The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-12-02

LANCER, anu sdA0 tuul dS tue Juice WIS
mot very busy just then he thought he
should like to make the trip himself.
This was better than the client expected
and the matter was soon fixed up.
Perhaps you will meet your folks
down there" said the senior partner.
'Why, perhaps / WILL" said Duncan,
as if he had just thought of it. But he
told his partner that it was hardly prob
able, as he was going down on the low
err table lands near the coast, and the
excursions usually kept pretty well up
on the higher plateaus. ''uss-'s
That night before he started he got a
letter from his mother, and in 1t she
said: "Alice Chambers is lovely, and
we enjoy herso much" So that was her.
The next morning he started. His,
journey was q 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 a 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
landsoftendependso 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. q
A small party of the villagers who
had been up on the mountain cutting
wood had found a burro wandering
alone. They did not recognize it as
one of the village burros. 1t had
side saddle on it, and tucked under one
of the straps was little glove. They
knew that young American or Euro
pean woman must have ridden the
burro, and they began hunt to find
her.
Some miles back they found her un-
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 very
few minutes she revived, and, opening
her eyes, smiled a wan smile. When
her eye caught that of Duncan's she
started, and he stepped up and said:
II 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" $685..
She regained her vigor quickly under
the ministrations of the old Indian
woman, and soon told them that she
had started out with 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- al
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
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 a great mob of Mexicans, who
cheered the couple to the echo. In
some way the.story had gotten into the
panerS