The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-04-13


heightened the fever in his veins
One night, as he argued the question OF improved
picks with GmeT. his attentive ear caught foot
fall on the stair leading to the family rooms, The
door was open, and in moment he could sec Lorena
coming slowly down, clad in dragging white gar
ment, and holding in her arms heavy geraniurn
pot The weight of the thing made her step
tiously Luis could see her fral wrists trembling
with the strain, and he sprang forward to aid her
"Senorita but this iss too heavy for YOU"
She regarded him the velvety leaves and for
once her blue eyes seemed at least Of him.
"Oh, thank you she said, in a tonelcss voice "I
was going to set it out in the rain. It's sprinkng"
az will set it out" said Luis. The conversation had
effect of being dramatic and convincing, certainly
but Luiss heart beat fast; he felt relation
plicabe creature "But if put it here the porch
the goats will eat it, you know, senorita They eat
all but railroad ron will put it safely in yard
There iss there fence. / your ncighbor. The
Luceros of next door,"
ooh, if it isn't too much troube?
"Trouble! cried Luis, passionately. After all pas
sion needs no established medium of expression.
Any word will do to convey it if the food is high
"It will be JOY, senorita we will make this little
tree an blossom out all in glory of red"
"But it's white one Mr.-Senor 1ucero"
"White2 Better so! Mel love not red. 1t ss
the common color. 1t ss bold. l love white the
much For the white flowers will be like you
senorita, without mark or stain, as the snow OF
heaven iss."
Gilmers daughter surveyed him with widening and
somewhat bewildered gaze. There fervid light
in the young Mexicans eyes. He returned her look
with kind of tranccd intensity. And the girl
regarded his dark face, skilled in this eloquent
ecstasy, sudden quiver touched her lips. To her
cheeks rose swectly living color, and In her eyes an
abashed consciousness shone while as if to conceal
it. the eyelids slowly fell She appeared to catch her
breath little sharply; and then she turned and
with dignhed slowness up the bare stairs
Lucero. holding the fower-pot like trophy,
emerged into the wet gloom of the night pulsng in
dizzy rapture. Hola! how it was strange! he had
thought of her only with pity and in a moment it
was all changed, and the pity gone. This in its
place was surely love, though it had come strange
ztx.S I111-.z II 4
love comesf 1t was here in his heart. That was
certain. How sweety she had looked at himl How
softly blue her eyes werel How freshly the blood
had spoken in her cheeks! He did not know exactly
why he should be so glad; why hope should quicken
his bosom There had been little engender
tainty. But the spirit OF is primarily of
rest on; and Luss innermost of being had read
destiny in Lorena Gilmer's face.
Nevertheless he would have found less security
of comfort in the rainy winds outside her dwelling If
he could have foreseen the tragic gloom in store for
him. Succeeding days, it fell out afforded him
almost no chance of seeing Lorena, and when he did
make out to intercept her he aghast at the girls
demeanor. Blush? Santo Cielo! had she ever bushed?
Her cheek turned upon him the unresponsive-
ness of ivory. And her eyes, truly her eyes were
remote than the day when she stepped first
the soil Of Aguilar. She ice. She
ble When he brought back the geranum and she
took it with changeless visage, barely speaking.
Luceros heart swelled in kind Of resentfu
guish.
"Senorita" burst forth the unhappy young man,
docs it not please you? Behold the blossomsl l
have strven-yes, like peon have labored with
it'll"
you've been mighty kind to take SO much trou
bic" SAID Lorena, looking coldly back as she went
upstairs. I'm right grateful"
She was grateful that all And he, Luis LII
cero-for him decidedly there nothing to do but
put end to himself forthwith.
1t CHANGED that after, while he still
grmly debating upon the least distressing means Of
doing this relative from up the canon came to
town upon splendid young bronco which exhibited
tba MALT Ofit hyD 1oJo hing IN The
earth outside the Lucero house while its master sat
at meat within.
"He has nettle," observed Luis, watching the
tang carecrng round about the hitching-post
"Mettel Yo me rio de osol" said the kinsman,
proudly. "He will not be than half busted yet"
Isl! sip' smiled Luis. Il should like to mount
him. Have your permission, couslnT
After dinner the two went out to inspect the
horse which showed his friendly sentiment by laying
back his and exhibiting very red mouth.
"Ha" said Luis in response to this greeting. you
dare me- then, my beauty, eh? And he vaulted into
the horned saddle, The bronco, gathering its hoots
together, made convulsive movement "Cuidado!
cried the knsman warningly; but already the animal
had wheeled like eddying wind, and Luis lay very
white and still beside the ditch in front OF the Com
pany's store.
In an instant crowd surrounded him. The near
est and quickest of the throng woman who
had sped from the like thread OF white light
ming, and who crouched Luis now, uttering has
name wildly
When Lucero opened his eyes, as he did presently,
and the face bent him in angushed tender
ness dIQ nedId MS udu!e ON iPS "tei' Aeu I'M ~
have killed him with their silence, he seized cum
ningly at the opportunity which fate had sorted
him.
"Lorena! Oueridai You are my own7"
There was feverish look in her deep eyes. Yes,
yes yes" she breathed. But she said it as one who
registers involving more dreadful issues than
the nuptial hour
After this episode life about the Companys store
began to manifest wonderful difference. Pallor and
apathy no longer marred the young liveiness OF the
girl whom Luis Luccro loved AS flower from its
colorless sheath so her beauty sprung fresh and
sweet, with radiance which astounded every one.
"Shes getting the good of the altitude, reckon,D
s,id aer aanther To those who remarked Lorenals