The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-11-28

ahead Of him.
She saw a camp pitched by a creek
that ran through a large and beauti-
full grove of pecan trees. This grove
was in the middle of a level space some
acres in extent and green with late
grasses. On every side it was shell
tered by the rising hills. 1t must have
been a very furnace of heat in sum
mer, but at that season it's tempera-
ture was delightful. No tents were
visible. Instead, jacals Of mesquite
poles had been erected and rooted with
water grasses. They were arranged
regularly upon either side Of the
stream, facing it some twenty feet
away. They thus presented the effect
of a rude, single street. with the bright
water in it's center. At the far end,
under the low spreading limbs of a
mighty pecan, was a hut twice the
of any one of the others and coz
structed with more care. Vavara sig
nified to her that it was his palace"
and contained his Offices and living
quarters. 1t was to be given up to
hCl SASluSlSO use, HC dSSuISu utI, uA-
til 1.-The Senior, her husband" chose
to buy her back. He himself would
be content with ruder quarters else
where.
The Sonora shall have a maid" he
went on, who will prepare her meals.
She need fear no harm. While we are
contrabandistas, we admire, we rever-
ence, we worship beauty, and the
Sonora will forgive me for saying that
she is very beautiful. We have quite
a little colony here. Most of my men
are married and live with their fam
lilies in the houses you see."
Indeed, Lois had already noticed a
half-dozen brown semi-nude children
rolling about on the grass and felt
much cheered thereby. 1t came to her
that her value in Vavara's eyes rested
solely upon his mistake; it was evil
dent, too, that he regarded the Glynns
as people of great wealth and i'm
portance. 1t followed therefore that
the more Of hauteur and nonchalance
she showed as BETTING a hidalgo's
wife. the more respectfully she would
be treated. So, with a languid and
naughty wave of the hand, she signi-
fed her desire to be conducted to her
hut. The smuggler fastened to obey.
He helped her from the saddle grace
fully and strongly and led her to the
door. With an implied apology, he
entered after her and proceeded to en-
large upon the comforts at her COM
mand. 1t was rudely but substantially
furnished, with a table, some chairs
and a hammock. Hanging to hooks
upon the wall was a carbine, which he
proceeded hastily to remove. The
caDin was of two rooms and in the
rear chamber was a rude washstand
jug and bowl of gaudily figured Mex
lean pottery, a huge water jar sus-
pended by grass-plaited cords from a
joist, an iron bedstead and a closet
nailed to the wall, which contained
tableware of various kinds. There was
also a fireplace with cooking imple-
ments. The floors Of both rooms were
OF the hard earth. Vavara stepped to
the rear door and called softly. In re-
spouse there came a slender figure a
Mexican girl OF not more than four
teen years old, with the plump oval
face, straight black hair, LIQUID ewes
n white teeth of her age and class
She was %singularly pretty, with a seri-
Gus, wistful gaze and a ~footstep as
light as a fawn.
This" said Vavara, "is Jocosa. q,
our band. Her father was killed he-
low Eagle Pass last year and her
mother went to the good God long AGO
She is fond of English and Americans
because of the brave Senior Weston
now u~nhappily dead. He was kind to
her and while in. this city"-it was
characteristic Of the bombastic rasca,
to speak OF his camp as a city-"he
taught to her something of the read
ing. She will be to you a communion
OF your W adored sex. / go, hon.
ored sonora, to communicate with the
noble Senior, your husband. shall
neal from him, the latest, day after
tne morrow when I trust you will be
restored to your friends and kindred"
With a sweeping bow which carried
the rim Of his sombrero to The dirt
moor OF the jacal. he was gone. wall
ing backward.
Lois was growing faint with hunger
and Jocosa rapidly prepared a break
fast OF strong coffee, tortillas and eggs.
1nls was served on red earthenware
with no knife or fork. It is the Mex,
car fashion to use the tortilla as
knife and fork in eating eggs. Red
pepper permeated the food and chilli
c~on-carne gravy was poured over II
IN a stream. Lois was well enough
acquainted with the cookery OF the
country to understand its pe~culiarities
and to enjoy 1t. While she ate. she
talked to the girl who stood apart re-
spectfully, watching and admirinr the
strange and different beauty Of her
new companion.
You knew and liked the Senior we.-
ton?" Jocosa was asked.
oh, well; much" was the nu,cr
reply, the hands passionately clasped.
"Why?"
He was 80 strong, so brave. 10