Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-09
IN A MEXICAN
 GARDEN
(copyrisht. by Joseph B. Bowles.)
By RUTH RAEBURN

The bright sunshine streaming into her>bedroom by the open French win dow wakened Cecilia, or, as her father loved to call her in the graceful lan- guage of his adopted country. my pretty one"
 Evidently her thoughts were pleas ant, for she got up with smile on her lips and stood for a few moments looking out on the view before begin ming to dress. It was just six o'clock and the mist still hung in the valley, and already the garden was blaze of light. The scent of the roses, the orange and lemon blossom. the moist earth and the myriad growing things. filled the air with a delicious fra grance. One breatheA life and happi- ness on such a morning, and love for all that lives in this glorious, beauti- full world. Besides. was not her old friend and playfellow. Philip King. coming home after being away for seven years in the States, learning to be doctor?
 Cecilia was an only child. Her mother died when the poor little mite was only three days old. and her father never married again, but gave his small daughter into the keeping of a kind-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 Concha's favorite.
 The two families were near neigh bors, and had been fast friends from the beginning, so 1t was no wonder that she and Philip should be con- stantly together, running about and playing at hide and seek in the woods round the ranch, and when they were older cantering over the pasture lands on their sure-footed Mexican ponies--and no wonder either, as time went on, that the folks should nod their It Is and smile knowingly, as they watched the pair. pretty lit tie girl of 12 and handsome lad of 15. 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 1t was insuf- ferably hot in the garden. and only the dark-skinned natives might work there with impunity. Then she would pick some ripe, juicy peaches for dessert. Her father loved asparagus and peach es, and so did Philip. if her memory did not deceive her-but seven years is 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 refiection-"l think can answer for peaches" Her tHtNgKts ran on opestianihg and ,ra- plying to themselves. 'but as to as- paragus and. and-other things-who knows?"
 On chair by her bedside Guadalupe, her maid. had placed 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 a blue cotton, mors than ready for the washtub. would do very we'll. and. having reached this stage in her proceedings. she did not stop to twist up her hair, but merely braiding 1t in two thick plaits, Mexican fashion, seized her som- brero and ran downstairs. At the kitchen door Concha was waiting with a basket and long knife with teeth like a saw at one end; this was used to cut the asparagus.
 The dew drops on the feathery branches of the asparagus vines spar kled like diamonds in the sunshine and fell 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 q generous dish an hour had already gone by and she was very warm and decidedly muddy-but what did that matter! There was soap and water in the house. and a pretty clean white dress in her room waiting to be put on. The peaches could be picked in a few minutes, and then her mornings work would be done.
 How beautiful it was that morning! From her perch among the peaches she gazed fascinated on the scene be- fore her. orizaba. glory of mountains. with Its snow-capped peak, seemed but q step from the garden, but in reality one would have to travel more than 70 miles tc reach the foot of 1t. On all sides were the hills as far as the eye could see, and right in front, only about a mile away. nestled the little town with It's whitewashed houses and brown tiled roofs. half buried in trees.
 Absorbed In the view she did not ses a horseman who was maneuvering his way in and out the winding pathway which led to her fathers ranch, and co it happened that Philip King was almost upon her before she was aware of 1t. When she did at last catch sisht of him 1t was too late to fiy to the house The color leaped to her face in a crimson food. and her knees trembled beneath her. with agitation. disappointment at the sudden collapse of all her plans and humiliation at the -s-x,. e- .a- Z.. ca