The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-03-28

Of her mental endowments and charac-
ter, but he folt strangely drawn toward
her and was animated by strong de-
sire to make her acquaintance.
When Raymer turned to place his
chair, he caught q second glimpse Of
Dona Teresa. The face in the sunbonnet
was as beautiful and the eyes shone
with the same brilliancy as when he
saw her in finer attire standing at the
palace window. Plainness of 1ress and
absence of ornaments had robbed neither
form nor face of its beauty.
It is needless to say that Raymer's
devotion was expressed in lip service,
and that his thoughts did not stray far
from his immediate neighborhood. He
had no prayer book, but presently one
was thrust into his hand by the kneel-
ing Teresa. At the close Of the nuno
dimittis he sought to return the book,
but found the scholars faced about and
nun standing between him and its own.
or. The sister received 1t and his thanks
without word and remained silently
and stiffly on guard until Raymer passed
out Of the cathedral
In the evening Of the same day Mr..
Raymer joined Mrs Stockton on the
veranda of the colonel's quarters to lis.
ten to the Sunday evening concert Of
the regimental band The conversation
ran upon various topics during the in
tervals between the selections, and when
the concert ended the lieutenant OBJ
served, 81 went to church today"
"Did you sit on the foorp"
~ 1los~
"Oh, yes, have heard that he recog-
nized the inflexibility Of military joints
and shows that courtesy to officers! If
you want to be sure of seat, however,
you should always attend church when
the bishop is there None of his priests
are go considerate.
II noticed the sisters and scholars
from the convent had seats"
"That is because the sisters are
French, Irish and American generally
and are not accustomed to sit on the
floor. The Mexicans, either by Inherit
ance from the Moors or through inter-
marriage with the Pueblos, seem to pre-
fer the floor to chair. In Mexican
families, even among the aristocracy,
the ladies, unless entertaining Ameri.
cans, sit ON the hoor.''
"One Of the young ladies from the
convent lent me her prayer book. She
was kneeling behind me-"
"Poor childl She will have to do
penance for that indiscretion. It is
against the sisters rules for the pupils
to communicate with gentlemen.
''But this was not communication,
Mrs. Stookt N" said Raymer. "It was
kindly act, such as one might expect
in any eastern church.
''True, but advantage might be taken
Of it to pass notes, you know. believe
the sisters are right. think can guess
who lent you her book. Was it a golden
tressed blcnd?"
eyes; I have seen her twice at the
palace windows, but not in conventual
garb"
"1t was Teresa Valencia, relative Of
the governors wife, who. you perhaps
know, is Mexican"
II know nothing Of the governors
family. Having so recently arrived,
have learned little Of the people"
''The governor, think you know, is
| an American, and Teresa Valencia is
his wife's niece. She is attending school
| at the convent and has been allowed to
visit the palace occasionally.
Convent and palace life must appear
In marked contrast to her. The brown
serge gown and the ugly sunbonnet she
wore at church and the dress and orna-
ments she wore when witnessing guard
mounting were vastly different. The
first did not conceal her beauty, and she
certainly graced the latter. :"
"You draw a proper distinction, :"
said Mrs. Stockton. "You noticed the
lady rather than her Dress.
II deserve no such credit" replied
Raymer II admired the details Of
dress as well as person.
"She is very beautiful, both in mind
and person. I have rarely met more
accomplished girl than Miss Valencia. :"
'But how is it possible to obtain
many accomplishments here? The CON-
vent school must have its limitations.
An education there cannot equal that Of
the best schools in the states"
''In your native state, for instance,
Mr.. Raymer. Nevertheless there are
many accomplished Mexican families.
Besides Dona Teresa is very American
ON several accounts. Her father was
educated in New England schools and
her mother in st. Louis convent. Aft.
er marriage they lived in New York
several years, Senior Valencia being an
agent for a Mexican commercial house.
Their daughter lived there from the age
Of to Is in intimate association with
American children. Since then the fam.
lily has lived in Albuquerque.
Further conversation upon this sub
ject was interrupted by the appearance
of Colonel Stockton and several other
officers, and Raymer arose to go. Be-
fore he left, however, Mrs. Stockton in.
formed him that ON the following
Wednesday the graduating exercises Of
the sisters seminary would occur, and
! If he cared to attend as her escort she
would see that he obtained admission.
Few things could have pleased the lieu