Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-01-21


and in this isolated region, was, TO his
mind, susceptible Of but one interpreta-
ton. Hut the silence must be broken
and socihl amenities maintained. Ray
NOR APPROACHED the stranger.
| "Scndr Ortogaof Beralillo, believer
he said n Spanish.
''The same, senior. And you are the
comandJnte dc los wales, Teniente
Raymert
Yes Have you any attendants or
escort:"
mo; the padre and / are alone.
"WhtE Eo are your animals!"
"In Charge of the guard.
Il will 60 out for moment and or
der thcm stabbed. Remove your over
coat anti make yourself comfortable. "
Leaving the cabin, Raymer ordered
the hors,Is cared for and then directed
Cain to procure bedding for his guests
and makE up two cots i'll his quarters.
When H. re-entored, ne saw young
| man standing before the fire, divested Of
| his outed clothing. He was apparently
| 25 yearsIo Iold, nearly 6 feet in height, Of
| compactifgure, possessing shapely limbs
and deliiate hands and feet. His COM
plcxion 'Eas dark and his eyes and hair
| black. f)is face was handsome and reg
ular. cxtEpt for narrowness through
the tenn Iles. which brought the eyes
near togI other, indicating little depth OF
characteI and a lack Of firmneSs Ray
mer at lnCe felt an instructive ropul-
sion, mol ON account Of Ortega's rela-
tions to Teresa, but on his own account.
The y( nng Mexican was not now clad
in the NATIONAL costume, being dressed
in an ordinary suit Of gray. \ rifle, two
rcvolverI and several packages Of am
muuitiml lay on top Of the overcoat aud
| poncho, which he had thrown over a
chair.
Before q word could be exchanged be-
| tween thI young men the door opened,
and the sScckCd figure Of Padre Gu
tierrez Ltercd, his whole domeanor
changed. Evidently his interview with
his niece had been satisfactory. Ap-
proachint with both hands extended, ho
exclaimed:
"Ah, nv brave friend, it brightens
ones cyol and warns ones heart to see
| You agaiiI. IL seems long time since
we met.
"Sincd last October, when we were
! corralledI by the Navajoes at La Roca
Grandc.
And lou and the sergeant behaved
so gallan ", coming ont best men as
usual Id how have you been these
winter d.|ys in this coolest Of regions!
"Fair1 comfortable, rs you can see y
eyes. This is'a pleasant cabin sure.
". and |u can have generous fire
when yot need it, But pray, pardon
me, | aiE neglecting duty Senor
Tenionte IRaymcr. permit me TO intro
duce mI friend, Don lgnacio OTtega
| Delgado. I
THANH you, father, " answered Ray
mer "Wto did not await your return 20
become a,lquainted. We have already
exchange,l names. Bring your chair to
the fire. Eour supper will soon bc ready
You must have bad cold ride.
1--WE hive been in the saddle since
noon. " T, Elied Ortega, land your val
ley tempe Faiure and wind are search
ing"
Tho I dc and cold have given US ex
| collent aIlctites. " added the priest.
did tou find the snow deep, IA
thcr::" a ID the lieutenant.
"Thcrclwas no Snow until we left the
river and but few inches until we wcrc
within "A |hort distance Of the valley.
Had YOU Not opened the drifts we shouit
have been| Obliged to turn back. -
The p Eih was cut today, said tho
officer
$50 La Dona Teresa has told me, ano
that il waE done 10 enable her 10 leave
tomorrow
Then was her intention to 20 to-
morrow asked Ortega, sneer III his
voice and Il .rown OH his narrow fore
head.
"She dould have gone sooner, and
without nv knowing who had been my
guest, bud for the deep snow and high
winds 81 |o concealed her presence here
until ACCIDENT revealed it. :"
"Accidl int" questioned OItega, with
a doubtful infection.
"Yes, accident, said the priest, with
emphasis. "All has been explained sat
isfactorilylby Teresa, my son, and Twill
give you the particulars soon. p"
"Was /! necessary that Miss Valen-
cia should explain?" asked the young
officer, Indignation showing plainly in
his voice.
"Ah, MY gallant and brave young
friend, an absence Of 90 days and mare
emed toteluire considerable explana-
ton until we saw the drifts through
which yur cut today" answered Padre
Gutiorrez, |relapsing into silence. Then
after mo- hent he continued: II suppose
you wouldIlil.o TO know how Ignacio and
| came to brriye here without pack AMI
mails? | vlill tell you. Teresa's aunt,
who was left sick at the rancho near
Los Ojos Fries, recovered i'll a short
time and bntinued her journey by easy
stages to Albuquerque, where she ar
rived feNE days ago and reported that
Dona Terisa had gone 10 my house III
Jemez by kyay of this valley. lgnacio,
arriving al Albuquerque two days later,
offered TO Iride to Jemez with messages
and for tn, purpose Of seeing his betroth'
ed OF conf fse he was surprised and anx.
ious when HE met me to learn that Te
resa had ndt come. knew Of the storm,
and being we'll acquainted tn the
winter ealures of this region concluded
that the girl and her escort were snow
ed in here !!Jr had perished on the road.
After nj lht of anxiety we got ready
for the tri, and left yesterday noon for
the valley, hoping to find the party rs
they were when they took leave of the
sick aunt. had no idea of the child's
actual pre- Ilicament until she told Inc
lust now. h think the two men, Antonio
and MANUEL, stole everything in their
possession Ind left for the Rio Abajo. }"
Miss Vhlencia seems to have fallen
| into the hrhds Of set Of thieves from
the start, observed the lieutenant.
"Ramon Was the only honest one. But
you need hive no anxiety for transporta-
ton. will furnish it and an escort !"
Thank you, my friend, said the
priest md now about that boy, Ra-
mon yaca After supper ] will see him,
| and tomor1 bw morning I will say mass.
Please notify the men and let me have
the largest room possible.
"You chn have the mems dining
room, and Mrs. Sullivan will assist you