Ellsworth American., 1904-06-01

Enc Threw Whlte fnantilt0 over her
head and shoulders. her face and the
rose pccpins out from the snowy lace.
Good evening. Mia she said, pat
ting the little horses nose. II gave
a happy wbInny, Tor il knew Candida.
Her father and mother came from
the house and said suriy good even
Ing to the handsome young Spaniard.
To them he was entirely Objectionable
In that he had no property. no infu.
ential father, nothing but his own
cleverness and courage TO depend rp-
on. Furthermore, they strongly sus-
pected their daughter Of preferring
him to the shrewd old political fox to
whom they were trying to marry her.
Permit me to thank you both for
lntrusting your daughter to my care
tonight" he said blitheIy in spite of
the frowns that greeted him.
Candida patted the restless pony
again. Are you in hurry, Mia?"
she said. "Come, Hitherto. we must
start. Mia says she win not wait"
The girl put her little red slIppered
foot into the stirrup, Filiberto helped
her as she sprang, and she was perch
ed aloft in the gala day saddle. all
carved and besilvered. With bow
to the old people he sprang up behind
her. MS was the Californian custom.
He reached forward to adjust the
relns Mia fumed to be on. But the
word had not been given when Il clat-
ter of hoofs sounded beyond the house.
All turned to see who the arrival
was. The hoofs clattered more sharp
ly as the gallop slowed. Up rode the
eomandante
At the sight OF Candida about to
ride away he turned white with anger
as his way was.
'Ah. senorita. may | inquire who
your physician mary be that your ankle
heals so quickly?"
The father and mother stood silent.
looking from one to the other. Sus-
picion, fear, rage, were 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 itT' said Flllberto.
She only tossed him teasing laugh
now. How Mia flies she said.
dodging his question. There are the
lights of the fandango."
Far away glttered 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. A 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.
TO the left Hes the dance" he said
slowly. After it-home again. Il
storm OF wrath. you and | separate
forever
Yes" she said. the merriment gone
out OF her eyes.
ITO the right" he went on, Father
Juan. our old priest and friend He
knows MS and loves us. He will marry
u tonight"
OH she cried with a little shud.
der.
shall II not be the right road?"
"Oh--I'm afrad-I can't
Say the right"
She hesitated. perplexed. Then she
cried: Il know. I'll let Mia decide. We
shall see which way she chooses"
She pushed his hands from the reins,
drew Mia to the middle of the fork
and stopped her. Now go, Mia" she
said.
The horse fung up her head and gal
loped into the dark road on the right
Mia, you shall feed upon sugar
humps for the rest OF your life" Fill
berto said.
1t was not for many years that Can.
dida made confession TO her hus-
band. II tweaked the right REIN" she
owned then. II was so afraid Mia
might make mistake"