The Colorado statesman., 1914-02-28

come creeping in here when nobody
is about? That is like you, to tor
ment me. You are a coward, Pedro"
Say what you like" said Pedro,
struggling his shoulders. His sweet
heart comes from America this even
ing"
You lie, Pedro" answered the girl.
Pedro grinned and held out a copy
of a Texas newspaper. Neither of
them could read Spanish, let alone
English, but photographs speak the
same tongue in every land. 1t was
impossible to mistake that of Dick
Chaplin or that of the girl in the same
picture, about whose waist Dicks arm
was resting.
Dolores looked at it and grew pale
as death.
He may have broken it off, Pedro"
she gasped
Well" said Pedro, philosophically,
that remains to be seen. / say that
she will come this evening, with his
mother. Such is the story in the
| mine"
The mothers words came back to
Dolores. Pedro saw the indecision in
her face.
VIII you be shamed by Gringo
woman when the way lies open, Dol
ores?" he asked. Remember, / love
you. l know the Gringo makes fine
promises to women, but he is not
your kind. He will never marry you"
Come here, Pedro" whispered the
girl. She drew him outside. A mo-
ment later Pedro walked away grin
ming. AS he left her Dolores heard
Dicks call for her. She hurried back.
Dicks eyes were wide open, and he
recognized her again. The crisis was
past.
"Dolores," he whispered, drawing
her toward him.
Dick" she said, "thy-thy mother
comes this night"
My mother!" he exclaimed. How
long have l been ill, then? What
happened? All! The landslide!"
Memory was returning, and with it
came the solution of the crisis.
He will live now," said the doctor
when he returned. I'm glad that the
crisis ended before his mother came"
The night train brought Mrs. Chaplin
and young woman. Dolores, cast
out from the sickroom now, watched
them in bitterness of soul as, with
hurried steps, they fastened toward
the mine hospital.
IF he returns her kiss" she said
to herself, Il shall know"
She followed them, gradually gain
ing upon them, until she reached the
door of the sick mans room, few
PAGES behind. Neither of the women
paid any attention to the Indian girl;
she was not even seen my them. Dol
ores stood at the door and watched.
With a cry Mrs. Chaplin sprang to
the bedside and flung her arms about
her boy. And then, while they still
clung together, the younger woman
drew near. Her tears fell on Dicks
face. His arms were round her, too.
Dolores crept away. Pedro drew
near her, but she ren from him. She
could, not see him yet. She had one
more duty to do. She went to the doc
tors Office.
"Senor," she gasped, tell me one
thing faithfully. You said that he
would live. Will he live to stand
upon his feet again, like a man, or
will he only crawl in the SUM-"
God bless you, my child, of course
he will stand on his feet again." the
doctor answered, looking at her Gu
riously. He was not too ignorant of
Dicks Irritation with her, and, know
ing the ways of Mexico, had not been
greatly disturbed by it. Dick could
look after himself And the girl-he
understood that love was only an cpl
sode in these girls lives. Still, ner
tone moved him.
why do you ask me?" he inquired,
curiously.
II have heard" said Dolores, that
when a Gringo is crippled his sweet
heart leaves him. The Gringo women
do not love as we love-"
ooh. l guess most women are
alike" replied the doctor, carelessly.
But don't be distressed about him.
Dick Chaplin will be as fit as ever he
was in few weeks"
THANK you," replied Dolores, list
lessly, and went away.
Who is that Dolores that Dick is
all the time asking for?" inquired Mrs.
Chaplin of the doctor
"Oh, just a native woman who
nursed him." the doctor answered.
''She left here suddenly last night
with fellow named Pedro. Married?
Let's hope SO; but marriage doesn't
count for very much among these
MeXicans."
I'm glad she's gone" said Mrs.
Chaplin. Dicks sister and / were
rather worried to know who she
could be-
Il think there was little tenderness
on both Sides" answered the doc
tor BEST say nothing about her,