Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-12-06

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"And Miguel? Is he lind?"
"Always. He brings me pretty things
from beyond the Rio, where he sells the
wool. He brought me this" COUGHING a
gold chain about her throat) "and this,
my fete dress which 1 wear because
today am L. "
The dress was of dark blue. brocaded
stuff, with lace about the throat, and
/ loosely tucked up sleeves, fashioned in
such a way as to leave the pretty arms
bare to the elbow Holt realized what
had made her appear such striking
picture among the cactus blossoms. 1t
was this gown of shining, floating blue
"Were you born here!' he asked.
Ono. In San Antoine. My mother
had Spanish blood in her veins. My
father said had eyes like hers. Is yonr
home like this?" she questioned III her
turn.
MY home is in great city" Holt
answered smiling, "where people are
as thick as the flowers on the plateau
yonder "
"And arc there girls there like me?"
with Vi>lful expression.
"Plenty Of them. Tell me how you
have been cduca,ou;'
My father taught mo to read, and !
have read l. f,N lccls ovCrjt over
When the W I'd bowls II he winter ANA
the sun hides, tE,n read. "
"Lct me zee youl buuGs.
She brought thon. Ike hound volul cs
he lad ro.,,d. On the title page was
81
a nervous hand.
"What il your name asked Holt.
"Nida. My father told ne | should
60 east one day and live among my peo-
pie, but now there is no chance, though
Miguel says he will soon take me to IA
beautiful place where everything is fine
and grand, but then if there are only
Castilians there, as he says, l shall not
like it, "
Anita called them to the midday
meal, and i'll the porch they encountered
an old, grey haired Mexican, looking
down on the unconscious form Of Mi
guel, with an expression of mingled
anxiety and aversion. King sat by smok-
ing a cigarette.
The travellers learned from Roderigo
that his sons evil tendencies We're
great distress to him. They could see
that both wife and father were afraid of
NJ gucl
And the young lady? Does he i'll
treat herr" asked King.
Not SO, curse him !" exclaimed the
old man eXcitcdly "SOrry the day l
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, | ann old. Anita is
woman. We guard and watch the inno-
cent senorita, Int What can we do if he
carries her lcvond the Santa Rosa? l
could kill huul He is devil, but he is
my own f, IN ana blood. "
His listener, We're Mortified at this
disclosure of villainy.
The gentlemen, is they marry
asked Roderigo, "Then they take away
for awhile the scnorita, even though
Miguel kill his father and Anita, too,
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 after
noon for Atwood S ranch.
swell, Holt, " said his host as the two
smoked together on the night of arrival,
"for an unmarried man, or men, for l
e., | Ia
on we, We're in something Of a box. "
''Mhat are you going to do about this
marvellous tind"'
Hunt up her relatives the first
thing " answered Holt. But, " reflect
ing gloomily, "what if they don't choose
to recognize herr
'Loring is not an unusual name. ]
have before he 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 fell
lows III the world. "
norman: Is his name Norman?"
said Holt Iapturously. He might be a
nephew or ii cousin. This girls father
WAS Norman Write him at once, At
wood, and il would le no harm to init
mate that the orphan has IL flock Of some
thousands of sheep and bunch Of good
horseS. The fact that he won t have
pauper on his hands may sharpen his
memory.
"Hold now, Dick" said Awtood
"Loring is as upright as the day. He'll
tell u the truth. -
Atwood's hnond proved to be the
nephew of Vida 5 father, who, he wrote,
towing TO financial and social troubles,
had gone to Texas over 20 years before.
His friends We're unaware of his mar
riage. If Nj. 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 naive good sense
and entire freedom from artificiality