The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-21

the mountains, where he was happily
busy hunting ladrones. 1t was charac-
teristic Of him to gallop full tilt down
on the lady he had come to see before
he knew she was there. And IL was
characteristic OF him also to rein his
horse hack on his launches with one
tug and sweep of his hat with gesture
that would have outdone Don Quixote
himself and insist on escorting the lady
to her home despite the startled grumb-
ling Of Tia Maria and a sudden access
OF statellness on Dora Mercedes's part.
Everything Capt. Manuel did was
characteristic, for he was Catalan.
And while no one can foretell what
Catalan may do. IL is always safe to say
that he will do what he pleases and do
IL with all his might. And this gray
eyed. fair haired boy, with the frank
smiling face. had chosen to play at
living thus far.
He was commander OF the Guardla
Civil in all the southern valley. put in
that unenviable post that puzzled
bureau crats might be safe from his un-
bounded energy. And he played with
the bandits and outlaws and savages,
purposely left them undisturbed that
they might grow bold. and then went
out with laugh and destroyed them.
And when the fighting was over he
would come back unwearied and amuse
himself with wondrous speculatlons in
tobacco, or stake his last dollar on
stroke at billiards with Don Enrique
And the most fascinating OF all the play
things he had discovered in his brief
lafe was something he was pleased TO
call love.
He played at that with his usual whole
heartedness, till n score of girls up and
down the valley were ever watching Tor
the 1.-the figure on the wild black horse,
and more than score of men we're
breathing threats OF vengeance, whereat
the Captain laughed boyishly and IN
yited the discontinued to step out and
settle IL once for all with pistol or rifle
or knife or spear or bolo or bare hands.
I'm sorry you couldn't have known
Capt. Manuel instead of merely hearing
about him from me, for you will get the
idea that he was a good for nothing
young reprobate. whereas he was only
gay. good hearted boy. dissipating MS
splendid strength in hundred useless
ways Just because no one had ever
shown him n useful way But he vas n
dangerous person with his ready tongue
and tossing hair to come dancing before
the wondering eyes of that bewildered
woml n child, Dona Mercedes. Danger
Gus To Don Enrique's dreams of the
future. mean. For Of course he fell in
love with Dona Mercedes at once.
With him to decide that he was in
love was to he there; so behold the Cap
tain OF morning after drill come
clanking To the summer house, all brave
in sword and spurs, to sit and regale
Dona Mercedes with weird tales of the
little fights till terrified Tia Maria
crossed herself again an dpeered anx-
iously up into the branches of the old
mango. more than half expecting 10 see
naked head hunter there ready TO
leap upon her venerable wig. And
Dona Mercedes, poor little stately Mer-
cedes. watched this strange newcomer
as she had watched all others, but with
a shade more interest, for she felt that
she understood him. The frank. friendly
smile in his eyes seemed so exactly as
she felt TO all the word.
Soon she began to find his presence
welcome relief to the length Of the
days and missed him when he did not
come. Don Enrique should have taken
less.
In the first place II was rather
strenuous undertaking to keep Capt.
Manuel away from where he chose to
be. And in the next any fear that he
could move the heart Of Dona Mercedes
was absurd. Why, he was only PEN
niless youngster without a "de" or ~"
or Don" to his name, and she was
IlAn NntI
and Furthermore she had him. Don En-
rlque, to fill her every want.
So Don Enrique smiled and TESTED
and talked and dreamed of an evening
in the great dining room with his little
girl and was very happy. And Capt.
Manuel laughed and joked and sang in
the little summer house of morning
| and was in heaven. or thought he was,
which after all amounts to just as much
for the moment.
At last one morning he was holding a
skein OF silk for her and Tia Maria had
fallen into an uneasy doze through very
excess of terror at the latest tale. Sew
eral times their eyes met when the
skein was tangled-such tiny skein Of
golden yellow silk to mean so much.
And each time Dona Mercedes became
HioiN sNot'iy anu Wullc the
captain blushed like a little boy.
Their talk died away to broken SEN
fences and then the hush of noontide
lay over the great cool. fragrant gar
den and only the heavy droning OF the
| bees among the roses broke the still
ness and Dona Mercedes put out fiut-
tering hand to clear another snarl. and
Tia Maria popped bolt upright in her
chair. BLOOD OF all the saints" she
cried, what was that I heard?" And
she peered up into the gently stirring
leaves OF the great tree and made ready
| to fee.
| ut was wild man, perhaps" said the
Captain with tremulous laugh. and
Dona Mercedes took up the converse.
ton quite as composedly is IL she had
lived in the world all her life. But
| when the Captain was leaving she muir.
INJURED; You must tell Don Enrique
or course he told Don Enrique a,
once and of course Don Enrique was
quite astonished at what had been goin,
on right under his patrician nose an,
quite scandalized and very positive. II
his grave, courteous way. that sucl