The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-12-12

MS modest capital he became a con-
tractor on a railway then being driven
through the granite heart of the land
southwestward. His knowledge of the
language and Of the people aided him.
with increased resurces. he settled to
coffee planting. Still in the first flush
OF his good fortune he had not known
a moment Of regret.
Upon a plateau which, from a height
or i've hundred feet overlooks the
waves OF the Gulf, he built his home.
TAI trees surround it and about it
brilliant tropic flowers bloom ever.
alive the day long with birds not less
gorgeous than themselves. Swept by
the Dreezes OF the sea that sing MUIR
murously through the foliage, it knows
moi extremes Of heat or cold. It is
FAR away that scarcely an echo Of the
worlds turmoil reaches it, yet a mile
distant. run the railway he assisted
10 build and the morning paper is laid
upon his table. II people knew of his
single lapse from strict morality, they
would be apt to say that fortune has
Deen too good to him, for people in
general distinctly lack charity and are
GUESSED by the belief that fortune il
too good to every one except them
selves. 1t is plain that his wife does
not think SO, as she smiles at him
across the snowy cloth, while the
morning wind, soft as an infants kiss.
pours through the window. 1t is plain
that Jocosa does not think so. glanc-
ing In now and hen from q ham
mock swung on the balcony. Jocosa
is busily e~ndeavoring to absorb more
OF che reading" With a laugh of en-
Joyment he reads from a letter.
brought by the small Mexican boy on
the small Mexican pony from the rail-
way station just after daylight:
BALCONIES Ranche, Texas. o.. s. A.,
March 20. 49,
My Dear Weston and ny Dear Lois:
Il sold q COW yesterday and. bein.
provided with means, I will be with
you almost as o as you get this.
The rancho Is here yet and is un-
changed. You may have seer in thu
papers an account OF Maude's death.
he was killed in q gambling den in
San Antonio three months back. His
had been a hard life. poor devil, and
am not n to Judge him. Vavar1,
captured not long ago by the Mexican
authorities and being promptly tried.
has returned as a convict to the army
In which he was, l think, an officer.
II ever you see him buy him a pair OF
shoes and a package OF cigaritos for
old sake's sake. The English are still
endeavoring to make money playing
polo. ! am tired of this place. Fol
why? We have a new g~overness from
, place shc calls Moo Yawk. She has
said that she loves me as a sister. Bob
Harding has been here three times
within . fortnight and has had no
mind to do anything, except spoon. /
remember with wonder that there wal
a time when I liked Harding. Mr..
Glynn is we'll and "Palomita" is much
stronger. To-day" I regret to say.
has returned to his evil courses and we
looked for thirty-six hours recently
before We found "Miggs'' curled under
a cactus with a ~rattler, also asleep,
w4.hin q yard of him. This Is all due
to Harding and the new governess.
From the time of your fitting until
last night Mrs. Glynn has not men,
toned your names. At dinner, how
ever, she laid down her knife and
fork, looked at each OF US In turn and
said deliberately: "It was q charming
ly romantic affair, don't you know. i
shall write a novelaebout it," We
knew what she meant and Lascellas,
who was always an ili-mannered pig,
choked himself with. bread to keep
from shouting. Until I see you again!
Afectionately, ALLYN"
THE END.