The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1906-05-26

the buTlaCe IetlluBS VI uSl hSol| ChS
even grew to hate the insincerity Of the
compliments of the country.
"a sus pies, senora"-'at your feet,
senora"-meant nothing to her. "Beso
a listed la mano"-"I kiss your hand"
was an ,abomination on the lips Of
men to whom it was mere mummery.
Then the Incompetence of the ser
wants, the impossibility of keeping
house in the dainty way in which she
had been trained and accustomed,
added to the establishment Of the
strange-and as she acknowledged
to herself unwillingly-the uncongenial
country. The deadly monotony par
alyzed her. The mountains hemming
her in stifled her.
Duncan" she said to her husband
one day, when shall we be able to re-
turn home, do you Think"
why, pet when we came we thought
to stay ten years. By that time we
] shall have acquired enough wealth to
be happy all our days in Scotland"
"Ten years I" echoed Ellen. 1T Is an
eternity to live in Mexico"
"But, darling. l thought you liked
Mexico so well; and the position Is
a fine one I couldn't hope to do so
we'll at home"
Duncan, dear, do you know l am
getting to hate Mexico? What Is there
here for me? Nothing! You have your
work. / have nothing You even stay
at the office now until late of nights !;
and must sit up and wear my heart
out, alone"
ELLEN, my precious, don't get home
sick So very much depends on our
remaining Won't you try to stand it?'
Ellen promised that she would; but
her soul rose up against the PROPOSE
ton Of staying 'teu years" where,
after the lapse Of one, she was sicken-
ing for home.
So the days passed, Duncan busy and
interested, Ellen lonely and ennuied.
In time he ceased to talk to her OF
the mine, which had outworn all Its
interest for her; and she no more COM
planned of loneliness; for 1t displeased
and upset her husband. So there came
1.-The little rift within the lutte" for
them; and Ellen hated more than ever
the squalid peones, the shiftless house
servants. She ceased her walks for
fear. of tarantulas and centipedes, and
the whole country and its people sick
ened her.
Visitors would come and harp upon
the scenery, the antiquity Of the old
cathedral In the little town Of Santa
Teresa close by.
Just Think" chirped an Americana
who was taking a flying view Of that
part of the republic; "this old church
Is three hundred years old! How in
teresting! How dramatic! do sc
dote on ancient churches!"
Does 1t make it any better to bt
old?" answered Ellen, with a laugh
not mirthful. For my part, the very
c newest things and strictly up-to-dat'
things interest me more. l want thing.
: new, new, new. These antiquities tir'
+ me-"
l The days grew double in length
There was nothing to do. you dom
+; express your spontaneous feelings in
e foreign language" she told Duncan
D when you are inwardly conjugatin,
. your subjunctives, how can you hol,
e on to your idea?"
: "Ten years." The fatal sentence o
Punishment seemed ringing its knel
through everything. Could she do 1t
e | IIo, will co "a sayoS har so,,l ootd
p For while she comforted hersel
with little pet dog the brightest
J. most intelligent creature ever seer
But he went mad-and had to b
' shot. Ellen grieved over him as for
i human being. 1t had meant SO niue
to her, to have him to prattle to-
l. tell how she hated this cruel, lionel
country. How she was dying t
breathe her own native air. "Bue
u Amigo"-for thus was her favorit
q called-had been the confidant Of he
mad inconsistencies, the intensity c
l. which Duncan. with his more eQuabl
temperament. had never dreamed.
From dropping and pining came {
c last the day when Ellen had taken
u her bed, sick in body as she was
IL mind. A Mexican doctor was calle,
III He was nonplussed over the case; h
; remedies did no good. Fever set Il
and Duncan awoke to the knowledl
u of how 1t had been with his darlin
III while he, with what he now denounce
as arrant selfishness, had been too a
~ sorbed with his work to notice how HI
. life was going. And now his darlir
lay stricken unto death-helpless in
- strange land.
- The promise had been given, ar
~ Duncan could not persuade Ellen
delay day In starting. weak as 81
,s was, and the fever still rioting in h
\. veins.
40 She was taken with the tendere
f. care by bearers, on a camita, to Il
n nearest railway station, and plac'
n. comfortably In a berth OF the priva