The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-06-26

to defend me-but you always rode
right by. Yes, that was it-but Phi
was different! He came when | SEN
for him; he sang songs to me at night
he took my part against Manuel de
Rey; and now"
"Yes!" commented Bud bruskly
with his mind on dear Pills" finish
and she turned to peer into his face.
so that Is IT." she said. You dc
not trust me. You think that am not
your friend-that l will serve you a.
he was served. Is that what you are
thinkingr
Something like that" admitted
Hooker. leaning lazily against the
mud wall -Only l reckon don't thinl
just the way you do"
why! How do l think!~ she de-
mandsd eagerly.
We'll. you think awful fast" an
swered Hooker slowly And you don't
always think the same. seems like
I'm kind Of quiet myself, and dom,
like-well, l wouldn't say that. but you
don't always mean what you say"
"Oh!" breathed Gracia, and then
leaned against the low wall beside
him.
IF would speak from my heart, +"
she asked, IT l would talk plain, as
you Americans do, would you like me
better then? Would you talk to me
instead OF standing silent? Listen.
Bud-for that is your name-I want
you to be my friend the way you we're
friend TO Phil. know what you did
for him. and how you bore with his
love-madness-and that was my fault,
too. But partly it was also your fault,
for you made me angry by not coming.
Yes. l will be honest now-it was
you that wanted to know at first, but
you would not come, and now l am
promised to Phil He was brave when
you were careful, and my heart went
out to him. You know how it Is with
us Mexicans..we do not love by rea-
son. We love like children-suddenly
from the heart! And now all wish
In life is to run away to Phil. But
every time speak Of 1t YOU shut yo'--
jaws or tell me am fool"
"Umpum," protested Bud, turning
stubborn again. Il tell you you don't
know what you're talking about These
rebels don't amount to nothing around
the town, but on trail they're awful.
They shoot from behind rocks and all
that, and q woman amt noways safe.
these old women don't think about
nothing else-so what's the use of talk
ing! And BESIDES" he added grimly,
I've had some trouble with your old
man and don't want to have any
more"
What trouble have you had?" she
demanded promptly, but Hooker would
not answer in words. He only
shrugged his shoulders and turned
away, crumpling his hat in his hand.
But moi" she cried as she sensed
the meaning Of his concealment, you
must tell mel l want to know. Was
1t over your mine? Then you must
not blame me, for he never has told
me world"
Nor" inquired Bud, rousing sudden
ly at the memory of his wrongs. Then
maybe you will tell me how he got
this"-he fetched worn piece Of ore
from his pocket-"when my pardner
gave 1t to you! 1t was right there
lost my pardner-and he was good
kid, too-and all because Of that rock.
Here, take a look at 1T took that
away from your father!"
Then he stole 1t from mel" flashed
back Gracia as she gazed at the speci-
men. "Oh. have you thought all the
time that l betrayed Phil! But didn't
!. tell you-didn't l tell you at the
hotel, when you promised to be my
friend? All. see that you are hard
man, Mr.. Hooker-Quick to suspect,
slow to forget-and yet l told you be-
fore! But listen. and l will tell you
again. remember we'll when dear
Phil showed me this rock-he was SO
happy because he had found the gold!
And Just to make 1t lucky he let me
hold it while we were talking through
a hole in the wall. Then my father
saw me and started to come near|I
could not hand it back without betray-
ing Phil-and in the night, when I
was asleep, some one took 1t from un-
der my pillow. That is the truth, and
| will ask you to believe me; and II
you have other things against me you
must say what they are and see II l
cannot explain.
moi" she ran on. her voice vibrant
with the memory Of past Quarrels, Il
have nothing to do with my father!
He does not love me, but tries to make
me marry first one man and then an
other. But l am an American girl