The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-09-24

Adu0 SApFeSSlOn, ana later IN the nlgnS,
away from their seductive wiles, his
mind would revert to other eyes, and he
would say: Nothing can save me from
their witchery, but those other eyes
away back in New England, SO full Of
Heaven that they could WOO me back
again"
Did he wish to have them WOO him
back? In the mines, and In the quiet Of
his own apartments, yes: when in the
presence of the Lady Mercedes, as he
had begun to call her, in which he was en-
couraged to do so by the girl herself.
no.
His love-making had,grown to dimen-
sions far beyond the casting of glances
and the pressure of hands.
He had been picking up considerable
Spanish, and she was teaching him more,
in addition to teaching him to make love
to her.
POGO amado," he said to her one even
ing as they sat in the little Mexican par
lor.
mo, no-nopoco. nolittle," she replied.
81 tall, stately, fit for illustre amante
such as you" rising to her feet, and dis
playing her really fine proportions to
their best effect. "Yes, little by the
side of grand senior like you." as he
seized her in his arms, and she threw
back her head and cast at him one Of
those looks which it would be difficult
for any man to resist when his blood
Uac IN mad NTH Docci0D SET lob I'm
to you; look up to no one else in all the
world. You look down on POGO amado;
no one but you do So"
AS she threw her arms about him, while
he clasped her still more closely, she
buried her face in his neck, and began to
cry Historically.
The rest was easy, even to the forget
ting of Appleby's lode-star to the far
north for the time being.
''Yo carino vosotros," he said, as he
took his departure that evening.
"Adios"
AS he turned from the door he noticed
that the squat Mexican and his fat.
dumpy wife, to whom she had referred
as her distant relatives, stood just out
side, where they had seen the leave-tak-
ing, and heard his endearment spoken in
Spanish. They turned away, seemingly
having taken no notice.
81 say, Appleby," said the only one
of his associates at the mine, who pre-
sumed on speaking of such matters to
him, you will pardon me, old man, but
| have strong reasons for asking How
much are you committed to that Mexican
girl with whom you are flirting SO des-
perately, and about whom the entire
town is talking?"
Appleby flushed, and at first was dis.
posed to resent the remark.
II am afraid it has gone beyond mere
Irritation. Besides, she is Spanish girl
not Mexican"
Spanish grandmother! Do her father
and mother look like Spaniards?"
81 have never seen them. She told me
they were dead"
"Why, they are not dead, and you see
them every time they watch you come
and go from the house."
Those old people; she told me, were
distant relatives"
They are her father and mother. Dc
you want such a looking old crone as
that woman around your house, to dc
the honors, dozen years from now, II
you are foolish enough to marry this ad-
venturess?"
"Are you telling me the truth ?"
81 am. Everybody knows it but you. u
What shall do. The old man would
probably kill me if should attempt to
break with the girl"
There is but one thing to do. Re-
sign your position here quietly, and take
the stage tomorrow night for the north
You can catch the train at some station
% or 80 miles away. They will watch
the trains, but will not think of the
stage"
"All right. Thank you. l shall be
glad to get away from her wiles. The
sweetness was beginning to cloy, ex-
cepting when was tasting it.
"Take no baggage. We will send that
on afterward."
The next night, instead of making his
usual call at the home of Mercedes, Ap-
pleby, disguised as a rough miner
boarded the stage, and the driver cracked
his whip and started northward. +.
Half a mile on the way, just in the edge
of the town, stood the home of Mercedes
where he had passed so many happy
hours in the company of his enchantress
He sat well back in the stage, with his
hat pulled down over his eyes, to avoid
recognition.
Directly opposite the house, the stage
was halted by musical feminine voice
the owner of which opened the door OF
the vehicle, and gave a glance inside.
Then she got in, and gave the order &c
! the driver to go ahead.
'Perfido novio!" she exclaimed "You
go without Hispano senorita? No!
POGO amada go too Yes. Yo CARING
vosotros, illustre amante! You would
not break my heart? MOI"
And she threw her arms about his
neck passionately as the stage rolled
away into the darkness.
distance. This custom is the father 81