Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-05-06

shooting rcd WINGED cartridges. had
scaled tho cii1 and. following Lis dogs,
almost stumbled Into Eiuette's retreat.
Tho young man. after apologizine. with
drew hastily, hut his dogs, enjoying tho
carcsses Of the timid Inst delighted girl,
refused to answer his call, and he was
Obliged TO return to induce chem to fol-
low him.
From this incident there g-cw an &C
quaiDtauce as cartfnlly conducted as
tho strictest rules Of the old French
family conduct wonld prescribe. And
ono morning the count was somewhat
surprised TO receive n visit from the
young mans father and mother, who
had driven from the extreme end of the
island for the purpose Of introducing
themselves and requesting permission
for their son to pay his addresses TO Nj
netto. The motherless child was intro
duced to the uma wbO desired to be
her mother-at-law aud her husband.
Family history and family matters
were discussed nt length. and tho plant
er and his vito did not depart until tho
desired consent had been obtained. Aft
or this the young couple were betroth-
cd, the engagement duly announced,
and at tho expiration Of nearly a year
tho date Of the marriage set and made
public, when one day Ninette, while
reading in her f~avorite nook, was over
taken by one Of those fierce storms for
which tho island is famous, and in at
tempting to regain the top Of the hill
slipped and fell down through the tan
gled un~derbrush, CUT aud SCARED by
jagged rocks. to the sands below. Hero
she was found by friends, who were
alarmed at the storm and her absence
and started out to search for her.
Sho was carried homo almost l~ifeless,
and for several days hovercd between
life and death, until tho vigor of youth
enabled her TO recover sufficiently TO
understand the terrible accident that
had befullen her Her once beautiful
features were 80 cut aud SCARED That
utter one Mortified lcok into q hand mir
ror the poor girl turned away, sent for
Der father and announced her intention
Of entering a convent as 500 ss she was
we'll enough to do so.
The almost distracted lover had rid
den over from his mountain home day
after day TO inquire after her condition.
His parents lad mado repeated calls,
md kind hearted strangers hitherto ex.
cluded from tho counts domain by the
cold. exclusive disposition of its owner
now cainc and offered sympathy aud al.
sistAnce daily. As soon rs the attending
physician decided that Ninette had
sufficiently recovered to DO able to bear
all interview with her lover without Sc
rious results tho almost frantic young
man presented himself. only to DO tear
fully informed by tho old count that his
daughter desired him to convey her un-
dying love with every assurance hat it
wculd remain unchanged until death,
but chat es the fearful accident that sho
had mot with had disflgured her so that
she was confident she could not survive
Henri expression of horror when he
looked upon her poor mutilated features
she would beg him TO remember her AZ
no saw her last. and that sho would ever
cherish his memory in tho ro-
treat that che desired to DO conveyed to
rs soon as her health would permit.
Sadly and silently the young man
took his departure. to return two days
later, when he camo instead of on horse
back. as was his wont, in tho clumsy
old family carriage. from which he was
assisted to alight by IL favOrite servant,
when lie said to the Hstonished count;
Take mo TO your daughter. Tell her
that the changes in her features 1 can
never know. She will always DO as
sweet and beautiful to me us when /
saw her last. l shall never SEQ her
again, but cannot live without her so.
ciety Tuko me TO her. She Will see no
looks Of horror, for l au1 blind.
Htnri. after leaving the counts door,
had ridden 20 his own homie, taken q
last look at the scene that no bad loved
since boyhood, and then summoned n
Hindoo fakir, and after II long consulta-
ton submitted to a painful operation
that deprived him Of his sight forever.
Tho devotion that could not exist out
side the atmosphere of mystery and su-
perstition that hangs heavily over the
little island was rewarded, and the de-
scendants Of Henri and Ninette now
live in the beautiful little valley back
of the capital and tell of the yelled wo-
man who conducted tho blind planter
over his estate, and who was his guide
and companion until both were laid to
rest near tho scene Of their first meet
ing, where a marble tablet set in the
side Of the cliff marks tho spot and
makes it Utmost sacred to the residents
Of the island.
l returned to the city, and it was sew
eral days before l was able TO complete
ly shake Off the Undesirable impress
sion caused by what the old innkeeper
stoutly asserted was a true story of tho
love of Henri and Ninette. San Fran
cisco Chronicle.
His Own Idea.