The Forrest City times., 1906-07-06
IN A MEXICAN
 GARDEN
By RUTH RAEBURN
.--r---eht. ty Joseph B. Bowles.)

ha- bedroom Dy lHe open rIeHeH Will sou, wakened Cecilia, or, as her father Loved to call her in the graceful lan- o,aqe of his adopted country, my pretty one.
 Evidently her thoughts were pleas an, for she got up with smile on her lips and stood for few moments Iooking out on the view before begin nirg to dress. II was just six o'clock and the mist still hung in the valley, and already he garden was blaze of ,ieb, The scent of the roses, the orange and lemon blossom, the moist earth and the myriad growing things, et,ed the air with delicious fra erapee. One breathed life and happi- ness on such morning, and love for all that lives in this glorious, beauti- tl world. Besides, was not her old friend and playfellow, Philip King, coming home after being away for seven years in the States, learning to se a doctor?
 Cecilia was an only child. Her mother died when the poor little mite
 
 never married again, but gave his small daughter into the keeping of a kind d-hearted Mexican woman, who had from that moment spoiled her charge with the utmost fidelity, and now, at the age of 19 years, the tall, handsome girl was still old Coneha's favorite.
 The two families were near neigh bors. and had been fast friends from the beginning, so it was no wonder that she and Philip should be con- stantly together, running about and playing at hide and seek in the they were olde- ntering over the pasture lands their sure-footed Mexican pOnies-and no wonder either, as time went on, that the folks should nod tkeir heads and smile knowingly, as they watched the pair, pretty lit- Is. In their imagination these good people already heard the bells ring for the betrothal.
 Not much time was wasted over the toilet this morning. There was great deal to be done before eight o'clock breakfast. First, the asparagus had to be cut, while the sun was still low in the sky, for later on when he had at tained his full strength it was insuf- ferably hot in the garden, and only the dark-skinned natives might work there with impunity. Then she would pick
  Her father loved asparagus and peach es. and so did Philip, if her memory did not deceive her-but seven years is a long time and tastes may change.
 Who knows if he is still fond of peaches?" and-she looked in the glass and smiled at her own refection-"I think l can answer for peaches" Her thoughts ran on questioning and re- plying 10 themselves. but as to as paragus and, and-other things-who knows?"
 On chair by her bedside Guadalupe, her maid, had placed a clean muslin frock, starched and white as snow She fingered it lovingly, for she was going to put it on after her work was done. In the meantime blue cotton, more than ready for the washtub would do very well, and, having reached this stage in her proceedings, she did not stop to twist up her hair, but merely braiding it in two thick plaits, Mexican fashion, seized her som brero and ran downstairs. At the Kitchen door Concha was waiting with basket and long knife with teeth like saw al one end; this was used to cut the asparagus.
 The dew drops on the featherv branches of the asparagus vines spar Aied like diamonds in the sunshine and Tell on her in showers as she brushed them aside to look for the white heads appearing above ground at their roots by the time she had cut sufficient for generous dish an hour had already gone by and she was very warm and uecldedly muddy-but what did that matter? There was soap and water in tue house, and pretty clean white oress Tn her room waiting to be put on The peaches could be picked in lew minutes, and then her mornings work would be done.
 How beautiful it was that morning, from her perch among the peaches she sdzed fascinated on the scene be- iole her. Orizaba, glory of mountains "i'h its snow-capped peak, seemed but step from the garden, but in reality ohe would have to travel more than 1o miles tc reach the foot of it. On aii sldes were the hills as far as the eye could see, and right in front, only aoout mile away, nestled the little .o"h With its whitewashed houses and o'o"n tiled roofs, half buried in trees
 absorbed in the view she did not see horseman who was maneuvering his way In and out the winding pathway "hleh led to her fathers ranch, and So Il happened that Philip King was almost upon her before she was aware oi H. When she did at last catch sieht of him it was too late to fly to tue house. The color leaped to her iaee In crimson flood, and her knees uemoied beneath her, with agitation, disappointment at the sudden collapse oi all her plans and humiliation at the MlSS1dD DlN fio1tra cha ant Che ol,,tahoa