The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-03-14

denly burst into irrepressible laugh
ter.
"I think you are perfectly ridicu-
lous, Maruia," she said, in a provoked
tone. 81 don't know anything about
spirit ediums. I have heard mamma
speak OF them, but she had horror
of their wicked lies and cruel fraud.
But can see no reason in the world
why the spirits of those who have
loved rs in this life should not be
near us to comfort US after death has
parted them from US, when our
! thoughts are lifted high enough to
reach them. I don't like jesting
about such subjects; they are too
sacred for laughter. Any way, I am
not medium and I have no Indian
control"
''But you have, Lorits. Either the
princess or her daughter has taken
YOU in charge. Il would say the beau.
tiful Anacaona-the Golden Flower.
Such splendid name for a conh6l,
and very taking"
"You are incorrigible" exclaimed
Dolores, as she gathered up the loose
leaves of her manuscript and folded
them together. 'I shall be sorry /
read my little story if you are goingt to
turn it into ridieule." r..
"Polly is a wicked girl" said
Stanley, quickly. 'But I am
grateful to YOU beyond words,
Cousin Dolores. All we Men
dozas have heard something, how
and then, of our singular ancestry, but !
have never so thoroughly understood it
as 1 do now. Evidently, your father
knew more of it than the rest of US,
and perhaps he could have carried it
even further than he has done in that
story. Of course, it is understood that
the little Dolores, with all those won
derful gems sewed up in the seams Of
her garments, was carried away from
the island before the upheavel of the
earthquake and the destruction of the
Indian city in the volcanic eruption" /"
"Oh, yes," answered Dolores, care
lessly. "No doubt she reached the
Spanish ships in safety, and, having
been taken to Spain, it is possible that
the sailors hunted up Pedro's othe,
child, Raphael. The brother and
sister must have grown to manhood
and womanhood, and among their de.
scendants there may be many still liv-
ing besides us two; but my father was
the true heir to the great Mendoza
treasure, for he alone possessed the
secret to it, which lie inherited from
his father"
Stanley almost betrayed himself by
his quickly suppressed exclamation at
these unexpected words. But Dolores,
who had not been looking at him, was
quite unconscious of the effect she had
produced; and, having now carefully
tied up the roll of manuscript, she rose
to leave the room.
"But this treasure! What. was it?
Where is it2 Do you know anything
of it?' exclaimed Stanley, with an
eagerness he vainly strove to disguise.
"I know nothing of it," said Dol
ores, indiferently, 'fexcept that it is
hidden somewhere in the Santiago
Canyon, where my father died and
where he now lies buried. It is very
great treasure, I have heard mamma
say, of fabulous value in gold and
precious stones, among them some of
these very gems that Pedro and the
Gold Flower sewed into the garments
of my little namesake. But I take no
interest in it. My father lost his life
in quest of it and died broken-hearted
without finding it. Ny mother lies in
a nameless grave, bestowed partly by
charity, and I think I should be will
ing to give up my claim to it for the
privilege Of burying her ashes in the
grave Of the husband who adored her.
But" she added mockingsy, "this
Columbian year is to be an eventful
one orAmericans. Who knows but it
may also reveal the hiding-place Of the
Mendoza treasure. Itwas prophesied,
long ago, that it would be unearthed
at the close of the four hundred years,
and the name of the discoverer was
/ given as Dolores Mendoza; but in this
great country there may be many OF
that name, although know of only
one." .' ...
TO BE CONTINUED.