Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-02-04


well as have good reason to remembel
her with gratitude We would not b,
here but for the service she rendered
us :"
II do not forget It. often think 0l
her and that Roca Grande experience.
l sometimes dream Of it, living through
various desperate and cruel struggles
with the Indians, but always, when al
hope has fled and death seems inevita
bic, dear little Vic appears with the
soldiers and rescues me. Why did you
not bring her to Albuquerque"
''She was absent with q hunting par.
~. replied Raymer. "Ireceived let.
ter from MIR. Reed two days ago saying
he would send her down by Judge Bene.
dict, who is soon to hold court here. "
The lovers had now turned the second
corner Of the plaza, and threading Sc
ries of crooked and narrow streets on
the side opposite the Valencia mansion
reached the house of the alcalde. The
lieutenant knocked, steps were heard
within, the door opened, and Mateo
vicentio, light in hand. stood before
them.
Enter, Senor Teniente," said the al.
calde, and Philip and his companion
passed into the house. As they came into
| the brighter light Of the interior Mated
looked with perplexed brows at the
! closely yelled lady. Something in hel
bearing, the texture and fit of her plain
garments, awakened suspicion that
she was no ordinary person. He moved
about, trying to obtain a palmer view
Of her features, until Raymer grew i'm
patient
well. we are here, Senor Alcalde, y
said he where are your witnesses"
I'm the next room, was the reply.
"Then call them and 60 on with the
marriage "
Il must first see the face Of the lady. v
But You assured me that it would
not be necessary until after the cere'
mony"
Isl. senor, IL the senorita be com
mon person, but something in her man
ner convinces mo that | ought TO see
her. DO not wish TO get into trouble
with Los Ricos.
Marry us as you promised, and
will double the fee offered you.
"Ah, senior, You double my fears that
something is wrong"
lyon shall have three times thu
amount il you will only proceed a'
once. ="
Isl, senior, | will proceed, but
must first SEQ the face Of the lady.
Before Raymer could interpose or say
anything further Teresa dropped the re-
boso upon her shoulders and pulled the
veil from her face.
"Dona Teresa Inez Valencia ex'
claimed the astonished alcalde. Val
game Dios, what an escaped No, Sepol
Teniente, can have nothing to do with
this. "
The lieutenant attempted no remon
STRANGE, but taking Teresa's hand hi
hurried her into the street
Let US try another justice, darling.
1t will do no harm, if no good, and We
must hasten Hooking backward-'fol
vicentio has started on run in the di
rection Of your home. "
1T will be Of no use, Philip The
alcaldes are all alike" replied the gir
in hopeless tone. "But will 80. "
They moved quickly away, hand In
hand, and soon came to the house Of a
second alcalde. He had gone to bed, and
no amount of knocking could elicit any
other response than: "Go away Gc
away! Come again in the morning.
Again the unhappy lovers fastened
along the dark and narrow streets and
raped at the door of a justice OF the
peace in n remote part Of the town. A
woman's voice responded that be was
out and would not be back before morn
ing. And so the last hope had fled.
With arms wound about each other I
waists, as if in protest against the com
ing separation, which seemed inevitable,
they silently took the direction of the
plaza The girls form trembled in the
embrace Of the young man in the ehor'
10 suppress her emotion, and he had nc
consolation to offer Their case seemed
hopeless.
"My darling girl, said the despair
ing lover when they reached the border
Of the square, I'VE have failed.
Philip, Philip, how can p
'Dona, darling, it may turn out al
right yet II you do not yield consent
to the union with Ortega. Tomorrow
will appeal to your father. From what
you have told me and what / have OBJ.
served | think nc will not strongly op'
pose our attachment. But should every
thing turn out for the worst / shall al.
WAYS be grateful to You for the boon OF
your love and the unvarying trust you
have reposed in me. | shall always--ah,
seel Lights are approaching from your
housel The alcalde has made his report,
and some persons are coming this way.
LET US not attempt to avoid them,
replied Teresa They may do what
they please. Kiss me. dear, perhaps for
the last time. "
AS Philip bent and bestowed kiss
upon the trembling, upturned lips OF his
beautiful companion ringing and IA
miliar bark broke upon his ear. and
turning in its direction he saw by the
light from neighboring window the
figure of dog fash from out the dark
ness and begin leaping about him in an
ecstasy Of delight. Before he could an
swer this sudden greeting with caress
the wild creature was leaping upon
Teresa, and the girl had taken the dog
in her arms, and stopping low was hold
ing it to her breast and nesting her
cheek between the silky ears
"Oh. vicky, DEAR" said she, "you
who helped US before in our sore dis
tress, you can do nothing for us now.
my God, Teresa, she can!" exclaim-
ed Philip as sudden conviction swept
over him. "She came here with Judge
Benedict, an American judge and my
friendl Let her loose, dearest. Here,
Vic, come here! Take this. handing
her his memorandum pad. go to the
judge-to the judge-gol Now. darling,
let us follow"
The setter, having taken the pad in
her mouth. dropped all further demon
strations of delight and started along a
street in the direction from which she
had appeared, occasionally pausing for
her friends to come up, and presently
halted before house few rods from
the plaza.
Judge Benedict was the chief justice
of the United States court for the terri
tory Of New Mexico. he was a man OF
great ability, strong in his attachments