The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-11-27

the administrator, were standing on
the brow of the hill in front of the gal
lery, the administrator, with a hand
on the Senor's arm, evidently holding
him back.
"It is madness, sir,' he was saying;
"the river is a flood; you can do moth
ing; the Fraulein Elsa is in Santos
boat, so far in safety, and there is no
other boat near in which we could fol-
low her."
"Let me co." cried the old man;
"boat or no boat, cannot leave my
only child to perish alone"
From my position behind tree l
looked down at the river. BY that
time it was brilliant moonlight, and in
the clear southern atmosphere every
thing stood out almost as distinctly as
) by day light. I stared and rubbed my
; eyes-the Senorita Elsa in my boat!
} Neither was anywhere in view, and
my eyesight then, Caro-, was as keen
as an Indians. Pity for the blind old
man moved me to rush forward; but l
must get at the bottom of this, so /
held back.
"The boat has come to the bend in
the river" said the administrator
land the flood is not so serious as some
1 have seen. Have courage, Herr
Let me lead you back to the house
and then l will get my horse and ride
down the river and summon help tc
; rescue the fraulein as soon as can
My poor master. H. suffered him
self to be led back to the house and
put in a chair on the gallery. He
! groaned and wrung his hands, talking
; in his German tongue, that l knew
not one single word of, Caro-.
What could l do? The ranch hands
had evidently all gone either up OF
down the river, no one was near tc
help me-no one to corroborate the
evidence of my eyes that the Senorita
Elsa was not and had not been on the
river.
I stole after the administrator, who
went at once to the field to get his
horse. Suddenly the whole thing
flashed on me. 1t was truly the Sen
orita Elsa who passed me on the road
, and she was flying to the same point
where she could meet this man and
, marry him. He, meanwhile, had de-
ceived the blind man into thinking bis
child was adrift on the raging flood
and now he was about to mount his
horse and ride away, leaving the good
senior helpless, broken hearted and
alone. 1t was the work of a moment
: for me to spring forward and seize
} him by the collar.
"You villain!'' l said, under my
} breath, and then in my excitement
: had recourse to Spanish, pouring forth
: my anger and contempt, as l shook
him again and again, like the puppy
: he was.
l was strong, but the administrator
was willy, and he had evidently been
trained in fighting. His horse stood
; under tree, saddled and bridled, an.
, other proof that the whole thing was
planned beforehand, and the incident
; of the flood used at the last moment
, to heighten the deception. With a
sudden and rapid twist he shook him.
self free from my grasp, giving me a
blow that sent me reeling backward.
In second he was on his horse, and
galloping across the fields, was soon
} out of sight. During our short on
counter he had uttered no word, prob
ably thinking. like wise man, that it
was best to save his breath for the
combat. To follow him was useless,
and then thought of the unhappy
father; better let him believe his child
was dead than to have him know that
she could desert him and deceive him
so.
I hurried back to the gallery, and
tue master knew my step He showed
} no surprise at my unexpected return.
All was too strange and terrible on
that fateful night. l comforted him
and calmed him as we'll as 1 could.
} Long after, Caro-. it did me good to
know that l was everything to him in
his sorrow. He bade me go for the
Senor Hernandez So with the first
daylight l mounted my shaggy burro
and rode the five miles to the rancho.
} The thought of this senor relieved me
of all responsibility. l knew him-a
fine and noble man, with good Spanish
blood in him and 10y al, not like that
miserable foreign administrator. Why
!. had not the Senorita loved him? Truly
the wavs Of woman from tho hirhoet