Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-03-29


vcranda mending for him. he gave her
soft black hair gentle carcss.
Faithful girl" he said. and walked
with his quick happy step into the
little room. which was Office and liv.
Ing room together He threw pack
age of mail upon the table. but chose
one letter eagerly. and rested COM
fortably In his chair while he read;
twice be lifted n small framed pic.
ture from his desk. looking at II long
ingly for some moments. II was rath-
err n pretty face OF a young girl OF
sofse rs summers.
There was. In spite OF the girlish.
ness. look which bespoke fine.
sensitive personality.
Howard. happily intent upon the
| picture and the letter. was wholly
unaware that the little Mexican was
standing not far behind him. her
cheeks flushed with the hot. jealous
blood OF her race her eyes sparkling
beautifully with her intense anger.
She had laid her mcnding down and
quietly stepped out upon the yeranda
again without his noticing. There she
sat down and rested her burning face
IN her palms. while the hot tears
forced their way out
Howard wrote rapidly until he had
finished several letters aad made
them ready for mail Then rs he
passed out. he noticed little Marina
had not yet gone home. but was stu
sitting upon the steps. so sitting down
beside her he spoke to her with easy
fuency In her own tongue.
Little senoritag he said and he
took the hand which hung carelessly
over her knee. upon which the other
elbow rested
Little Marina. ! have Ruch TO
thank you for. dear child. Yin your
kind attention 10 my many wants. you
brought n womanly touch about this
rude hut and crude life. which | came
90. several years ago. that has made II
far. far more endurable 10 a lonely
man. Indeed. Marina. you made II
seem at times almost a happiness for
me to be here. When | have gone
will always remember with a thrill
of pleasure the dark-eyed senior
ita who completed the picture Of this
romantic Mexico"
He had spoken carelessly. csress-
ingly. as though TO little child. He
did not look at her. hut his eyes
looked longlngly out over the land
scape. touched by all exquisite after
glow OF the setting sun. lie was not
even aware. that the little Mexican
was staring at him with a frightened
look. like a tiny pigeon. wounded Just
enough TO prevent Its flight
Next month. Marina. and I leave
for my home. -Four weeks. child, All.
they win be iongl" And he sighed.
yet all the while gently oaresslng tho
girls small pretty hand
"You go away-away from-from
this" and the big black eyes swept
quick look over the tiny hut and its
surroundings.
But the mine. senior. what VIII the
mine do without your"
lie laughed happily and rubbed the
soft palm OF her hand against his
cheek.
"Ah. they will 40 without me. little
girl. for a time You know. am go.
Ing home Ia be married. Now.
must go and mail this letter which
tells them how soonfto expect me"
And playiully raising the pretty
Mexican's hand TO his lips. he ran
down the steps and mounting his
bronco. was away. waving his hand
with careless ease 10 the girl sitting
upon the steps.
Late In the afternoon. when Ia
Marina had finished her work. she
slowly gathered q up and crept into
the hut Lighting n candle she went
over to-the desk where his books and
papers lay. She picked up the little
framed picture and gazed at II In.
tently for some moments. At first
she was too previously stunned TO
think as she looked. but presently her
woman's mind began TO grasp the
hold this other had upon him. how
much. too. she evidently meant 10
him. for was he not going all that
distance 60 see her. 10 marry her,
while she. la Marina. was too he left
probably never TO see him again.
she. La Marina. who had mendcd
and washed. and given all the little
loving touches 20 his private life.
Had he not only now. said so himselfi
An, Il was bitter And the scaldlng
tears which came for a moment were
burned out by the hot angry passion
Of the woman.
Il hate you hate YOU" and with
ciinched hands she stamped her foot
with suppressed rage
you shall not have him, No, Mo-"
and turning she He'd from the little
hut. away. away from the sweet eyes
OF that pictured face. out into the
darkness
Two years ago Howard Wade had
come 10 Mexico. 10 superintend his
fathers mine. He had been there but
a short time when the little Senorita
la Marina gllded In quiet way into |
his life. that Is the life away from the |
mine. She was. IN ICED. very beauti. |
full to see. OF a full. rich Mexican type. |
From the FIRST she secretly cherished
a love for this fine looking American
fellow. He. however. went along In