, 1897-09-18
ing one of her heavy bra.ds around her

Yes" she murmured, with musical
Indifference. as she went leisurely up
the pathway and never once looked
back.
The nan rode on to the hotel and re-
turned to real life as he asked IL a va
lise and a trunk had come and n there
were any letters for Nelson Cameron.
There was one; after he had had his
luncheon, he sat on the long piazza, from
which the snow-capped mountains could
be seen through the climbing roses, and
read it. But the letter was dull. the
memory OF the brown hair and eyes that
had always seemed the most beautiful
In the world paled beside that OF two
soft. black braids and two orbs as soft
and as black. There was a vague prom
Use that the owner of the brown hair
and eyes might be in California, too.
ere long. Cameron was not so pleased
as he tried TO think he was. He be-
gan to imagine the meeting of that
night.
- amy ''o"I- Nv hillLCIo anu Llo
lat. black-wrapped wife did not object
to him in the least. He walked Cor hours
up and down the moonlit road. with
Alicia's hand in his and went from her
IA Lord Lovel on a steed OF glittering
s,eel-at midnight.
The poison was in his blood. He had
eaten of the lotus. and he forgot home
and the past. He gave a reckless rein
to the course of young blood. And so
A fortnight passed away There were
no more letters. They were being sent
to Santa Barbara. where he had told
the brown-eyed girl tina the first weeks
in March would find him. He had not
written to her. He had meant to. But
it was the land of POGO tempo.
In pursuance OF the romance ne was
living, he n day put on the dirty ov-
erals and hat OF old Manzelo and went
with Alicia to the San Gabriel railway
station TO wash and pack oranges. Ali
ella was dressed in faded dark blue, with
a yellow handkerchief around her neck
and a pink bow in her hair. She was
very pretty, and very open in accepting
the open devotion of the american. 1t
was still just a lark for him. 1t was
rather more for her-a little more.
A tally-ho drove up to the station and
the driver stopped it. that his party OF
tourists might watch one of the really
picturesque scenes left to the United
States. Some OF the washers looked up.
Cameron and Alicia Manzelo were talk.
ing together and did not. Both were
gazing light love into each others eyes.
The boss Of the gang came up to the tai
ly-ho with a handful of oranges. The
finest one, all wet and glistening with
Its scrubbing. he offered to the girl on
the front seat.
Thank you. What a splendid one!'
she praised. Il am so thirsty that it
will taste good"
May I peel it for you?" he asked,
with an infection that showed him Eng
fish at once.
He had not offered to peel them for
The others. but this was a very beautiful
woman. with brown hair and a skin that
reminded him OF the woman at home.
While he prepared it. she looked at the
workers. And when he handed to
her. Thank you," she said again, and
can you tell me who that man by the
girl in the blue gown is? He is evil
IDENTIFY not Mexican"
He wondered why she should care to
know. but he answered: mo, he is an
American. All 1 can tell you about him
is that his name seems to be Nelson. 1t
is what the girl call him."
THE girl?"
Yes. It's a picturesque filtration,
gather from her father. 1t has been
going OIL for some weeks. and the old
man says Nelson. or whatever his name
really is, means to marry her. But 1t is
unsafe"
Very. I should say" said the girl,
reflectively.
They rarely do. these whites that
make love to pretty Mexicans," added
the Englishman.
The pretty Mexican cast up her dark
eyes just then and took notice Of the
tally-ho. She had known it was there
all along. but she had not been interest
ed in it.
THE lady on the front watch you
she murmured to her companion.
Cameron glanced up. He caught the
unfaltering look OF the brown eyes, and
the scales-the rosy scales OF romance
fell from his own. He dropped the
orange that he held into the waited ain
his tub and started to the tally-ho. But
he took only a step. then went back.
The girl on the front seat had turned
to the others.
Cant we go out for a while? I'm
sure We are all cramped and tired. and
I should like to watch this pretty scene
for n bit"
The Englishman helped her down,
but she thanked him and walked away
Her manner implied that she would
make her own investigations. She wan
dered among the boxes and the tubs and
trays, hazarding a word to the washers
here and there. Most OF them did not
understand her. She came up finally
beside Cameron's tub and spoke to him.
The on-lookers fancied hat she might