Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-13

happiness was iI her keeping, but was she animated by similar interest in him? He twas obliged to confess that the only circumstance he could interpret in his favor was the doubtful ono shown in the girls reluctance to reveal her idcn- tity.
 Since then shc had been tho we'll bred young lady, making no reference to any ! previous knowledge of her host, although ho had given her several opportunities to do so. The little prayer book which she had dropped from tho carriage ill Santa Fe had lain on the mantel this evening, and she had listlessly handled 1t before taking her scat by tho fire, but she exhibited no interest in it, nor did she show any consciousness of having seen it before.
 Then tho CnSagemCntto young Ortc- ga Was il possible her heart had gone where her parents had pledged her hand? He would wait. Perhaps this blessed storm might continue long enough to settle all thcSo questions. Teresa had also sat for a long timo by her fireSidc, busy with reflections upon her present plight At last she arose. and turning to her yawning maid said, "Jenny, you may tell Cain in tho morn ing that l will hereafter takc my meals in my own cabin, and you will hold no communication with Mir. Raymer about 1t"
 "Yes, miss"
 Next morning Jonny delivered her mistress message to tho lieutenant Raymer was aStonishcd and puzzled and attempted to recall any possible offense he might have given his guest He could remember mono, and at first he felt inclined to sock Dona Teresa and ask an explanation, but after little re- 6ection he decided to go into the wood with tho fatigue party.
 Two days passed, during which he taught no glimpse of Teresa On the morning of tho third the wind ceased, the sun shone brightly, and the melting mow soon began to drip from the caves of the cabins Raymer was about to leave his quarters when a gentle rap was heard upon his door. Opening it, he found Miss Valencia and Jenny stand ing there. At his invitation they entered, and Teresa asked:
 Do you not think the weather suffi- ciently mild for mo to start for Jemcz?"
 '"The weather is mild enough, but how can you pass tho drifts?" replied Raymcr.
 They must bo passed. I can stay here no longer" "
 Il fear you will only repeat the expe- rience of your late attempt"
 'No, Mir. RaymCr. You can certainly open the way if you undertake it"
 But" said Raymcr in Spanish, language not we'll understood by tho maid, ''suppoSc l do not wish to under take it?"
 ''l do not understand you.
 Do you not know that, once out of the valley, l may n,'ver sec you again?"
 "Quien sabe! Does that matter? You know mast go."
 '"True suppose it can matter little to you. did not mean to take advan- tage of your unwilling presence here. I did but reflect that, once out of tho val ley, cannot expect to meet you again and have an opportunity to speak. I would have been pleased to have met you as have met young ladies at home, but the usages of your country have pre- vented. When on duty ill Albuquerque, tried every proper means to make your acquaintance and failed. asked your father''-
 "You asked my papa what?"
 The lieutenant glanced at Jenny, but that discreet damsel, if she understood anything, looked uninterested and busied herself in arranging furniture and other articles. So he went on:
 ''I asked permission to call upon you, formally making your acquaintance, and, if agreeable to you, to pursue it further. You know dined at your house several times?"
 "No; never knew you were there." answered Teresa, looking into the face of the earnest speaker. an unspoken