Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-01-28

Il
us it possible you have consented to
marry Ortegay" Raymer asked.
"I have never consented at any time
before or since met you, Philip You
have no idea of the pressure brought to
bear upon me by my relatives ! am
forced to appear to consent
"when is the marriage appointed to
take placer"
'In two months, and I fear it will
take place unless
Unless you marry me sooner, inter-
ruptod Philip. "And you will marry
me, Teresa, If can make the opportu.
nity?"
How is it possible?" asked the girl
"Of course, dearest, you know /
wonld not advise such step If it were
possible to do otherwise, but IL seems
that If we do not marry without your
parents consent we shall not marry at
all. Leaving me altogether out OF the
question. even supposing you had never
met me, it is not possible that marriage
with that-that" t.
Call him Ortega," sadly laughed
Teresa
Every we'll. The name is synony.
nous with many unmanly traits in my
mind It is not possible that marriage
with Ortega can bring happiness. Your
! mother should be able TO See that he
possesses no qualities to inspire IN cdu-
Gated and accomplished woman's love.
Wealth 10 his only recommendation.
But you asked how is our marriage pos
sible. That is n serious question. II we
were in the states, it would be- possible
| in several ways Any clergyman not OF
your church would perform the cere-
mony il We could satisfy him We were
Of age, or, clergyman lacking, n JUS
tice could always DO found. But here
all the clergy are OF the Latin church.
| and not one Of them, knowing you to be
| Valencia, could bo induced at any
price to unite us without the consent OF
your parents Nor is my hope Of secur.
| ing the services Of an alcaldo strong.
And go tomorrow, Philip.
Eyes, dear one, there seems to DO Io
present way to oppose the fates Even
were you to consent it would bo impos-
sible for me to leave my duty and elope,
after the good old way OF desperate low
ers, for there Is no convenient Grctna
Green in the territory. Do you think
Albuquerque would afford better oppor-
tunities:"
Can You go there?" asked Teresa
eagerly.
1.-The chief quartermaster asked me
today IL / would like TO go TO Albu-
querque to temporarily relieve lieuten
ant who must come to Santa Fe for u
short time-exchange duties, you know.
The detail can be secured If ] desire it. :"
Then CO." said Teresa If you arc
there. something may happen to prevent
| this union mamma is SO set upon, and
which will be 80 unfortunate for me.
| OF course, Philip, consent to unusual
means only in case all others fail /
loatho the thought Of deceiving dear
mamma, but to be Ignacio's wife will!
| be an unbearable misfortune.
And your father?"
II do not understand papa. he never
says a word in favor Of Ignacio, and he
frequently speaks in praise of you-more
often than mamma thinks prudent /
believe he will welcome you cordially If
you succeed You are hero in his eyes
But papa will do nothing harsh.
| hgfnra /
become Ignacio's wife. "
There came knock ut tho door, and
Teresa went to open IL.
They are inquiring for you, Dona
| Teresa You must CO." said Ramon
from the hallway.
"Goodby, then, Philip. until We meet
in Albuquerque.
"Goodby, darling. Where there is q
will there is u way, and where there
are two wills there must be prompt
way. Let us hope it will be soon. "
A lingering embrace, half dozen
kisses, and she was gone. Raymer wait
ed until he learned from. Ramon that
Dona Teresa had reached the parlors,
and that 10 suspicion had been aroused
by her absence. Then he passed quickly
| into the street.
Ii 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 o 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 month at least He took
All early opportunity to call upon Senor
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 .uake available as
messenger, elected the information that
the day after the lieutenant called upon
Senior Valencia the boy had been sent to
O distant rancho Of the family's. Eyt.
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 a 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 a
reference!"
Certainly, Mr.. Raymer. Here Is the
key. Let yourself in and stay as long as
you please. "
The lieutenant started at once for the
Valencia residence that stood ON the
eastern outskirts of the town. It was
built in the usual style Of Mexican
dwellings, one story adobe house,