The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-11-01

then stared out through the dancing
heat-waves, her blue eyes Swallowed
with romance.
did she marry him?" queried Jean.
mo. mol" Helen Blake sighed, bliss
fully. 1T was infinitely finer She
killed herself"
Il like to see them get married"
Naturally. You are at that stage.
But l think suicide is more glorious,
in many cases."
Miss Chaplin yawned openly Speak
ing of suicides. isn't this ranch the
deadest place."
"Oh, l don't think so at ALL"
"Oh yes, you do, and you needn't be
polite just because you're a guest"
We'll, then. to be as truthful as q
boarder. 1t is little dull. Not for
our chaperon. though. The time
doesn't seem to drag on her hands.
Jack certainly is making 1t pleasant
for her."
III you call taking her out to watch
lot Of believing calves get branded,
entertainment" Miss Chaplin sighed.
Miss Blake leaned forward and read
the inscription on her companions
medal. "Oh. isn't it heavy!" feeling
it reverently.
Pure gold. like himself! You
should have seen him when he won it.
Why, at the finish of that race all the
men but Culver were making the
most horrible faces. They were sim
ply dead"
Miss Blake's hands were clasped In
her lap. They ali make faces" said
she. Have you told Roberta about
your engagement"
mo. she doesn't dream Of it, and l
don't want her to know. I'm so afraid
she'll think, now that mother has
gone. that l asked her here Just as
chaperon. Perhaps I'll tell her when
Culver comes"
Il have heard Culver speak of him.
but never as an athlete. Have you
and Mr.. Speed settled. things between
you, Helen? / mean, has he-said any
thing?"
Miss Blake flushed.
mot exactly" She adjusted a
cushion to cover her confusion, then
leaned back complacently. But he
has suffered dangerously several
times"
A musical tinkle Of silver spurs
sounded in the distance, and around
the corner of the cook-house opposite
came Carara, the Mexican, his wide,
spangled sombrero tipped rakishly
over one ear. a corn-husk cigarette
dropping from his lips.
tits that romantic Spaniard!" whis-
pered Helen. What does he want!"
tits his afternoon call on Marie
delta, the maid" said Jean. They
meet there twice a day, morning and |
afternoon"
"A lovers tryst!" breathed Miss |
Blake, eagerly. Isn't he graceful and |
picturesque! Can we watch them?"
"'Sh-h! There she comes!"
From the opposite direction ap-
peared slim, swarthy Mexican girl,
an Indian watering balanced upon her
shoulders. She was clad in the |
native garment. belt
ed in with a sash; her feet we're In
sandals, and she moved as silently as
q shadow.
During the four days since Miss
Blake's arrival at the Flying Heart
Ranch she had seen Mariedetta fit
ting noiselessly here and there, but
had never heard her speak. The pref
ty, expressionless face beneath the
straight black hair had ever retained
it's wooden stolidity, the velvety eyes
had not laughed nor frowned nor
sparkled. She seemed to be merely
a part of this far southwestern pic
ture; a bit of inanimate yet breath
ing local color. Now, however, the
girl dropped her jug, and with low
cry glided to her lover, who tossed
aside his cigarette and took her in his
arms. From this distance their words
we're indistinguishable.
How perfectly romantic" said the
Eastern girl, breathlessly. II had no
idea Mariedetta could love anybody"
"She is a volcano" Jean answered.
"Why, it's like play"
"And 1t goes on all the time"
How gentle and sweet he is!
.hink he is charming. He Is not at all
ike the other cowboys. is he?"
While the two witnesses of the
scene were eagerly discussing it, Joy,
he Chinese cook, emerged from the
Kitchen bearing bucket Of water, his
presence hidden from the lovers by
he corner of the building. Carara
aneuidly released his inamorata from