The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-05-09

into the street. N
1t was 10 O'Clock. The chief quarter
master would be at his room playing
whist with the paymaster, the surgeon
and the surveyor general. Raymer went
around and told him he would accept
the detail to Albuquerque. Being as
sured that the order would be issued in
the morning, and that he could leave
for that town in few days, he returned
to the post. Next morning at guard
mounting he contrived to meet Ramon
and sent note to Teresa informing her
that he would be in Albuquerque within
six days.
The end of the week found Raymer
settled in the Office of the depot quarter
master at Albuquerque, with prospect
| of remaining a month at least. He took
an early opportunity to call upon Senior
| Valencia, by whom he was cordially
welcomed and promptly invited to din
ner. No ladies were at the table.
A week passed, during which time
Raymer saw nothing of Dona Teresa or
her mother. Inquiry for Ramon Vaca,
whom he hoped TO make available as
messenger, ELECTED the information that
the day after the lieutenant called upon
6enor Valencia the boy had been sent to
distant rancho of the family's. Evi-
IDENTIFY la sonora intended he should
have no friends in town to assist him in
communicating with her daughter.
Philip spent hours in contriving meth
ods for obtaining an interview with
Teresa, only to abandon them as i'm
practicable. On the Sunday after his ar
rival he fingered near the church and
saw the family go to and from morning
service, but no sign of recognition came
to him. Monday evening he strolled
into hotel and stood looking over a
game of cards in which Senior Valencia
appeared to be interested. As Raymer
watched the varying fortunes of the
play q sudden plan occurred to him. He
| approached the Mexican gentleman and
said
"Senor Valencia, can make use Of
your library this evening to look up q
reference
Certainly, Mr.. Raymer. Here is the
key. Let yourself in and stay as long as
you please.
| u6 StdTteu dt OuC0 lOT tIlo
Valencia residence that stood on the
eastern outskirts of the town. 1t was
built in the usual style of Mexican
dwellings, one story adobe house,
with an interior court, open to the sky
and surrounded by continuous veran-
da. The outside was plain and gloomy,
with few windows, and with one large
entrance, through which coach could
be driven into the court. This court
was planted with trees, vines and flow
ers about a central pool, and the doors
and windows opening upon it disclosed
beautiful interiors.
The library, however, formed no part
of the original building It was sepa-
rate ediice, built against its southern
wall at the left of the entrance and
somewhat retired from the line of the
house front, no door connecting it with
the main building, A veranda and q
we'll grassed lawn, inclosed by paling,
stretched along its front. 5au
Raymer opened the gate, crossed the
lawn and stopped an instant to survey
the dark walls before him, then stepped
upon the veranda, unlocked the door
and entered. He was not unacquainted
with the room, having been there with
Senior Valencia several times during his
previous visits to Albuquerque. He
therefore encountered no difficulty in
obtaining and lighting lamp. The
room was about 90 feet square and we'll
lined with bookshelves Several choice
paintings adorned the walls. A bust of
| Apollo, a small statue of Psyche, a cou-
pie Of bronzes, few specimens of Pueb-
10 pottery were gracefully disposed here
and there. A stepladder, lounges,
chairs, tables and desk, resting upon
fine carpet, made handsomely fur
nished library.
On the side next the residence, about
four feet above the floor, Raymer no.
ticed square aperture, now closed by
panel. Above the casing was a rod,
upon which hung, by heavy gilt rings,
two blue silk curtains. A large skylight
in the fiat roof lighted the apartment.
The ample shelves were loaded with
books in many languages, chiefly Span
ish and English. Some of them were
rare and old, quaint and rich in bind
ing.
! Raymer selected a volume and sat
down at table, pretending to read.
| His thoughts, however, were not con-
fined to the page. They were dwelling
upon the all absorbing subject that had
occupied them since Christmas at Los
Wales Grandes. He was again planning
means for accomplishing the purpose
which had brought him to this town.
During the past few days he had culti-
waited the acquaintance Of the half dozen
alcaldes in the place, with the hope that
one among them might be induced to
| perform the marriage service for him
self and Teresa.
While reviewing his experience with
! the alcaldes Raymer heard the voices
= of women on the other side of the panel.
He could not distinguish their words,
but he recognized the tones of Mrs. Va
lencia and her daughter. The latter
I l. q.-1l Al.