Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-08-18

had told him she had father. moth.
er and some small brothers and sisters.
She said that her father was away
from home a good deal Of the time.
When he returned he had plenty OF
money. a part Of which he spent In
buying what the family needed ana
tie rest in the national drink. pulque.
When It was all gone he returned to
follow the same course rs before.
But Burch was not interested In the
Puente family. for he had not followed
the ordinary process Of counting In
vogue in the country and had made
no application for Rosa's hand. He
looked upon his affair with the little
Mexican girl as very pleasant one.
At irst he had wished that she was
lady that he might marry her. hut
time had cured him Of that What
concerned him now was how to get
out OF Mexico with $4,000 that ne had
brought there to invest In conee
plantation "a soon as he had learned
how to manage one.
He turned his money into American
banknotes and distributed them In DIFF
ferent parts Of his clothing. Then when
he was ready to start for Vera Cruz,
proposing to make the journey on
horseback, he sent Rosa word BY a
messenger he had used before to meet
him Mt their usual trysting place.
When they met Burch was on horse
back ready for his departure for Texas.
Dismounting. he took Rosa In his
arms. kissed her and told her that ne
must 60 to the United States. 1t was
not safe for him to keep money any
longer in country where levies OF
cash were made on the citizens by one
side or the other. He was going to get
his money in the bank in Galveston:
then he would GENE back to her--that
Is, II It were possible to get through
Rosa received the announcement WIN
her head on Burch's breast. 40 that ne
could not see her expression. He fear
ed she might object to his going: out
was surprised after prolonged silence
10 see her look up and say:
"You are right. Put your money In
safe place. II you will wait till | can
get a horse will 90 part way with
you"
There was q peculiar expression on
her face when she said this that he did
not quite like. However. ne expressed
pleasure at having her with him. and
she went to get horse. She came back
presently with one she had borrowed
from a neighbor. and the two started
northward.
Rosa said very little. which Burch
naturally attributed to her reluctance
to part with him. He thought it best to
talk about what he would do when he
returned, but this did not move her to
a more pleasureble feeling. When they
came to where the road forked she In
sisted that the one OH the left was the
shortest route to Burch's destination.
Laredo. He knew better, but allowed
himself to be persuaded to 60 her way.
When they had been on the road rou-
ple Of hours he suggested that she turn
back, since she had far to 80 and would
he tired. But she said she would 80 a
little farther.
In passing over declivity they look
cd down on a small clump Of trees.
and he saw group OF horsemen.
| Burch paled. He knew that he had
met with d force Of rebels or bandits;
he SUSPECTED the latter. A man sang
out from below for them to advance.
They did 80. and the men In the camp
spoke to Rosa Familiarity. as If they
knew her. A man approached. and she
called him "Padre" Then she told him
something in Spanish which Burch did
not understand.
Turning to Burch, he said, Money"
which was the only English word he
knew. Burch saw at once that he had
been led into a trap by the girl whom
he had considered plaything.
Half an hour later the American, at
| The request of Rosa Puente, was per-
mitted to resume his journey, but with
out his $4,000 and without the girl.
"Goodby, senor," she said. II thought
that your money would be safer with
NV father than In the bank at Calves
ton. You needn't trouble yourself to
come back on my account, for would
not think of mating with 'gringo'
She said this in mixture Of Spanish
and English. the latter having been
picked up in the love passages that had
occurred between her and the Amen-
can.