The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-02-21

and he determined to avail himself OF
the advantages of Anacaona's evident
preference for him.
stThe Golden Flower'-for that
was the meaning OF the Indian maid
ems name in the language of her peo-
ple-showed loves own quickness In
learning the soft, melodious words OF
the Spanish tongue; and as she never
tired of listening to his voice, Pedro
found no difficulty in his wooing.
Even her name, when he learned its
meaning, was fascinating; and when
she showed him small, star-shaped
flower, telling him that was the An
acsona,' he pressed it to his lips and
declared that henceforth it should be
as dear as any gift of the gods.
".But why DO you call it the flower
of gold?' asked Pedro, his gaze intent
ly fixed on the pretty blossom, which
was of the brightest crimson-a true
blood color. Though as he turned it
about in his fingers, the sunlight,
cleaning on it's velvety leaves, seemed
to strike color like orange flames from
the heart of it.
"'Not for its color-for the mean
ing. Ny people call it golden flower,
answered the girl, in the broken
phrases that Pedro always under
stood as we'll as she now felt the
meaning of his glowing looks.
"And, pointing over the mountains,
she explained, by eloquentn panto-
mime when words failed, how tile
flower grew only where gold was
found, and that she had been ever the
first to find this rare flower, till the
people had bestowed it's name upon
her.
cat these words Pedro's heart
beat quick with Joy.
"From the first he had been assured
that gold was plentiful on this island,
and that it existed in vast quantities
among the mountains, and 1t had
been severe discipline for him to
keep his avaricious desires under
control until the right moment should
arrive.
eSince he had come to tb. city of
Ornofay, he had often spoken of gold;
but the Indians had always looked
toward Anacaona, and he had sup
posed this to mean that they were not
free to speak in her presence. But
row he speedily guessed that 1t lndl-
Gated some peculiar and special re-
latiol between her and the precious
article he so coveted; and while this
was, to certain extent, reassuring to
Pedro, it was also alarming. II the
Indian girl really believed him su-
pernatural being, she would deny him
nothing, but if she suspected him OF
playing a part, how should he be able
to influence her? He had only to
look in her eyes to answer his ques-
ton; and meeting her soft, adoring
gaze, Pedro felt that she could be
won and managed like other women.
"'Shall we not search together for
the golden fower?' ne asked, with q
smile that made the girls sensitive
beng thrill with Joy; answer me,
sweetheart
".'Ah. yes, milo querido, and pluck
the flower from the groundr and she
showed him how, when she had
wrenched the plant from it's bed, she
had found tiny Jumps of the yellow
metal clinging to it's roots.
"Ihe eyes of Mendoza glittered
with far from heavenly light, but
Anacaona did rot see it; nor would
she have understood the avaricious
glow that now overspread his face.
To her the gold was wonder
full thing, because she alone had ever
found its precious flower; and
that was a gift bestowed on
her by the gods-for some
great purpose-as she had always
believed. That purpose was now re-
vealed; it was to enable her to lead
their messenger to the. places where
gold could be found, that she and her
people might build an altar to the sum
god, bright and beautiful as his own
glorious face. -.
Tomorrow, then, shall we hunt
the flower of gold together?' asked
Pedro, responding with enthusiasm to
the innocent words which showed him
way to realize his widest dreams.
"'Even as thou sayest, most beau
tiful, answered the Indian girl; and
| again she crossed her arms upon her
| breast and bowed her head, as she had
done when they first met.
"Pedro was tempted to take her in
his arms and press his suit like any
mortal woer, but something he did not
understand still held him back. He
merely placed his hand on the bowed
head and blessed her.
Notwithstanding the favor shown
him by Anacaona and the certainty he
felt of being able to win her for wife,
Mendoza had never yet put his feel
ings into any form OF declaration.
"He spoke, indeed, the language of
love, and the Golden Flower respond
ed, but he could never feel quite sure
whether her evident alteration was the
devotion of q worshiper to its diety,
| or the love of woman for man. And
the more he learned to know Anaca-
ona. and the better she learned to ex-
press herself in his language, the moro
he became puzzled. Sometimes she
told him of visions tEet came to her
and of voices that she heard-visions
of angels with which the mir seemed
peopled, and strains of heavenly music
that wrapt her whole being in delight!
And when she spoke of these things
she seemed transfgured; a light
flashed from her eyes that caused her
face to shine, and star-like radiance
cleaned above her brow.