The evening times., 1911-07-08
Continued from Last week.)

barreled gun that was supposed not
to be loaded. To use an expression
that the captain had so often heard
from stephen, 1t now began to look
as il the Russian heiress-hunter had
"overplayed his hand"
After several months Of effort on
the captains part to entice her love.
Margaret, having repeatedly, vet
gently. impressed him with the du-
biousness Of his suit, he had turned
hopefully to her mother in the most
confident expectation that he would
be able to enlist her aid and sympa-
thy, approaching the task by the ex-
erctse OF all the deliberation and eau
ton Of the trained diplomat.
At the very outset, almost before
his campaign had actually begun, he
had been told. in terms that could
not be misconstrued, there was lit
tie hope for him; that it was advisa-
Bile he should turn in another direc-
ton. And, as if to emphasize her con-
clusions. Mrs. Holt now generously
proposed that she herself would make
personal appeal to Juanitas mother
in his behalf
Closely scanning her determined
features and noting the positiveness
Of her tone, as Margaret's mother
coolly sealed his fate, he began to re-
alize the uselessness of present per-
suasion or protest. All that was now
left for him to do was to believe that
at some future time he might swerve
her by making clean breast of his
predicament; by declaring his love
for Margaret, throwing himself, in his
desperation. upon the mercy Of her
mother. Yet. when Mrs. Holt pfopos-
ed that he accompany her to the stone
house on the hill-it would be i'm
polite for him to decline going with
her-he abandoned. for the time be-
ing, this last ray Of hope, and, in
sheer helplessness, followed her To
the Guerrero home. Perforce, he was
ready for the sacrifice.
Having established her prestige in
the business of adjusting the affairs
OF the heart, about which CAPTAIN
Mikleskoff had once protested to Mar
garet he knew SO little, Mrs. Holt
found no difficulty in contriving to
leave the captain and Juanita on the
Veranda while she and the Sonora
proceeded to an upper room to ex-
anime the priceless treasures which
mad been handed down through the
generations. some of them dating
back to the expulsion of the Moriscoes
from Spain.
Captain Mikleskoff would greatly
enjoy seeing these quaint heirlooms. y
remarked Mrs. Holt, in an Indifferent
tone, "He. too. comes of a distin-
guished family"
so dne!" exclaimed the Sonora.
lTh1s was her favorite expression for
things superlative.)
YES" continued Mrs. Holt; Gin due
time he will be a count"
"Ah! muger de conde-condesso
hes wife. So fine!"
ITO be sure; his wife will be a
countess"
Your daughtair. Mess Margaret. de
noDale captain, SO fine! So it is talk
for aldeanos" (the villagers), ex-
claimed the Sonora in congratulatorv
accents.
"oh, no not at ALL" replied Mrs
Holt, struggling her shoulders. "No
love, Sonora. There must be love in
marriage"
Too bad it is," said the Sonora
sorrowfully. Mess Margaret tc
love. so fine!"
Margaret, the dear child, is still
In possession Of her own heart, Sen.
ora. The right man will come alone
some day, no doubt, and will be
Obliged to give her up, suppose"
Having undeceived the Sonora, as
she now believed, in regard to the sub.
1ect Of village gossip, and, incidental.
ly, while admiring the heirlooms, hay.
ing pointed to the captains distin.
guished lineage and promising pros.
poets, Mrs. Holt. confident Of her abil.
lty as a maker and an unmaker O,
matches. was ready for the next move
on the matrimonial carpet. whateye,
1t might turn out to be.
On the veranda Juanita, the temnt.
ing creature, gracefully reclining II
the hammock. the fatal guitar on he,
lap. was cautiously quizzing the Rus
sian. 1t is no: strange that sh,
should have chosen as the subject O
her interrogations tho tender rela
ttons supposed to exist between Mar
garet and the captain. Coming, as h,
recently had. from so great distance
with no other reason that could b,
guessed than to join Margaret, wa,
sufficient to excite friendly comment
Juanita's secret in regard to hel
attachement for the placid English
man was so we'll guarded that sh,
did not hesitate to engage in banter
ing pleasantries concerning the heart
throbs Of others; and as for the at.
tentions Of the impetuous Stephen shl