The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-08-01
CHAPTER III.
Introducing the Honorable Russell
Maude.

Maude.
BALCONIES rancho faced to the east. In
front of it ran Arroyo Pena, a clear
stream, shallow for the most part, but
having deep dark pools in places. It's
banks were thickly grown with will
lows, cottonwoods, live-oaks and pecan
trees. Indeed, Lois had seen the line
-Df them when five miles distant. The
arroyo, after traversing the greater
part Of the rancho land, emptied into
the Rio Grande ten miles below the
house. Being permanent water" it
was of priceless value to the English
colony which had planted itself in that
far spot. The house itself covered
nearly an acre of ground. 1t was of
one story and built of adobe" or sun
dried slabs of clay, and it was painted
. glazing white with lime. Its roof was
Of "tule," description of water grass,
laid on to foot in depth and i'm
pervious to the tropic downpours
which, though infrequent, yet pre-
vented the country from being desert
All about the ranche-house were hills,
acter five miles to the eastward, and
these hills were, for the most part,
bare, though there were occasional
small forests Of mesquite and wide
stretches of cacti of many kinds. The
yellow, turbid Rio Grande wound its
way to the sea two miles away at the
back. On this river the rancho had
frontage of more than twenty miles
In all this portion of the stream there
were but two known fords-one called
the Carrie" ford from growth OF
wild canes near it; the other known as
"Palafox" ford. Beginning a half-mile
behind the ranche-house, suddenly
showing in perfect form on the side
of hill and running straight to the
river and beyond, was wide smooth
road. 1t penetrated far into the in
terror Of the Mexican Republic, it was
said, and had formerly been much used
by goods trains of carts, but of late not
. wheel had touched it. Though dis
used, 1t retained its perfection and the
hoofs Of straying cattle and horses did
not mar its surface. 1t was supposed
to be creation of early Spanish ad-
venturers. Whoever made it, they did
their work well-those old-time engi-
neers. Near to the ranche-house pro-
per, not more than a hundred feet
away, stood similar but smaller
building, which Lois knew intuitively
to be the bachelors quarters" of
which her companion had spoken.
Grouped In the rear were various out
houses, sleeping rooms for servants
and 'cow-hands, kitchen and so forth,
The corrals-several of them-were a
quarter of mile distant.
AS the ambulance dashed to the
door. the mules stopping without pres
sure of rein or word of command =
pale lady, with limp figure clad in q
loose wrapper, with hair slightly dis
ordered and bottle of smelling salts
In her hand, sauntered forward. This
was Mrs. Glynn. She was followed nv
Glynn himself, tall spare man, with
. pointed beard streaked with gray. a
nigh forehead, hooked nose, the length
OF limb which seems inseparable from
the colonlztng Englishman and pleas
ant brown eyes, He held in his arms
pale girl-child with tiny, sweet,
palmetto face. At his heels. hanging
BACK. were two small boys, evidently
spruced for the occasion and evidently
uncomfortable about it. Lois recog-
mixed Teddy" and "Miggs" in an in
stant and smiled at them brightly
They grinned instantly in response and
came forward little more briskly.
Grouped at the back were several men
whom she did not notice and to whom
/ ahs was subsequently introduced with
1ut remembering their names.
R1asing his child carefully on the