The Portland daily press., 1895-07-29

tious task of cleansing them, under Lucia
Eulalias approving smiles, all nature
seemed to smile. The sun shone warm anC
warmer, the river ran blue and bluer, fol
Lucia had "blued" it. She had also cal
lowed the root of a whole soap tree tC
Antonio's garments. She was right in do
ing this, but somehow in my struggle
with the sheep hefding stains Of six months
I had distributed a good deal of lathel
over my person. When this unaccustomet
fatigue began to show on me, Lucia Eu
lalia asked softly if L ''had tire
ooh, no, l was declaring, ST have NJ
tire" when some approaching American
voices were heard. Lucia clapped hel
hands tragically, and running to the chap
arral began hastily to gather the liner
therefrom. I caught from her manner
that the owner of the shirts had tired O.
waiting and was coming for them 1 hat
diyined Alright, but 1 had not OWNED fal
enough AS they emerged from the ala
media to the west of the river 1 could Sc,
they were lady and gentleman. 1 hat
almost managed look Of industry and in
nocence as they approached US and raised
my eyes to impress them with it, when
gracious saints! Guadalupe and great
Jehosaphat! Was that Maxwell, the mar
had robbed Of the valedictory in 1887 al
Ann Arbor? True, I had no grudgt
against him on that account, but my
dream of meeting him again and making
it right had not been like this! Maxwell
it was, with his stylish bride. He threw
me careless glance at first, then began
to dawn on him, slowly but surely. II,
frJ1iE nA i,, II t1l, 4
cowardly way, thought.
"Quien esf" he said, indicating me.
Smilingly, as if pleased so to honor me
Lucia presented me to Maxwell and his
wife as Mi amigo, Senior Beegs." Icoult
feel that the bluing and the soap roo1
and the river water were all mingling il
one grand river of perspiration toward tht
collar of my negligee shirt. I could fee
that all the consultations in the heaven:
and all the mundane landscape around mt
were waltzing giddily together. An in
tense longing for homs and mother came
over me that mere words cannot depict
For one wild moment I thought I would
rush into my old chum's arms and tel
him "all," " like the wronged hero in the
last act. I would say vehemently: "Thi
is not me regular business. I'm civil en-
gineer at two fifty month. I'm only do
ing this for fun," etc.
But while I was thinking this-how of
ten are our best intentions thwarted thu
Maxwell coughed. 1t was not a con
sumptive cough. 1t was just a little graf
ing sound that contained more painful
surprise and pity and regret than a volume
of Browning could. That froze me as
stood-or sat- Fixedly 1 gazed at tht
Sierra Madres over his head, as if trying tt
fathom the "lost'' mines hidden there.
Maxwell watch ticked in the painful
silence.
"Alice,' he said sternly, "we must nc,
miss that train
Out Of my life they went, with tn,
clothes had washed for them, as sudden
ly as they came in. I strained my ears tt
hear him say "Poor fellowi To come tt
that-rather bright at college, but this
country seems to rob fellow of ambi
tom Maxwell, knew, was never a Sc
cretive man; they were going east, and
we'll
Lucia Eulalia gathered up the extra coirl
he had thrown her for me, and said softly
"Have you sad, senor?"
eyes" I said, "I have sadness alst
sickness. would go back to camp a
once"
AS drew on my spattered coat and yes
over tired arms, said, most earnestly
Lucia Eulalia Garcia Y Valdez, shall
never forget this day of the fiesta of Sar
Guadalupe"
Nor have is. B. Metcalfe in Argo
naut