Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-11-08

| excursions usually kept pretty well uI
on the higher plateaus.
That night before he started he got a
letter from his mother, and in it she
said: "Alice Chambers is lovely, and
we enjoy her so much" So that was her
name-Chambers.
The next morning he started. His
! journey was tiresome one, and after
several days spent on the train he found
himself one glorious afternoon climb
ing little mountain path on the back
of burro. Duncan had told his folks
by wire of his intended trip, and found
by looking over their itinerary that they
had passed quite near where he now
was.
He had left the train at little town
through which they had passed some
days previously, and was making his
way into the country to interview an old
Indian whom he expected to find the
| next morning. The title to Mexican
lands often depends on information only
obtainable from the kindly Indian.
That night he slept on his blanket
under the stars, and early the next
morning was pushing on, the path
growing still wider and more beautiful.
At last, about nine o'clock, he came
over the spur of the mountain and
looked down on lovely valley. His
guide and interpreter told him that in
the little village which he could see was
the old Indian.
About noon they arrived, the matter
of the title was soon fixed up and ar
engagements were made to leave the
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 burro wandering
alone. They did not recognize it as
one of the village burros. 1t had a
side saddle on it, and tucked under one
of the straps was little glove. They
knew that a young American or Euro
pean woman must have ridden the
burro, and they began hunt to find
her.
Some miles back they found her I'M
conscious by the road, and putting her
on the burro which they had led back
they brought her into camp. AS they
brought her up Duncan walked up the
little village street to see what the mat
ter was. He was astounded 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 a very
few minutes she revived, and, opening
her eyes, smiled wan smile. When
her eye caught that of Duncan's she
started, and he stepped up and said:
Il am Robert Duncan, Miss Cham
bers, and my mother and sister have
been travelling with you. I am here on
business, and will be happy to help you
in any way possible. When you are
stronger we shall be glad to hear your
story"
She regained her vigor quickly under
the ministrations of the old Indian
woman, and soon told them that she
had started out with a party to 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 became confused,
and, meeting several natives, they had
tried to understand each other, with the
result that she became more and more
at sea.
She had eaten only what some kindly
Indians had given her. At last she went
so long without food that she felt
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 a
demi-god in the village by leaving a
sum of money that to the Indians was
fabulous. They calculated that the ex-
cursion party must be at the City of
Mexico, and when they reached the
railroad they telegraphed the party. An
answer came back which they got at
station further on. 1t said: THANK
God, she is found.''
They were met at the station by an
enthusiastic crowd made up of the ex-
cursion party, the American minister
and great mob of Mexicans, who
cheered the couple to the echo. In
some way the story had gotten into the
papers.
Duncan decided to stay for some days,
and telegraphed his partner to that ef-
feet, who wired back congratulations,
and Duncan found himself a hero. He
drove with them and went to see the
sights.
One afternoon he asked Alice if 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 a couple
of hours. Then they wandered through
the majestic grove, where it is al
ways twilight even at midday. They
had been talking over their strange ex-
perience. "Alice," said Duncan, "you
of course know that everybody thinks
you are my sweetheart and was before
we left home?'
She blushed and owned that she had
heard something to that effect.
"Well,' said he, "why not make it
true? Alice, have loved you from the
first day saw you in the train in Bos-
ton"
She looked up at him and said, archly:
swell, Robert, it was quite mutual, I
assure you. 0, there are some people
coming. You mustn't"
From which, I infer, that he UNDER
stood her to say: "Yes."-Boston
Globe.
Honor for old King Cole.