win this treasure.
"Why have none of you tried it?"
asked Raymer
Because there are American girls
with prior claims upon us, suppose, "
was the reply. II can answer for my
self to that effect Even if the daring
young American should be found, how
is he to break through all the barriers
that hedge this beauty from the ordinary
methods of lovemaking?"
Love is said to laugh at locksmiths, "
replied Raymer.
The conversation was here interrupted
by a messenger asking Lieutenant
Reeds presence at the adjutant's Office,
and Raymer was left to ponder over
what he had learned and to speculate
upon the possibilities of forming an ac-
quaintance with the girl who had inter-
ested him so much.
For week the lieutenant daily
haunted the sundial, but not once in the
seven days that his eyes sought the pal
ace windows did he see any members of
the household, except the servants who
busted the castings and polished the
panes.
Early next morning Raymer was sent
on detached service, from which he Gid
not return until late on the following
Saturday. Sunday morning he deter
mined to attend church at the cathedral.
and at the usual hour entered the east
ern door of the transept The cougrega-
tion was already assembled and seated
upon the floor in rows after the Mexican
manner. Neither pew nor bench was
there, except two rows Of seats in the
recess behind him, and those were oc-
cupied by scholars of the convent He
found the prospect of standing, con-
spicuous figure, through long service,
anything but pleasant. He could not
persuade himself to sit upon his heels,
as did the thousand devout worshipers
about him.
While looking uneasily about and
pondering his rather uncomfortable sit
uation he recognized the face of Teresa
Valencia. She was dressed in the plain
garb prescribed by the convent regula-
tions, brown gown and white sunbon-
net. At that moment an acolyte ap-
preached from the chancel bearing a
chair and said:
''The compliments of his lordship
the bishop. Here is chair for the gen
tleman."
The lieutenant accepted the courtesy
with thanks and seated himself before
the double line of schoolgirls.
Philip Raymer was not .communi-
cant of the church before whose altar
he now sat. He was descendant Of an
old New England family of the Angli-
can faith. He had graduated from a
good college and at the outbreak Of the
civil war was junior member of legal
firm. His preparation for college had
been pursued at boys military school,
where he had acquired soldierly bear
ing and creditable knowledge of in
fantry drill and tactics. He offered his
services at the first call for troops and
was made captain of a company in a
good regiment. After continuous serv-
ice from Bull Run to Antietam he had
been appointed lieutenant in the reg
ular army and ordered to New Mexico.
Fashionable circles of the seaboard
cities had known Raymer both as q ci'
william and soldier, and some OF the best
) clubs bore his name upon their regis
tiers, but until he stood at the railing oi
, the sundial in Santa Fe and met the
eyes of Teresa Valencia he had never
been strongly attracted by girlist
charms. Nor could he quite understand
his interest now. He had met many
beautiful, accomplished and we'll edu'
Gated girls in the east, but none had in
terested him to the same extent as haC
this girl To be sure, he had not hearC
her voice, he had scarcely seen hel
move, he knew nothing of her except
through Reeds gossip, he was ignorant
of her mental eudowments and charao
l ter, but he felt strangely drawn toward
; her and was animated by strong de-
l sire to make her acquaintance.
l When Raymer turned to place hi
chair, he caught second glimpse O.
5 Dona Teresa. The face in the sunbonne
] was as beautiful and the eyes shon'
with the same brilliancy as when h'
saw her in finer attire standing at tn
palace window. Plainness Of dress ant
t absence of ornaments had robbed neithe
: form nor face of its beauty.
1 1t is needless to say that Raymer'I
devotion was expressed in lip service
d and that his thoughts did not stray ia
, from his immediate neighborhood. H
q had no prayer book, but presently on
was thrust into his hand by the kneel