The Washington times., 1904-08-21

!
~ conduct
There were three of them. one having
come in during my absence. all ugly
looking fellows, besides the landlord.
who also appeared to be of their class.
One Of the men growled out that he
would say what he pleased.
NO you will not" 1 replied. There
are ladies here. and you will hold your
tongue If you cannot use civil language"
Leave your mistress at home, if she
can't stand "a little chatting" he an
swered
The words were hardly out of his
| mouth before [ struck him a blow which
sent him reelng over a chair and stag
gering back against the wall. where he
stood muttering threats against me. The
other men had their hands upon their
! knives. while the landlord seemed I'M
decided which side to take.
Another word from any of yoJ
! wretches.'' I cried. and III hit YOU so
/ hard you'll be glad to hold your
| tongues"
They did not reply. and 1 turned to
the senorita.
81 think that these fellows will offer
you no more insults" said. AS soon
as the horses have been fed and you
/ have rested we win 20 on"
Thank YOU she answered as she sat
down again, and l thought 1 saw a look
of gratitude i'm her eyes.
Il must ask you" 1 said, speaking to
! the landlord, that these ladies be sub
| Jected TO no further annoyance"
! You need have no fears" he replied,
/ ready to apologize as a cheap way out
| of the difficulty. They shall not again
/ be molested. 1 am sorry they took Of
| Tense"
He set himself to making coffee, and
| the men left after a little. When Mar
! tin came in 1 told him what had oc-
/ CURED and instructed him 10 watch the
/ fellows If they came around the stable.
Fearing that they might do PecrO some
| injury should he go outside, 1 had him
remain where he was.
! The senorita drank a little coffee when
/ it was brought to her, but refused to
partake of anything else. In truth she
might well do so. for what was set be-
fore us was not very appetizing. We
| did not continue our journey for nearly
two hours. and by this time the horses
had rested.
/ We travelled with slow pro gress after
leaving the wayside house. 1t was
silent. gloomy drive. No one said any
thing, or appeared to be in mood for
! conversation. We met no one, and when
we passed a house it was silent and de-
! serted, save for the barking of a dog.
| 1t was cold, and 1 missed the buck
| skin jacket l had worn when On the
] plains. The sleeves of the coat 1 had
I on were much too short for me, and this
4 gave it the appearance of having been
| outgrown.
At last the day broke. and the sun
slowly rose from beyond thu distant
/ mountains in all its brightness. We
! seemed to thaw out, the blood returning
/ to our benumbed limbs. The wonderful
( ly clear. and almost dazzling atmos-
phere of the high elevation was fnvig-
Grating.
1t was a beautiful, or, more properly
| speaking, a grand country, which lay
| before us. High mountains rose on
! either side, broken by deep valleys. Here
and there were houses of stone. or
adobe, odd and picturesque, having
| roofs of thatch or red tile. and sur
! rounded by flower gardens and orchards.
! The senorita had drawn aside the cur
/ tain Of the carriage, and appeared TO be
! enjoying the beauty OF the morning. and
| the scenery. Her hair was disarranged
| somewhat, her eyes had Il languid ex-
| preston. and there was a slight flush
upon her cheeks; but she was very
| beautiful.
| She said nothing TO me. but now and
then exchanged a word with the dUsnna
The latter In the bright morning light
looked haggard and worn. The journey
was hard one for her. and she was
laboring, 1 knew, under considerable
anxiety regarding her mistress welfare.
An hour or two after sunrise we
reached a house Of which the driver
had told US where expected TO get
breakfast. had previously decided that
we would wait there for a coupe Of
hours before continuing our journey.
/ think that the warm sun and the In
vigorating atmosphere OF the morning
had much TO do with reviving thu senior.
ita's spirits, but still she complained Of
being tired when / helped her from the
carriage. The house was fairly com
Portable, and after ordering breakfast [
secured a room for the senorita, where
she and the duenna could rest for a
while. She thanked me quietly for nv
solicitude.
Two hours later the horses were again
in the harness and we were ready to
proceed. The senorita had not como
from her room, so 1 knocked gent1y on
the door. telling her that we were ready
TO start, and were waiting for hec
She came out, presently, somewhat re-
freshed from her short rest. her hair
combed back from her face and her
dress neatly arranged.
Where are we gOing2' she asked.
We viii proceed first TO Puebla."
/ fancied that she frightened up some
what when 1 said this.
'V hen Will We reach the city, she
inqu ed.
l told her that we expected to reach
there that evening, but that probably il
would Ue quite late when we arrived
IL was some satisfaction TO me that
the senorita had deigned 10 speak r. me
Still. she maintained a certain cold re-
serve and distance for which l could
1T a. IN. md it puzzled me a good
deal She was not inclined TO have any
further conversation with me. SO 1 said
nothing more.
/ fell back behind the carriage AID
rode by myself; but l noticed that she
talked with Martin occasionally, and ar
peared quite cheerful. Her indifference
and GOODNESS might have been from
fright, and from the unexpected way in
which she had been carried Of This
was the explanation l tried 10 put upon