The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-02-28

in color than her mother, her skin
had the rich olive tiat of Spain,
and her large eyes had that lnten-
sity of color and star-like brllllancy
that have made the maidens Of Mad
rid famed throughout the world.
They had also the luminous radiance
that had once thrown light like halo
above the brow of Anacaona. Her
abundant hair, as black as her moth
er's, had wavy softness unknown to
the Indians, and on her lips and
cheeks was the hue of the ripe pome-
granate. She aad all the beauty of
both parents and more, as if the union
of two races had combined to produce
a third, distinct and original. From
her father she had inherited the Men
doza birthmark, and the little, heart
shaped mole on her left temple was
the color of bright amber, deepening
under the stress of emotion until it
looked like brilliant topaz raised
from the pale-olive skin. The mys-
terious psychic temperament Inherited
from her mother could already be seen
in the dreamy look, that gave an ex-
preston of exultation to the childish
face, as if the spirit already saw
through the coming centuries.
tThe Indians adored the little
Dolores. Her mother once more lived
the happy innocence Of girlhood in
the child's radiant smile, and even
Pedro Mendoza had few sacred mo-
ment, when his little daughter seemed
more precious than the yellow glitter
of the only god he had ever wor-
SHIPPED. But, for her sake as well as
his own, he now. longed more than
ever to get away from this island that
had once seemed the entrance to Para
disc. He had wild dreams OF the fu-
ture. His wealth would be fabulous,
and with the blood of Spanish mobiles,
to which he lay claim, might gain
him o recognition and place among
the princes-if he could but make his
escape!
cit was in the year 1893 that word
came to Mendoza that Spanish ship
lay at anchor less that league from
the shore, and had sent boats for
supply of water. The news was
brought by his two favorite Indians,
who had remained entirely faithful to
him, and who always continued to be-
lieve him q messenger from the skies.
He had given them the fanciful but ap-
propriate names of Flestfoot and Scar
let Wings, in token of their swiftness;
and he would now have accompanied
them, at their best speed, in 'order4to
greet his pale-face friends, had not
Anacacna suddenly confronted him.
with a superb gesture of COM
mand she waved away all who were
standing near, and then she spoke, in
low, concentrated tones.
"'Traitor!'' she said. sWouldst
thou leave me? All, milo AMIGO!
Pedro, beloved one, hast thou no
heart? Or, art thou indeed god Of
evil, as many Of my people say? But,
beware! If I but raise my hand, there
are those who will rend thee limb
from limb and burn thy false heart to
ashes!'
"And Mendoza, covering before
her, felt the truth of this dreadful
threat and knew in every fiber that his
safety 10y in the fact that he was the
husband of Anacaona and the father of
Dolores. It was also useless to deny
his intention to quit the island, for he
had before now seen that the Golden
Flower possessed the power to read
his thoughts and even to put them in
the very words he had in his mind.
"For a moment he stood over
whelmed, despair in his heart, and
feeling that he could never now es-
cape from this accursed island. Then
he suddenly raised his head proudly
and opened wide his arms, whilea glow
of well-simulated feeling lit up his
eyes and flushed his face.
"'Come with me! he cried in his
most persuasive tones. Thou shalt
be my queen, in land where all men
are gods, as am, and all women
are queens, but none so beautiful as
thyself! A land that is truly that
heaven you see in your dreams, and
to which I can carry you without dy-
ing-that heaven where our little
Dolores may live forever, and where
death, the terror and fear of this
world, can never reach us'
TO DE CONTINUED.