Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19

See, he's off already. We must follow him. And
almost lightly as the bird flew she hurried down
between the trees.
A FTER arduous winter during which her
had added luster to the white glare of Broadway,
Evelyn Halleck had been sent to the Estud1la
hacienda in Southern California by friend who had
travelled much in many little travelled places.
Il quite agree with your father he had written in
letter to her, :" in his idea that the mines at
Randsburg would be no place for you. But if you
still insist being him, and quite that
you need rest and nothing but rest, can you
that you will find with Donna Perfecta Estudlla.
Her ranch lies at the foot of the hills, the coast
side and the stage road to the mines runs just back
of her lands. She is bit of older civilization left
for moderns to study and has nothing left of
her old grandeur but few hundred acres OF good
for nothing land crumbling adobe house and
worthless son, Don Jimnez by name By the way,
don't translate that into Jim Jimmy; but of
course you know better than that. Truly, though,
he is worthless fellow, and think his old mothers
last days would be happier if she we'll rid of him.
Donna Perfectas memory is inexhaustibly stored
with tales of the old life in that land of romance and
it is absolutely at the disposal of anyone who will
listen to her.
On her arrival at the hacienda Estudilla Miss
~ Halleck had found the old adobe crumbling, in
deed but covered from end to end with jasmine and
roses; the surrounding it worthless perhaps
according to any commercial appraisement but riot
ously overgrown with palms, acacas and pepper
trees, with orange and lemon groves. Donna Per-
fecta seemed picture from some old canvas. Her
soft white hair covered with lace mantilla,
and torn but draped over fragile shell comb
pointed with balls of god her gown, ragged and
frayed stretched over her plump figure; and at
her belt rosary of purple beads from which
hung golden cruci6x. The old woman's eyes still
held youthful CLEAN under yellowed lids that flut-
tered and dropped in old fashioned coquetry her
lips, line of scarlet in face burnt sienna deep
chrome, parted over teeth that white and firm.
Her reception of Miss Halleck that of dowager
Queen receiving envoy from a neighborng
eregn; but Don Jiminez, the son. tall, swarthy, and
morose accorded the visitor an uncourteous well
come.
On the afternoon when Donna Perfecta had told
her the story of Flpo Beltempo she had been the
hacienda for two weeks. Every hour of every day
had been filled with stories and legends and every
hour of every day she had watched Don Jninez. He
had been her constant companion. He had accom-
panied her several short expeditions about the
country; but always, as she studied his ways and
moods the stronger grew her conviction that there
something curousy mysterious about this last
scion of the house of Estudilla.
TT late in the afternoon of the following day.
The hot air was heavy with the perfume of the
jasmine that screened the corner where Donna Per-
fecta sat with her guest and Don Jiminez. The sum-
a short haf-hour above the horizon yelled about
with clouds of amethyst and amber that burned
slowly up into flames of scarlet and gold. There had
been stories told that afternoon; for Donna Per-
fecta had been lost in short memories of her
youthful days.
That poor Filipo Beltempo stays in my mind"
Evelyn's eyes were on Don .Jiminez. His restless
movement as she spoke the not lost upon
her. Neither did she fail to the little furtive
movement of Donna Perfecta's fingers. Have you
Il, Miss Halleck?" scoffed Don Jiminez. Il am
not believer in ghosts. l am not credulous
Donna Perfecta."
" But it is not creduous to believe what other men
have seen, laughed Evelyn, and they say that
many people have seen him. Is it not SO, Donna
d part to see this
If see him, shall believe in him, answered
Don Jiminez.