Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-10-26
cutting the wedding party on from Laa
Polonias and upsetting every arrange

ment
"Que lastimai What q pityr' mourn
cd Aniceta, the alcalde's wife. "The
people here have come 70 far, and now
there Ia to be no wedding until-who
knows when. The priest must 60 away
tomorrow early 10 bury the people the
Apaches killed yesterday down the val
ley, and no one knows how long IL will
be before he can come again. Was ever
anything 30 unfortunate!'
Bad "A things were, there was moth.
ing to 90 but make the best Of them.
The guests must be entertained, and. 30
long M there was no reason to think
that harm had befnllen the bridal party
beyond the irconvonience of delay, there
should ut least be the dance and supper
for the people present But these fes-
tivities could not decently begin before
the hour appointed fer the marriage
ceremony, and meanwhile the alcalde
and his spouse waited, looking out upon
the spreading waters In the valley bot
tom, in the direction from which the
wedding party was expected, N II IL
might yet in some miraculous way A.
rive ON time.
In the great house of the alcalde, and
In other houses Of the village, the se-
noras and senoritas, in their finery, with
their husbands and admirers were wait
ing impaticntly for the ball to begin.
The general JOY bad been damped by the
news that there would be no wedding
that night. but there was still the dane
ing as a consolation. At last the sound
Of rnttling tune. played by musicians
upon the portal before the house, gave
the signal for the guests to assemble in
the ballroom.
II was at this time that our party
rode into the village. The cry was raised
that the bridal party had arrived. but
the mistake was discovered when We
rode 10 the alcalde's door and asked for
hospitality. Don Ambrosio welcomed ~
cordially and called for man to show
Us the corral where our horses could be
kept and fed. His wife at the same time
came forward 10 add her greeting. While
Felix assisted Carmen to dimount from
her horse, Lupita slipped from hers un-
aided and stood by the side Of Don Ra-
mons daughter. Her cowboy hat had
disappeared, the long cloak fell to her
heels, hiding the silver spurs, while the
upper part was drawn oowlwise over
her head 10 far m to hide her forehead.
In such guisc she might with equal
probability have been taken for pioua
nun or the mysterious heroine Of mas
Querade. Aniceta saluted her with rev.
ercnce and conducted tho two to the
room which had been prepared as the
bridal chamber for the belated couple
disconsolately waiting somewhere be-
yond the Rio Gila.
Here she babe them consider the room
and the entire house as theirs and saw
personally that all preparations were
made for their comfort More than this,
she threw open q wardrobe In which
were harging several Of tho silk gowns
and mtaiillas which every Mexican
woman Of her quality is supposed to
possess
THE beautiful senorita may wish
change of dress. she said. Anything
In the wardrobe Is at her service to
wear. We were expecting that my niece
Tomasa and her husband would occupy
this room. They were TO have been mar
ried tonight. Alas, where are they
now,' Then, seeing that her listeners
were interested in the topic. she went
OH to give them an account OF the in
tended wedding and the mishap that
had inieIfered 20 prevent IL.
While Carmen laved herself with fair
water Lupita dartcd into an adjoining
room, where she tipped things about and
examined them inquisitiyely.
"This is the priests chamber, f." abe
called. Here is his rosary. think the
alcalde's wife took me for nun. I've
q great mind TO BE- one In earnest for
little while.
She swept back to Carmen with the
rosary about her neck. and. suddenly
stopping, stood posed before her, with
hands crossed upon her breast. the long
cloak drawn over her head in the atti-
tude Of nun ut devotion. Then, with
q laugh, she threw of the cloak and be-
gan to dance, rattling the beads Of the
rosary like castancts
Carmen was too much Mortified at the
sacrilege to protest in words. Instantly
Lupita stopped and stood looking mt her
seriously. Carmen. her simple toilet
completed. sat by the window, her ell
bow On the sill, her forehead resting
upon her hand. Her eyes aud mouth
showed that she was ON the point Of
crying. II was little wonder that she
should feel disconsolate, poor child,
hung as she was among strangers, weary
and famished. after the exciting. peril
Gus vicissitudes Of such day.
"what is it, senorita, that troubles
you now?" asked Lupita i'll tone that
expressed her sympathy.
my father and friends at home
what will they say and think Of me after
this, carried away and remaining 10
long under protection Of men who are
not of my kin? You know how severe
and exacting our people arc with an un-
married girl. And / am innocent.
Lupita was silent for moment, then
laughed.
'Senorita Carmen Bustamante," she
said, "you love the young American
caballero who fought for you and res
cued You. Why not marry him tonight"
Marry him - tonight?" repeated
Carmen. turning quickly round toward
her madcap adviser with eyes very wide
open, yet with NO sign Of displessurs In
her face.
"why not' He will jump At tho
chance"
Marry without my fathers consent
away from his house, with none OF my
kindred present."
"Why not?" The priest Is here. and
100 guests will dance at your welding.
Then you can snap your fingers g. the
world. And at ycur father. too, she
added under her breath.
Carmen said nothing. She was think
Ing gravely. Presently she rose, walked
70 the mirror and began to arrange her
hair. She still was absorbed in thought,
but little look Of complacency came
upon her face ut tie sight Of the fair
picture the glass reflected. Lupita
threw the CLOAK about herself and slipped
from the room.
Five minutes later the Mexican actress
was talking earnestly with Felix In .
corner Of the ballroom. Then they went
together to the room where Carmen was,