New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-09-19

what was my interest IN those mines AZ Kands-
bIrg' Why did YOU only ask me II I had
lover there"
Springing up She faced him " I tell YOU
arm not afraid OF YOU. Don lImIuez and Tor Your
mother sake | VIII not reveal u anyone what
knew OF the hIghwIyIuIn who has robbed the
stage and OF the ghost OF FIlipo BeltempO-I
VIII not reveal II So long Is the stage Is safe
II II Is robbed again. II II Is held up again IN
these hills. then VIII speak
All. Donna Pertecta | have been asking
Don Jiminez 10 correct my Spanish She turned
q face her hostess. who At that moment entered
the room. Don IInIucz seems u think have
why. an old fashioned pronunciation
THE corridor lay all in shadow; for the sun
directly overhead. The yellow roses.
lInguorous with the heat. still perfumed the
AR with their morning. dew washed fragrance
Evelyn Halleck. coming hurrIedly out from the
house, stopped short. Her browS were close
drawn. her lips compressed. and IN her eyes was
a tense. hard look. But on her lips the words
ready to be spoken were Sttllcd bv the sight
OF Donna PertcCta sitting IN her accustomed
seat her hands folded Is they were wont 70 be
folded. but on her face expression OF un-
wonted misery. The girl looked at the woman
for moment IN silence.
Don Jiminez ees gone'" the mother said
disconsolately.
So $50 supposed" the girl spoke almost
unConScIously.
a
He-he sad that theeS life here on the rancho
was no place tor man. and he-he eeS gone
IL am 10 have Donna PlacidO Vallejo to live
with me here in hees place"
Evelyn Halleck sat down hurriedlv on the
edge OF the hammock leaned toward The old
woman. and the words that had before been
suppressed rushed 10 her lips Before they
were spoken. though, her eyes fell on the rosary
OF purple beads that hung from one of Donna
Pertecta'S hands.
The little golden crucifixl 30 She cried. ..You
have lost it,
The crucifix. yes'" echoed Donna Perfecta
Eet-eet needed mending and Don Iminez
has taken eet TO the town with heem"
The girls eyes were raised to the mother
face. and. not daring to linger there. rested on
the closely yelled head
Donna Perfecta reading the question in
them, answered, And YES, Get eeS for the golden
comb you look' That needed mending too
Don Jminez took eet with heem. Don Jiminez
eeS a good son. noe"
Evelyn lay back in the hammock &c Won
der II my rings needed mending. toos" The
words We're not spoken aloud Poor Donna
Pertecta! I'm awfully afraid I'm going 70
let hun keep them" After a long time she
murmured Poor Don Jiminezi"
THE moments crept by. The hours drew out
IN sweet reiteration of themselves. The
yellow sunlight crept over the tagged floor OF
the corridor. The mother sat silent. The girl
lay with closed eyes IN her hammock. The
clouds grew opal and amethyst. The sun sank
slowly behind the hills
The shadows have gone. murmured Donna
Perfecta. And Don Jiminez ees gone. There
viii be no more light and no more shadow.
Eet will be all. all dark"
Evelyn Halleck opened her eyes and looked
out into the garden. On the highest branch of
an orange tree a scarlet tanager sat and. even
as the suns rim disappeared. the black wings
were spread. The girls eyes rested on the
eastern horizon where the moon would rise and
throw its own moon shadows But there was
faintest sign vet of its coming. For time il
would. indeed, be very dark. Her lips moved.
and this time her words were quite audible; but
all she said was:
Poor Don Jiminezl"