Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-15

To pottery were gracefully disposed here and there. A stepladder, lounges, chairs, tables and desk. resting upon q fine carpet, made a handsomely fur nished library.
 On the side next tho residence, about four feet above tho floor, Raymer mo- ticed n square aperture, now closed by a panel. Above the casing was a rod, upon which hung. by heavy gilt rings, two blue silk curtains 4 large skylight in the fiat roof lighted the apartment. Tho ample shelves were loaded with books in many languages, chiefly Span- ish and English. Some of thom were rare and old. quaint and rich in bind ing.
 Raymer selected volume and sat down at a table, pretending to read. His thoughts, however, were not cen fined to the page. They were dwelling upon tho all absorbing subject that had occupied them since Christmas at Los Valles Grandes. He was again planning means for accomplishing the purpose which had brought him to this town During the past few days he had culti- vated the acquaintance of the half dozen alcaldes in tho place, with the hope that ono among them might bo induced to perform tho marriage service for him. self and Teresa.
 While reviewing his experience with the alcaldes Raymer heard the voices of women on the other side of the panel. He could not distinguish their words, but he recognized the tones of Mrs. Va lencia and her daughter. The latter seemed to be tearfully pleading and tho other earnestly persuading. Silence fol- lowed, 10 be succeeded by a rush of pre- hminary notes over tho keys of n fine piano, which settled into a nocturno of Chopin, which in turn ran into plain tive and sohbing Spanish melody. The music ceased, and all was still.
 The lieutenant bowed his head upon tho book before him and dropped into a gloomy reverio over the almost hopeless outlook. He was aroused and brought back to the present by click at the gate. 4 step came up tho walk, the door opened, and Senor Valencia entered. He greeted the young officer cordially, and the two were soon engaged in earnest conversation, which lasted until late hour.
 Tho following night about the same routine was repeated. On the two sue ceeding nights the merchant came much later, but on Saturday night he proposed accompanying tho lieutenant They walked slowly across the plaza and up the street leading to the Valencia home, engroSsed i'll a discussion of an archaro- logical dispute as to tho route pursued by Cabeza do Vaca ill his journey across the plains from tho gulf coast in l535-6 to CompoStella on tho Pacific
 Senor Valencia had recently received treatise from an eastern scholar who made claim for moro southern route than the one usually accepted.
 As the gentlemen neared the house Raymer noticed a ray of light piercing the darkness from the kcyholo of the li- brary door and was presently surprised to see his companion open the door with out first using his key, precisely as though he expected to find it unfastened. Throwing tho door open, ho stepped aside to allow his guest to precede him. The lieutenant crossed the threshold and was astonished to find Teresa sitting at a tablc with a book l.forc her Sh6' raised her eyes, and seeing who had come ill rose and camc forward with ex- tended hand. The whole occurrence was so out of tho rccognized order of New Mexican usage, so much like what might occur at his own home, that the lieu tenant had to exercise some personal re- straint in order to exhibit Eo surprise.
 II have brought Mir. Raymcr, my dear. to show him the book you arc OK amining, said Seuor Valencia
 II have just been comparing it with our other authorities, :" observed Teresa. II am not ready to believe that Vaca passed into Mexico through northern Texas, There is no evidence that tray eled route ever led in that direction, while tho generally accepted northern one had existed for centuries and is still Used, natural highway"
 ''Yes, and thcrc are many other slight but excellent evidences that the argu- ment is faulty. Vaca mentions eating a flour made of pino nuts. will find his journal, MT. Raymcr. Take a seat by the table"
 Raymer seated himself beside Teresa, and her father went to farther corner for the journal
 Tell me, Teresa" he said in whis- per. what does this mean?"
 II do not know, Philip. Mamma went to the rancho yesterday to bo gone until tomorrow, and papa asked me to meet him here this evening to examine this book"
 Senor Valencia returned with parch. ment covered volume and opened to a pago from which ho read:
 = There arc in that country small pine trees, and tho seeds of them arc like small eggs. While green they arc beaten and made into balls, and thus eaten. If dry, they arc pounded and consumed ill tho form of flour. As the pinon does not grow in Texas, feel con- vinced that Eaca passed through New Mexico"
 This subject, requiring repeated ref erenccS to tho library shelves, formed tho chief topic of conversation through out tho evening and was the means of showing Philip the strong bond of sym pathy existing between father and daughter and something of the literary accomplishments of tho beautiful girl After pleasant evening he left for his quarters, convinced that the Mexican fa- ther did not entertain the same objec- tions to his suit as did the Mexican mother.
 The following evening Raymer again went to the library, this time alone. Sonora Valencia had returned. and her voice and Teresa's could be heard through the panel in the adjoining room. After a time tho conversation ceased, and the piano struck up a soft prelude that soon dropped into an &C., compartment to a grooming voice At the close of tho song he heard grating at the aperture in the wall, and looking in that direction saw two dainty hands