The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-05-26

by side in theG cups when the aguardi-
ente was plenty. Now the mAn Is
jiltng my daughter. is he?'
Candida tucked the note In her boz
ON again. 1t would be fun to show
it to Fiiberto when they had little
time alone.
Tell Hitherto I'll be ready in n
minute she called as she heard the
light hoofs of Mia.
She moved the comb to the other
side, then back to It's original position.
Behind her ear she fastened a great
crimson rose.
You are ioyelier than ever" Fill
berto whispered as she gave him a
glimpse of the picture she was. Then
she threw q white mantlla over her
head and shoulders her face and the
rose peeping ont from the snowy lace.
Good evening. Mia" she said, pat
ting the little horses nose 1t gave
happy whnny, for it knew Candida.
Her father and mother came from
the house and said surly good even
ing to the handsome young Spaniard
To them he WAS entirely objectionable
In that he had no property. no influ-
ential father nothing but his own
cleverness and courage to depend up
ON. Furthermore they strongly sus-
pected their daughter of preferring
him to the shrcwd old political fox to
whom they We're trying To marry her.
Permit me to thank you both for
intrusting your daughter to my care
tonight" he said hithely in spite of
the froWns thai greeted him
Candida patted the restless pony
again. Are You in hurry, Mia
she said come, Hitherto we must
start. Mia says she will not wait"
The girl put her little red slippered
foot into the stirrup. Hitherto helped
her rs she sprang, and she was perch
ed aloft in Tie gala day saddle, all
carved and besilvered. With a bow
to the old people he sprang UP behind
her. MS was tie californian custom.
He reached forward to adjust the
rcins. Mia tuned to be OF. But the
word had NOT been given WHEN ii clat.
ter of boots sounded beyond the house.
All turned 10 see who the arrival
was. The hoofs clattered more sharp
ly as the gallop slowed. Up rode the
CONAN ante.
At the sight of Candida about rs
ride AWAY he turned white With anger.
ms his way WAS.
An. scncrita. may inquire who
your physician may be that your ankle
heals so quicklY:'
The father and mother stood silent
locking from one to the other. Sns-
picion. fear, rage. We're creeping upon
them. 1t was no time to parry, the
girl knew.
There is but one physician who can
heal every hurt" she replied. HE is
love. am IN his charge of. Mia"
And the pony was away with them.
"You mean itY' said Filiberto.
She only tossed him teasing laugh
now How Mia flies" she said,
lodging his question. There are the
lights of the fandango."
Far away glittered the brilliant
lights in great ranch house. Sudden
ly the road divided. At the end of one
branch were the lights of the gay ball;
at the end of the other, one lamp shone
from the mission.
Listen" said Hitherto and stopped
the horse. \ strange blending of
sounds came to their ears; guitar and
violin sounded family from the left
from the right came the faraway
chime of the mission bell.
ITO the left lies the dance" he said
slowly. after it-home again,
storm of wrath, you and l separate
forever"
Yes" she said, the merrlment gone
out of her eyes.
ITO the right" he went on Father
Juan, our old priest and friend. He
knows us and loves US. He will marry
US tonight"
oh" she cried with a little shud-
der
"Shall it not be the right roadY
"Oh-I'm afraid can't
"Say the right"
She hesltated, perplexed. Then she
cried: 81 know. I'll let Mia decide. We
shall see which way she chooses"
She pushed his hands from the relns,
drew Mia to the middle of the fork
and stopped her. Now go, Mia" she
said.
The horse flung up her head and gal
loped into the dark road on the right.
Mia, you shall feed upon sugar
Jumps for the rest of your life" Fill
berto said.
1t was not for many years that Can
dida made confession to her hus,
band. Il tweaked the right rein" she
owned then. Il was 50 afraid Mia
might make a mistake"