The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-12-10

! picture aiming INC CACTUS DIDSSDlils. II
was this gown of shining floating blue
''Were you born here he asked
"No. In sam Antoine My mother
had Spanish blood i'll her veins. My
! father said had eyes like hers. Is your
home like this?' she questioned i'll her
turn
My kame is in great city" Holt
ansv0at milling, "wbere people are
as thick IL, the flowers on the plateau
yonder.
And are there girls there like me?"
with wistful expression
PLENTY Of them. Tell me how you
have been educated?'
My father taught me to read, and
have read my few books over and over.
When the wind howls in the winter and
the sun hides, then | read.
Let me SET your books. =
She brought them, the bound volumes
he had noticed. On the title page was
| the name Norman Loring' written i'll
nervous hand.
"What is your name?" asked Holt
"Xida. My father told me | should
go east one day and live among my peo-
pie, but now there is no chance though
Miguel says he will soon take me to a
beautiful place where everything is fine
and grand, but then If there are only
! Castilians there. as he says, ! shall not
like it. y
Anita called them to the midday
meal, and in the perch fhcy encountered
an old, grey haired Mexican, looking
down on the unconscious form of Mi
guel, with an expression of ming led
anxiety and aversion. King sat by smok
ing a cigarette.
The travellers learned from Roderigo
that his sons evil tendencies were a
great distress to him. They could see
that both wife and father We're afraid Of
Miguel.
and the young lady? Does he i'll
treat herr" asked King
mot so. curse him |" exclaimed the
old man excitedly. "Sorry the day
brought him here to squander the sig
nor's property and bring evil to his
child. Miguel would put away Anita,
the faithful one, and marry with the
beautiful Americana. Even in two days
from now he plans to do it. And She.
the innocent, thinks not of his wicked
ways. Signor, am old. Anita is a
woman. We guard and watch the limo
cent senorita, but what can we do if he
carries her beyond the Santa Rosa?
could kill him He is devil, but be is
my own flesh and blood. "
His listeners We're Mortified at this
disclosure of villainy.
The gentlemen, is they marry
asked Roderigo. "Then they take away
for awhile the senorita, even though
Miguel kill his father and Anita toe,
through rage.
Holt and King conferred together
Anita Was consulted. The result was
that the hunters and their self assumed
charge started before sunset that alter
noon for AtWood's ranch.
well, Holt, = said his host as the two
smoked together on the night Of arrival,
for an unmarried man, or men, for
share your misfortune, ! should say you.
| or we, Were in something 81 "A box.
"What are you going to do about tins
marvellous find
IluIll up iI'i lNltitINNH tht Ii -
thing, " answered Holt But, " reflect
ing gloomily, what if they don choose
to recognize her.
''Loring Is not an unusual name. ]
! have before me the task of approaching,
by word or letter, every individual Lor-
| ing of whom ! hear, at the risk Of being
thought most impairment.
"There's Norman Loring of New Or
leans, = unused Atwood; "he's well
known to me, and one of the best fel-
lows i'll the world.
Norman? is his name Norman
said Holt rapturously. He might be IA
nephew OF "A cousin. This girls father
was Norman Write him at once. At
wood, and il would be no harm to init
mate that the orphan has flock Of some
| thousands of sheep and bunch Of good
horses The fact that he won't have a
| pauper ON his hands may sharpen his
memory.
Hold now, Dick - said Awtood.
Loring is as upright AS the day. Hell
tell us the truth.
Atwoods friend proved to be the
nephew of Vida S father, who he wrote
lowing to financial and social troubles
had gone to Texas over 20 years before.
| His friends were unaware of his mar
riage. If Mr. Holt ON his way north
would kindly escort Miss Loring as far
as the Crescent City, his mother would
take charge of her niece. .
In the interim the bachelor had ample
opportunity to make things agreeable
! for their guest, whose native good sense
and entire freedom from artifieiality
charmed and interested them.
One afternoon when Holt was riding
at Vida IS side bullet Whistled close,
very close, to his ear. He turned III
time to see Miguel creeping off through
the cedms. a party sconred the country
in search of HIM that night, but Were
unsuccessful
Anita and Roderigo were the sole &c
cupants of the ranch when King took
/ possession Of it four months later at the
! instigaton of the owner.
And what became Of the hroine:'
some one asked to whom this story was
! told.
Holt fell in love with her and would
have married her If Atwood had not got
/ ahead Of him
Lombroso.
Professor Lombroso, the famous
| criminologist, is thus described by one
who knows him we'll In appearance
Lombroso is not distinguished He is
short and rather stout; a few silgery