Abilene weekly reflector., 1899-11-23

next morning on the return trip. But
that evening something happened
that altered his plans.
"A small party Of the villagers who
had been up on the mountain cutting
wood had found a burro wandering
alone. They did nop recognize it as
one Of the village burros. 1t had y
side saddle on it and tucked under
one of the straps was little glove.
They knew that young American or
European woman must have ridden
the burro and they began a hunt to
find her.
Some miles back they found her
unconscious by the road, and putting
her on the burro, which they had leo
back, they brought her into camp.
AS they brought her up Duncan walk.
ed up the little village street 10 see
what the matter was. He was as
founded to see Alice Chambers on the
back Of the little mule.
She was still unconscious. One OF
the old women of the village took her
into the little open shelter, and in q
very few moments she revived, and,
opening her eyes, smiled wan smile.
When her eye caught that of Duncan
she started, and he stepped up and
said: a tfia 0 a
II am Robert Duncan, Miss Cham
bers, and my mother and sister have
been travelling with you. ! am here
on business, and will be happy 10
help you in any way possible. When
you are stronger we shall be glad TO
hear your story"
She regained her vigor quickly un.
der the ministrations of the old In
dian woman, and soon told them that
she had started out with a party from
the little town on the railroad 10
make an excursion to some famous
caves. In some way she had become
separated from the others, and had
tried to find her way back. She be.
came confused, and, meeting several
natives, they had tried to understand
each other with the result that she
became more end more at sea.
She had eaten only what some kind.
ly Indians had given her. At last she
went so long without food that she
felt a faintness coming over her, and
she knew no more till she woke and
found herself In the little village.
In few days she was strong
enough to travel, and Duncan made
himself demi-god in the village BY
leaving a sum Of money that to the
Indians was fabulous. They calcula-
ted that the excursion party must be
at the City Of Mexico, and when they
reached the railroad they telegraphed
the party. u .jsf
They were met at the station by IN
enthusiastic crowd made up Of the ex-
cursion party, the American minister,
and a great mob Of Mexicans, who
cheered the couple to the echo. In
some way the story had got into the
papers.
duncan decided to stay for some
days, and telegraphed his partner to
that effect, who wired back congral.
ulations, and Duncan found himself
I hero. He drove with them and went
to see the sights. sI
One afternoon Ae asked Alice II she
would drive with him to the grove OF
Chapultepec. They dismissed the
coachman at the entrance and told
him they would meet him there in .
couple OF hours, Then they wander
ed through that majestic grove,
where it is always twilight even at
midday. They had been talking over
their strange experience. "Alice,'
said Duncan, you OF course know
that everybody thinks you are my
sweetheart, and was before we left
home?" m
She lblushed and owned that she
had heard something to that effect.
"Well," said he, why not make II
true? Alice, have loved you from
the first day l saw you in the train
In Boston" 3W GW9M
She looked up at him and said
archly: "Well, Robert, it was quite
utual."-Cleyeland Plain Dealer,