Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1906-07-12
in A MEXICAN
GARDEN
By RUTH RAEBURN
Copyright, by Joseph b. Bowles.)


loved to call her in the graceful Ian
guage OF his adopted country, my |
pretty one"
Evidently her thoughts were pleas
ant, for she got up with a smile on
her lips and stood for a few moments |
looking out on the view before begin
ming to dress. 1t 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 delicious fra
GRANGE. One breathed life and happi- |
ness on such 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
fSom that moment spoiled her charge
with the utmost fidelity, and now, at
the age of 10 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 heads and smile knowingly,
as they watched the pair, pretty lit
tie girl of IL and a handsome lad Of
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
tanned his full strength 1t was insult
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 reflection-"I
think l can answer for peaches" Her
thoughts ran on questioning and re-
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 1t lovingly, for she was
going to put 1t 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
a saw at one end; this was used to cut
the asparagus.
The dew drops on the feathery
branches Of the asparagus vines spar
killed. 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
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 pretty clean white
dress in her room waiting to be put
on. The peaches could be picked IN
few minutes, and then her mornings
work would be done.
dow beautiful 1t 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 bu
step from the garden, but in reality
one would have to travel more thar
40 miles tC reach the foot of It, Or
az 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 its whitewashed houses anC
brown tiled roofs, half buried in trees
Absorbed in the view she did not Sc,
a horseman who was maneuvering hi
way in and out the winding pathwa.
which led to her fathers ranch, ant
so it happened that Philip King wa
: almost upon her before she was awar
Of it. When she did at last catcl
, sight of him it was too late to fly t,
the house. The color leaped to he
face in a crimson food, and her knee
+ranhIad haDaath her with ouitotio,,