Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-01-12

huOWA III bAtsb PStS " - a
hurried his bride away to the sollluoe
Of a new home in comparatively new
country.
Inez was all alone. and saw no one
except her old nurse, and the servants
around the house, all of whom were
brought from his home, and had been
his abject slaves, ruled by fear TOT
years. He built the most peculiar house
for their home.
1t was shaped like hexagon' WIN
windows everywhere, and cupoia
on top. so he could scan the country
for miles around.
The house was situated on a. lonely
road. far away from the settlements,
and approached through a long lane OF
eucalyptus trees, running north, soutn'
east and west.
The house at the apex OF the trees
upon the knoll was so peculiar, and
altogether so queer and uncanny tnat !
the struggling settlers gave 1t q VIDE
berth, and it was whispered around
that there were many dark deeds oone
under its roof. There was large cis-
tern some rs feet deep, near the house.
and that tapped living spring wnich
supplied water for the house, and large
domain around 1t; orchard and gar
den .blossomed and grew under the
careful care of the servants, and Donna
Ramon should be happy with such a
home, but she was a prisoner and never
was seen on the roads driving e4sepe
with the Don. <...~
One day he left her, saying he should
not be back until the following even
ing, as he was going to town to attend
to some business affairs, and Donna
Inez, being left alone, assembled the STAIR
to the cupola, to watch the moon rise
over the far-distant water. Oh, how I'M
happy she was, ever since her marriage
and for six months she had heard moth
ing from her family.
Could 1t be that Don Ramon de-
stroyed the letters? She sat there sne
knew not how long, and 1t seemed to
her the most peaceful time she had
spent since leaving her own sunny
land.
She heard a sound that made her
heart beat faster, and faster, and she
leaned far out on the window sill, ana
there stood-couId it be possible! On
blessed Mother! Yes! 1t was none
other than her beloved Pedro, singing
the old love song, and looking up to-
ward her.
What should she do-7she must see
him, but how-how? The old watch
dogs, the servants, were not all in bed
and what If they should hearG She
would write him a note, and fling It
down from the window.
He must go until later. She flew
downstairs, and penned the note, and
put 1t through ring she took from her
finger, and flung it far down in the
grass. Then she watched, and knew
that Pedro knew and would be still and
wait-and what joyl
She could see him in the garden and
Don Ramon would not be there to 1n-
terfere. Would the hours never passs
At last she stole down, and out to
Pedro, her lost love. She told him OF
her misery, and Don Ramon's jealousy;
how she was prisoner could go mo-
where, or see anyone, and how s9e mao
heard of his hard name among the set"
Tiers, and all her troubles.
How nice to have sympathy and love
from an old friend from home!
He, in turn, told her Of his wander
ings and loneliness without her, and it
was almost morning ere he started to
depart. But harkl what was that step
she heard over there by those rose
bushes; surely no servant could be
around now. She was bidding Dop
Pedro long farewell, when an angry
face, black with passion, and the CLEAN
Of an uplifted knife, was all-and Don
ma Ramon's sorrows were Ger, and Don
Pedro and Don Ramon were in deadly
combat, struggling over her dead body
in the moonlight. One gained the
mastery, and Don Ramon was left, but
not dead, beside poor Inez.
When the morning dew reused him,
Don Ramon's first thought was how to
get rid Of the grewsome thing there on
the grass. Surely there must be some
way; he had done the deed before and
still was free.
What could he do nowH Something
must be planned before the servants
were stirring, and he must not be seen
until tomorrow eve, when he was
expected, and then he would join in the
search for Donna Inez. ALL there was
the eistern.
He dragged her lifeless body toward
II, and lifting board, plunged the poor
creature down headlong into the water.
Then 1t was the work Of a few mo-
ments to rid his hands and clothes OF
the evidences Of his crime. as water was
plentiful, and he would go away, per-
haps never to return.
Which he did, and the queer house
Al