The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-05-29


and trusted her ingenious brother do
not know, nor even then cared to in
quire. For there was pretty mant-
ling of her olive cheek as / came for
ward with my offering, and a certain
significant shyness in her manner that
were enough to throw me into state
of hopeless imbecility. And was al
ways miserably conscious..th Consuelo
possessed an exalted sentimentality,
and a prediction for the highest me-
diaval romance, in which knew Lwas
lamentably deficient. Even in our
most confidential moments I was al
ways aware that weakly Jagged be-
hind this daughter of gloomily dis
tinguished ancestry, in her frequent
incursions into a vague but poetic
past. There was something of the dig
nifty of the Spanish chatelaine in the
sweetly grave little finger that ad-
vanced to accept my specious offering
l think l should have fallen on my
knees to present it, but for the pres
ence of the all-seeing Enriquez. But
why did l even at that moment remem-
ber that he had early bestowed upon
her the nickname of ''Pomposa?" This,
as Enriquez himself might have OBJ
served, was ''sad and strange"
managed to stammer out something
about the Madrone berries being at
her "disposition, (the tree was in her
own garden), and she took the branches
in her little brown hand with soft
response to my unutterable glances.
But here Chu Chu, momentarily for
gotten, executed happy diversion.
To our astonishment she gravely
walked up 40 Consuelo and stretching
out her long, slim neck, not only
shifted curiously at the berries, but even
protruded a black under lip at the
young girl herself. In another instant
Consuelo's dignity melted. Throwing
her arms around Chu Chu's neck she
embraced and kissed her. Young as /
was, l understood the divine signifi-
cance of a girls vicarious effusiveness
at such moment, and felt delighted.
But was the more astonished that the
usually sensitive horse not only sub
mitted to these caresses, but actually
responded to the extent of affecting to
nip my mistress little right ear.
This was enough for the impulsive
Consuelo. She ran hastily into the
house, and in few moments reap
peared in bewitching riding skirt
gathered around her jimp waist. In
vain Enriquez and myself Joined in
earnest entreaty; the horse was hardly
broken for eVsa, d mans riding yet;
the saints alone could. tell what the
nervous creature might do with a
woman's skirt Tapping at her side! We
beggsd for delay, for reflection, for at
least time to change the saddle, but
with no avail! Consuelo was deter
pined, indignant, distressingly re-
proachful! All, we'll! if Don Pancho IAN
ingenious diminutive of my Christian
name) valued his horse so highly, if he
were jealous of the evident devotion of
the animal to herself, he would-but
here I succumbed. And then l had the
felicity of holding that little foot for
one brief moment in the hollow of my
hand, of readjusting the skirt as she
threw her knee over the saddle horn,
of clasping her tightly-only half in
fear-as surrendered the reins to her
grasp. Anu W CClI C11C IIuulA
Enriquez and fell back, although I
had insisted upon still keeping hold of
the end of the RATA, it was picture to
admire. The petite figure of the
young girl, and the graceful folds Of
her skirt, admirably harmonized with
Chu Chu's 1.-THE contour, and as she
arched her slim neck and raised her
slender head under the pressure Of the
reins, it was so like the lifted velvet
capped toreadorcrest of Consuelo her
self, that they seemed of one race.
~ would not that you should hold
Tie riata," said Consuelo, petulantly.
hesitated. Chu Chu looked certain
ly very amiable. let go. She began
to amble toward the gate, not mine
ingly as before, but with freer and
fuller stride. In spite of the incon-
gruous saddle the young girls seat was
admirable. AS they neared the gate
she cast single mischievous glance at
me, jerked at the rein and Chu Chu
sprang into the road at rapid canter.
watched them fearfully and breath
lessly, until at the end of the lane /
saw Consuelo rein in slightly, wheel
easily and come flying back. There
was no doubt about it; the horse was
under perfect control. Her second
subjugation was complete and final!
Overjoyed and bewildered, I over
whelmed them with congratulations;
Enriquez alone retaining the usual
brotherly attitude of criticism, and a
superior liberation of a lovers enthu-
siasm. ventured to hint TO Consuelo
(what believed was safe whisper)
that Chu Chu only showed my own
feelings toward her.
"Without doubt" responded En~i-
quez, gravely. "She have of herself
assist you to climb to the tree to pull,
to yourself the berry for my sister"
But felt Consuelo's little hand re-
turn my pressure, and forgave and
even pitied him.
From that day forward, Chu Chu
and Consuelo were not only firm friends
but daily companions. In my devotion
| would have presented the horse to
the young girl, but with fiattering deli