Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-04-10

killed herself"
i 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 or suicides, isn't this ranch the
deadest placer"
oh, / don't think 30 at all"
"oh yes, you do, and you needn't be
polite just because you're guest"
well, then, to be as truthful as
boarder, 1t Is a little dull. Not for
our chaperon, though. The time
doesn't seem to drag on her hands.
Jack certainly is making it pleasant
for hex"
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
1t 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 all make faces" said
she. Have you told Roberta about
your engagement"
mo, she doesn't dream Of it, and
don't want her to know. I'm so afraid
she'll think, now that mother has
gone, that ! 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.
ITS that romantic Spaniard!" whis.
pered Helen. What does he want?"
"It's 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 a slim, swarthy Mexican girl,
an Indian Watering balanced upon her
shoulders. She was clad in the
straight-hanging native garment, belt.
ed in with a sash; her feet were in
sandals, and she moved as silently as
a 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
part of this far southwestern pic
ture; 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
were neutrality-suspicious.
How perfectly romantic" said the
Eastern girl, breathlessly. Il had nc
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!
think he is charming. He is not at al
like the other cowboys, ia he?"
While the two witnesses Of The
scene were eagerly discussing it. Joy
the Chinese cook, emerged from thu
kitchen bearing a bucket of water, hi
iiOiu tLiO iO'cio ~.
the corner OF the building. CararI
languidly released his inamorata from
, his embrace and lounged out Of sigh
around the building, pausing at tn
farther corner to watt a graceful kis
from the ends Of his fingers, as witt
; farewell fash Of his white teeth b
disappeared. Mariedetta recovere
her Watering and glided onward int
, the court in front Of the cookhouse
, her face masklike, her movements dc
liberate as usual
JOY spying the girl, grinned at he'll
/ She tossed her head coquettishly an
: her step slackened, whereupon tn
i, cook, with sly glance around. Tape
{ her gently on the arm, and said:
. Nice lii gally."
t "The ideal" Indignantly exclaime
Miss Blake from her hammock
Q But Mariedetta was not offended
] Instead she smiled over her shoulde
= as she had smiled at her lover an in
slant before.
me like you fine. You like pie?
Joy nodded toward the door Of tn
culinary department, as If to max
l. free Of his hospitality, at the instan
b that Carara, who had circled the butld
: Ing, came into view from the opposit
!, side, fresh cigarette between hi