Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-01-07
a coffecpot and a small steak upon
bed Of glowing Goals
tsyon ,,a~ mt I'm a douhle allowance

| Of Java, Cain, observed the officer,
''and you may make the steak twice as
large. want you to take some Of each
TO the Mexican lady. Better run over
there now and tell her will send her
breakfast from here, and ask II there
is anything in our stores she would pre-
fer. will look after the broiling. /"
Adding an extra allowance of coffee
and cutting q second slice Of beef, Cain
went on his errand Like most Of the
soldiers who served in New Mexico, he
had acquired fair knowledge OF col
loquial Spanish. Approaching the door
| of the lady's cabin, the soldier raped.
"Quien llama-who knocks" asked
| q low feminine voice.
"El mozo del teniente, the man serv-
ant Of the lieutenant" answered Cain.
"What do you want.'
1.-THE lieutenant sends his compli-
ments and asks what will You have for
breakfast.
"Call Antonio and then go away,
please Twill send my message by him. !"
Cain went TO the fire, which was still
burning before In senora's door, and be-
side which stood the blanketed figures
| of the two grisos Delivering his mes
sage, he returned to the lieutenant.
| Soon afterward Antonio reported that
La Sonora Vieja wanted but little break
fast and would be satisfied with what
ever was sent 10 her; that she requested
that all communications should hereaft-
er bc made through her attendants, and
that no other person should come to her
door during the time she should be
obliged to remain in the valley. She
sent her thanks for the kindness and
courtesy shown her and assured her host
| that she should leave rs soon as the
| storm ceased.
Antonio conveyed to his mistress a
breakfast selected from the lieutenant's
table, with the assurance that her
wishes should be respected, and that
the sentinel who walked the post but a
| few yards from her door should be in
structed to halt any person approaching
the house except her two attendants
Guard mounting over, Mr.. Raymer
joined the men going TO the forest The
proper trees We're selected for the propos-
ed bobslcd, felled and drawn to camp.
A part of the large company kitchen
was Turned into a workshop, and there,
under the interested supervision of tho
lieutenant. the carpenter shaped the
parts.
The snow continued to fall almost
constantly until the morning OF the
third day. when il suddenly ceased. The
clouds rolled away, and the sun burst
forth in full glory. showing the valley
to ba covered with nearly two feet Of
snow. The treeloSs SUBMITS of the east
ern and western ranges stood white and
bleak against the cold blue sky. The
horizontal ribbons Of pine, hemlock and
spruce that clothed the slopes We're
plainly defined against their snowy
background Over the whole valley was
spread a robe of white. The crystal
brook of temperature too high 10
freeze even in the coolest weather look
ed like black cord looped and curved
throughout its length.
Raymer was standing in the parade
Just after breakfast, admiring the win
try scene, when Antonio approached
him and said:
LA Sonora Vieja asks el comandante
to have her animals got ready as soon
Us possible She intends to resume her
journey"
Very well. Antonio" replied the
lieutenant TELL your mistress that
everything shall be ready at her door i'll
half an hour "
.'She also says, Senor Don Tcniente.
that she shall be obliged to leave tho
boy Ramon behind. :"
Docs she know his condition."
"I have seen him several times aud
have reported to her.
Tell her we expect him to stay here,
for it is impossible to move him. IL Is
bare chance that he RECEIVERS. To at
tempt to move would result in his
death
LA Sonora Vieja says she will send
"a priest from Jemez to administer the
sacrament and absolvo el pobrecito.
"El Padre Gutierrez will be well
come guest He is an old friend OF
mine.
At9 O'Clock the Mexican travellers
rode out Of the camp, waded the brook
and began their journey down the east
ern side Of the valley. True to the man
ner she had adopted from the first, In
sonora made no personal acknowledge
ment of favors received. Her spokes-
man, Antonio, had come to the lieuten-
ant after she was well on her way out
Of the parade and offered her thanks III
elaborate and graceful Spanish phrase.
"Well. thought Raymor as the last
pack mule shook the water Of the brook
from his heels, there goes a woman
who can take no offense if fail TO rec
ognize her when we meet again. I've
not caught glimpse of her face since ]
met her at Los Ojos Fries l do not
even know her name.
He turned back 10 his quarters and
room afterward went to the company
kitchen to superintend the sledmaking.
The work had been going on rapidly,
with some volunteer assistance from in
terested men, and few riyets and bolts
alone were needed to complete it.
With the approach of noon the wind
arose. and soon the snowclad branches
of tho evergreens on the mountain sidG
were flinging off their downy coats and
tossing and creaking in fierce north
western gale. The air was filled with
flying snow. frequently so dense rs to
pearly hide the sun, and the toinpcr;i-
rure sensibly fell. Raymer went back
to his cabin, holding his cape closely
about his face and quickening his pace
to run. He had barely entered his
door when the sergeant Of the guard
appeared.
81 think. SIR" said the sergeant
"that the Mexicans are in trouble. From
the ridge l can see them, near the south
end of the valley. They have not moved
for long time.
The lieutenant took his fieldglass and
assembled the southern arm Of the ridge
Arrived there, he saw, when the whirl-
ing wreaths Of snow permitted him to
catch glimpse, that the travellers were
grouped at point about six miles from
the camp and that all had dismounteL
When the animals moved about, he saw
that the men were trying to lift the ap-
parently helpless woman into her sad
die. 1t was not difficult to comprehend
that La Sonora Vieja had fallen VIC