The Colfax chronicle., 1902-02-08

had climbed upon leaning tree-trunk
to secure a gorgeous orchid, but on
starting to descend had seen big
green serpent on the ground just be-
low. j soon dispatched the reptile,
and lifted the girl to the ground. She
was so overcome that she did not think
to express her gratitude. She leaned
heavily on my shoulder for few feet,
and would have dropped in swoon,
but / caught her in my arms and car
ried her to he generals tent.
"Has the senorita thanked your in
quired Mr.. Strong, the next morning
as we were getting ready to resume
the journey. "The general was teas
| ing her this morning about resting
so gracefully in the big Americans
arms! If she is shy to-day, old fel-
low, don't lake exceptions. She is
grateful, for heard her express her
| sentiments
As we were riding off she came to
the rear and with the grace OF a queen,
though in broken EP ylish, expressed
her regret for giving me so much trou-
be by her silly fears, and told me how
grateful she was. More than this,
she deigned to ride by my side for
more than a mile. speaking of the
scenery and making many inquiries
about my native land. And when, late
in the evening, we arrived at her Ia
ther's plantation, she and the gen.
eral insisted on my taking up quar-
ters in their home.
/ / went to the open sheds like the
other employees, to sleep that night. In
that semi-tropic region, night is not
| without its romantic aspect, even II
there should be no woman in the case.
Lying on my hammock, ! could look
out on the moonlit hills, soft and fair
as dream of oriental scenes. The
breezes came in laden with the per-
| fumes of bananas, oranges and bios
soming trees. Singing birds made the
hours sweet, recalling the mccking
birds which warb,ed in the locusts at
home. The continual howl of hum
dreds of babboons was mellowed by
the distancee into a roar no less pleas
ant than the far-off sound of water
falls; and at intervals through the
night the Indians whooped some sig.
| nal known to the race, and were an
swered by others in the mountains OF
in the wales.
The days passed very Pleasantly foi
weeks and months. saw much of Isa.
bella. / sought her society, in fact
and was not repelled. 1t is not boast.
ing, l hope, to say that she enjoyed
my presence more than that of the
wealthy young Senor Barrios, of 8
neighboring plantation. In time this
young Spaniard became quite jealous
In his chagrin he pnce in the presence
of Mr.. Stro-g and Isabella referred
sneeringly tc my occupation-for jeal
ousy and love are alike in every cline
Mr.. Strong assured him that my op
portunities had been the best, that ]
lpreferred my occupation to other call
ings that had been open, and that his
ancestry could not be more honorable
than mine; ali of which my friend
had imagined, though l trust he never
greatly exaggerated things. Isabella
enjoyed the taking down, while heI
suitor became more jealous.
| l think Gen. Mercedes, who favoret
the suit of Senor Barrios, became preju
| diced toward me on account of my
| attentions to his daughter. He sooI
became chilly in his bearing, and for.
bade me his house - little dreaming
! that love fattens on opposition. Soon
things got to be unbearable, and
resolved 10 return to the states. But
found that / should not carry my
heart back with me.
One night, as lay in my hammock
it was the night before my intended
Departure could not go to sleep.
About midnight some one neared the
shed, coming from the direction OF
Gen. Mercedes residence. In the
clear moonlight l discovered that ii
was Mr.. Strong. He brought word
from Isabella, who had come TO him
at that time of night, that Barrios
would perhaps make an attempt on
my life, and warning me to be on my
guard.
| "Where is she now?" / inquired.
waiting out there TO know whai
you intend to do" h.. responded,
"Then / must see her. After that,
shall impatiently await the attack o,
the coward"
There, she and !, in the beautiful
moonlight, in the fragrance of the
tropic blossoms, held our tryst-ex
perienced some hints of the joys that
must once have been Eden's. With Isa.
be.la's arms about me, heard her soft
response to my declarations of love
and fice.ity, and l promised to return
to the states, prepare a home for her
and then some day take her to it. Later
on Senior Barrios and hired scoundre
made their attack-but they found 9
foe who gave them better than they
sent. l infer from Isabella's letter
that he has not fully recovered.
This is my story, crudeley told, fol
l am not a practiced writer. j hav,
been at home for some two months