The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-01-16

face
"And Miguel? Is he kind?"
always. He brings me pretty things
from beyond the Rio, where he sells the
wool. He brought me this (touching a
gold chain about her throat) land this,
my fete dress, which l wear because
today l am H.
The dress was of dark blue. brocaded
stuff, with lace about the throat, and
loosely tucked up sleeves, fashioned in
such a way as to leave the pretty arms
bare to the elbow. Holt realized what
had made her appear such a striking
picture among the cactus blossoms. 1t
was this gown of shining, floating blue.
"Were you born here:' he asked.
"No. In San Antoine. My mother
had Spanish blood in her veins. My
father said l had eyes like hers. Is your
home like this?' she questioned in her
turn.
my home is in a great CITY," Holt
answered smiling, "where people are
as thick as the flowers on the plateau
yonder."
"And are there girls there like me?"
WIN q WlSt1ul e4pTesslou.
PLENTY of them. Tell me how you
have been educated?'
my father taught me to read, and l
have read my few books over and over.
When the wind howls in the winter and
the sun hides, then l read
LET me see your books
She brought them, the bound volumes
- Id ~1k;ool Cr tho tif1o Cnra xx-oS
the name Norman Loring' written in
q nervous hand.
"What Is your name?" asked Holt.
"Vida. My father told me l should
90 east one day and live among my peo-
| pie, but now there is no chance, though
Miguel says he will o o take me to a
beautiful place where everything is fine
and grand, but then if there are only
Castilians there, as he says, l shall not
like it,
Anita called them to the midday
meal, and in the porch they encountered
an old, grey haired Mexican, looking
down on the unconscious form Of Mi
guel, with an expression of mingled
anxiety and aversion. King sat by smok-
ing a cigarette.
The travellers learned from Roderigo
that his sons evil tendencies We're u
great distress to him. They could see
that both wife and father were afraid of
Miguel
"And the young lady? Does he i'll
treat herr asked King.
"Not SO. curse him. exclaimed the
old maj excitedly. "Sorry the day l
brought him here to %squander the sig
nor's property and bring evil to his
child. Miguel would put away Anita,
the faithful one, and marry with the
beautiful Americana. Even in two days
from now he plans to do it. And she,
the innocent, thinks not Of his wicked
ways. Signor, I I'M old. Anita is a
woman We guard and watch the inno-
cent senorita, but what can we do If he
carries her beyond the Santa Rosa? !
could kill him! He is a devil, but he is
my own flesh and blood"
His listeners were Mortified at this
disclosure of villainy.
1.-THE gentlemen, is they marry?'
asked Roderigo. Then they take away
for awhile the senorita, even though
Miguel kill his father and Anita, too,
through rage"
Holt and King conferred together.
Anita was consulted. The result was
that the hunters and their self assumed
charge started before sunset that after
noon for Atwood's ranch.
well, Holt" said his host as the two
smoked together ON the night Of arrival,
"for all unmarried man, or men, for
share your misfortune, l should say you,
or we, We're in something of a box
"What are you going to do about this
marvellous 1ind:'
Hunt up her relatives the first
thing" answered Holt. "But,' reflect.
ing gloomily, what if they don't choose
to recognize her"' ~.
"Loring is not an unusual name.
have before me the task Of approaching,
by word or letter, every individual Lor,
ing of whom I hear, at the risk Of being
thought most Impairment
"There's Norman Loring Of New Or.
leans unused Atwood; hes well
known to me, and II of the best fel'
lows in the world
norman? is his name Norman"'
said Holt rapturously. He might be
nephew or a cousin. This girls father
was Norman Write him at once, At
wood, and it would be no harm to init
mate that the orphan has a flock Of some
thousands of sheep and a bunch Of good
horses. The fact that he won't have
pauper on his hands may sharpen his
memory"
Hold now, Dick" said Awtood.
"Loring is as upright as the day. Hell
tell us the truth
Atwood's friend proved to be the
nephew of Vida's father, who, he wrote
lowing to financial and social troubles
had gone to Texas over 20 years before
His friends were unaware Of his maj
rage. If Mr.. Holt ON his way north
would kindly escort Miss Loring as fal
as the Crescent City, his mother woult
take charge of her niece"
In the interim the bachelor had ampl'
opportunity to make things agreeable
for their guest, whose native good sens