The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-06-06
CHAPTER XIII.
TOMATOES OATH.

At sunrise on the following day / lit
a fire by which TO prepare soup for the
senior. who still slept, and as / was en-
gagged thus / saw the lady Maya walk
ing toward me and noticed that her
hands and feet were swollen.
"Senora," l said, bowling before her,
II humbly congratulate you upon your
courage and your escape from great
dangers. Last night l said words TO
you in my grief that should not have
been spoken, for il Is my fault that /
am apt TO be unjust TO women. Now /
crave your pardon, and | will add that
IL in atonement for my past injustice /
can serve you In any way now and
afterward pray you TO command me-"
She listened, and answered.:
II thank you for your kind words,
Don Ignatio II you wish TO show your
self my friend 1t is In your power TO do
so. You have guessed my secret, there
fore l am not ashamed to repeat that
the senior yonder has become every
thing to me, though as yet i may be
little 20 him | ask Won then To swear
upon the Heart that you will do moth
ing to separate us, that whatever may
be our need you will help us by all
means in your reach"
you ask me to swear n large oath,
sonora, and one that deals with the flu
ture, of which we have no knowledge"
answered, hestating.
II do, senior; but remember, were IL
not for me at this moment your friend
who sleeps yonder like n child would
be stiff in death. Remember, also. that
you have ends to- gain in the City Of
the Heart, where IL will be well for you
20 have me as friend should we ever
live 20 reach It,"
There is no need to threaten me,
senora," i answered, II promise that l
will not stand between YOU and the
senior. But see, he awakes, and his
soup is ready"
She took the pot off the fire, SKINNED
IL, and poured the contents into n gourd.
Then she walked 10 the hammock and
said; "Senor, here is your soup"
lie was but newly awakened, and
looked at her vacantly.
TEL me, Maya" he said, what has
happened9"
Last evening" she began, Sin pick
ing flower for me you were bitten by
a snake and very nearly died"
Il know" he answered. go on"
after the danger OF the poison was
past you became thirsty, SO thirsty that
you were dying Of 1t, and there was no
water TO give you"
eyes, yes" ne said; ''it was agony.
pray that may never suffer so again.
But l drank water and lived. Who
brought IL TO meP"
ut came from the cueva, that place
which we examined before you were
bitten"
"Who went down the cueva TO get Il?
The place Is unclimbable."
81 went down."
"You!" he said, In amazement. "Youl
IL Is not possible. DO not Jest. Tell
me the truth. Quick; am tired"
II am not testing. Listen, senior.
You were dying for want OF water. /
could not bear II. and knew that my
father would not be back in time; so /
took the water skin and some torches
and went, without saying anything 10
Ignatio. The place was hard TO climb
and the adventure strange; but came
through IL safely"
The senior heard. but made no answer.
lie only stretched out his arms toward
her, and there in the wilderness did
they plight their troth.
"Rcmember, lam but an Indian girl, !"
she murmurcd presently, "and you are
one OF the white lords OF the earth. Is
1t well that you should love mc2"
"It IL well, he answercds ''for You
are the noblest woman that l have
known. and you have saved my life."
Zibalbny did not return until past
midday, when he appeared with the
water.
docs ne stu liver" he asked Of
Maya.
"Yes, father"
HE nast Be strong. them" he m