Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-14

His CyCS iCcrC fastened gruUCly upon the
 bCdutifm and dnriOuS girl. upon the beautiful and anxious girl now rising with downcast eyes from her seat at the table She was fully conscious of her false position, the surmises of the priest and the glowing jealousy which gleamed from the black eyes of her be- trothcd, for tho stranger was Ignacio Ortega.
 Daughter, said the priest. "let me conduct you to your room.
 Teresa took the proffered arm, and yielding to a rescntful impulse of re- turning pride greeted OrteSa with friC1d bow and turned with n smile to the lieutenant
 Good night, MT. Raymer, she said, "aId thank you very much for this en- tertainment on my last evening in the valley. You have been very kind to me during my involuntary stay, and shall not forget 1t "
 Good night, Miss Valencia Your company has been very pleasant, and only regret that it has not oftener been bestowed upon me, " replied the young officer, holding the door ajar and in clining his held as the priest and his niece passed out, followed by the maid Jenny
 E.ymCr was left alone with the man whom ho had instinctivcly recognized as the person selected by tho parent Valencias to be the husband of their daughter. He also recognized him to be tho brilliantly attired caballcro whom the drunken wagon master had sent be- meath the wheels of his train. Realizing this it was difficult for him to be more than civil.
 As for Ortega, reared after the strict est Spanish rule governing tho associa- tion of tho young. denied tho privilege so common among American youth of 1 social intimacy with the young ladies of his station, the sight of his future wife presiding at the table of this military gringo in his personal quarters, alone and in this isolated region, was, to his | mind, susceptible of but one interpreta- tion. But the silence must be broken and social amenities maintained. Ray mer approached the stranger. "Senor Ortega of Beralillo, believer he said in Spanish.
 ''The same, senor. And you are the comandante de los valles, Teniente Raymer?"
 "Ycs Havo you any attendants or escort?''
 ''No; the padre and I are alone"
 "Where are your animals?" "In charge of the guard.''
 II will go out for a moment and or der them stabbed Remove your over coat and make yourself comfortable.
 Leaving the cabin, Raymer ordered the horses cared for and then directed Cain to procure bedding for his guests and make up two cots in his quarters. When he re-entered, he saw Q young man standing before the fire, divested oi his outer clothing. He wRs apparently 25 years old, nearly feet in height, oi compact figure, possessing shapely limbs and delicate hands and feet His com. plexion was dark and his eyes and hail black. His face :as handsome and reg ular, except for narrOwness through the temples, which brought the eyes near together. indicating little depth oi character and lack of firmness. Ray mer at once felt an instinctive repul sion, not on account of Ortega's rela tiOnS to Teresa, but on his own account The young Mexican was not now clad in the national costume, being dressed in an ordinary suit of gray. A rife, two revolvers and several packages of am intuition lay on top of the overcoat ant poncho, which he had thrown over , chair.
 ! Before word could be exchanged be tween the young men tho door opened and the cassocked figure of Padre Gu tierrez entered, his whole demeano changed. Evidently his interview witt his niece had been satisfactory. Alp preaching, with both hands extended, h. exclaimed:
 "Ah, my brave friend, it brighten one's eyes and warns one's heart to SC you again. It seems long time sinc we met"