St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-08-15

into her disguise, she waited for tn.
noises of the household to settle
down into a twilight quiet.
'The only safeguard is convent,
she heard her brother saying as she
crept toward the half-open door.
But as they sat SO calmly deliber
ating upon her fate, little did they
dream that at that moment, thai
very instant, not three yards from
them, the little rebel was stealing
past them out into the world. Once
in the course of their discussion
something had caused the old sonora
to stop and listen. Was it a door
creaking on rusty hinge, she asked
herself, Or rat scampering through
the thick adobe wall? On the other
side of the partition the little fugi
tive stood breathless. The noise was
not repeated, however, so the voice
of the sonora arose again and droned
on in its argument as to the respect.
i've merits of the different sister
hoods.
The fugitive daughter wondered il
these old souls, who could dispose SC
calmly of another life, had forgot
ten the joys of the heyday of their
] own youth, or if the good rich blood
had ever caroused through their veins
as hers did now. She crushed her
toy-basket close to her heart to still
the tumult of its beating for fear it's
loud knocking must arouse the
house.
The shadows had wrapped the city
in merciful monotone of gray as
she slipped out the door, under the
armorial bearings of the house Of
Cardenas, whose name she was no
longer to bear. Never before had
she been out in the street alone. Old
Carmela had always been as close as
her shadow; but, as she remembered
she was no longer herself, but for
the nonce mere peon toy-vendor,
she held her basket close, and turned
toward the plaza. The tide of travel
was still set in that direction, for
the evening was the gayest time of
all. So, falling in with the throng,
she was soon an insignificant atom in
the crowd.
Arrived upon the plaza, the eyes of
the Senorta Cardenas widened with
excitement. This was the first time
in her life she had mingled so closely
with the market-place rabble. The
haggling of the buyers, the solicit
ing OF the vendors, the babel of
tongues, the yelping of the dogs, the
curious-looking foreigners, made up
as strange a sight to the carefully
brought up little Spanish girl as to
the rankest outsider. Her cheeks
glowed and her eyes burned with the
thrill of novelty, and, forgetting
about her toys, she stood lost in won
der at the life about her. The plaza
with it's people, it's booths, its
groups of bull-fghters, fower-girls,
and grandees, all jostling shoulders
in good-natured haste, might be full
dress rehearsal of Carmen" she
thought.
At every step deeper into the crowd
her safety became surer. She began
to wonder what would happen at
home when they discovered her
flight. She smiled to herself at the
CONSERVATION that would ensue when,
after deciding finally upon which
convent she should enter, they found
their bird had flown.
just then, rude party of Mexi-
can youths, seeing the smiling little
toy-vender, stopped with familiar
Jest and tried to talk with her. Now,
for the first time, she realized her
forlorn position. A sudden fear
seized her that she might in some
way miss Randol in all this great
crowd. Then new fear clutched
her heart. What if, after counting
the danger her abduction would bring
upon his head, he had failed her!
The next instant she banished the
thought, for straight beyond, tower
ing above the crowd, she saw the tall
erect figure of Randol jostling every
body out of his way in haste to reach
the stall of old Pancha in time. The
girl watched him with already the |
pride of possession. How different
he was from the other men she saw!
How handsome and fine! The mans |
keen eyes were scanning every face
that passed. Purposely, she drew in
to corner to watch him and realize |
the fact that it was for her his eyes
were SO intent and his face SO eager. |
She could wait and prolong the joy |
of the coming moment, for when they
did meet it would be for always.
AS she turned her eyes for an in
slant to follow the surging crowd,
she caught, or fancied she caught, a
sight of Miguel's retreating figure.
Was it possible her escape had al
ready been discovered, she wondered.
There was no doubt in her mind as to
the measures he would take when he
found she would not return home
with him. To Miguel the honor of
his house was dearer than anything
in the world. He would not scruple
to kill Gringo to preserve his family
from blot. And well
his sister knew that when his pride
and anger met, there would be no
quarter.
With this thought the little vendor
shrank deeper into the shadow.
When her flight was discovered there
would be only one explanation of it.
The whole city would be aroused in
IN instant. and their escaDe made inn