The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-16

ANONYMOUS.


The night when Ramon Baeza
slipped from his saddle in front OF
the ranch house, Cecilia felt the first
tug at her heartstrings since she had
come to Texas.
Four years ago it was now. She
had been eighteen then. Bob, hel
brother, had been running bachelor
hall for three years, while his foui
sisters stayed back home in Vermont,
as Bob said, wasting their time while
their one and only brother pined for
lack Of gentle company down in the
wilds. So Cts, as he called her. HAD
been the one who felt the call OF
duty.
| And she amt never been sorry,
! Bob told Senior Baeza that first night |
as they stood together out on the
| adobe porch smoking in fraternal
fashion. i've got more cattle than
I'll even count. The beef trust never
hits me, and it'll all 60 to Cts when
cash in. Don't want to buy any
horses. do your"
Ramon shook his head.
Il am not North for buying.
travel to Corpus Christi to bring
my Dolores from the convent there.
When we return this way, l will show
you the rose Of Mexico, senior.
Then came a still twilight hour,
with a slip OF a new moon showing
family in the amber and jade sky
and two horses coming up the road,
with the senior and his girl sister.
CHS ran down to meet them and LOOK
Dolores in her arms. Bob stood
watching them both, his keen gray
; eyes half closed.
"Such a child, senor," Cts cried, in
her brisk, hopeful way. why is she
SO sad?''
we have lost our father in the
war, back in Chihuahua" he told her.
resting one booted foot on the steps
Our mother lived month afterward
SC we two are alone. You must be
very sweet to her, my sencrita.
Cts flushed at the caressing tone
and the look in his eyes.
, Il love her even now" she an
swered. Il wish you both could stay
!. here awhile"
: Bob would not listen to them going
4 for week at least. Big. long-legsel
/. Bob twenty-ninc years old. with the
!, fiber of rock ribbed Vermont in his
= being, would flush to the roots OF his
f curly, straw coiored hair every time
9 the senior spoke OF leaving.
O One day in the garden, while CHS
d worked among her rose bushes and
sparse pansy beds, Dolores followed
]. her around.
n 1T is glorious to have a brother, Is
It it not?" she sighed. I'VE must &c
IF very loyal to them, for they need us
g greatly If were to marry-certain
10 Nv | will never marry-but II ! were tt
" marry, Ramon would almost die
le Cecilia's hands went faster.
>, They're fearfully dependent crea
u lures" she answered Bob wouldn'
IL know his head from This heels If
III wasn't right there to tell him whicl
'u was which. Ill have to stay RICH
'u here and take care of him."
40 But If he should love, senorita? l
" would be very hard for your
mo, it wouldn't. I'd go back HON
and teach school again"
81 And you would not mind at all?'
Oh Something in the eager, joyous ton
ut made CHS look up 1t had not occurre
.t to her that Bob might be intereste
ot in this slender dark-eyed girl frGr
~. over the border. And her own fac
a. grew tender as she smiled up at her.
he "Why, | guess ! shouldn't mind
ms not il she was mighty sweet
he Down the road there came tn
he sound of horses galloping up froI
int the south below the roll OF land the
lat sheltered the ranch.
ne Curly Barton was the leader. A
he talked to Bob, he looked owe
Al where Cts stood and waved his hs
to her, but she stood silent, chin u
waiting.
There had been a fight along tn
-, border. Curly said. Rustlers ha
~ stolen over and cut out over hui
- dred horses His cowboys had pu
sued them and there had been ru
80 ming fight Five men lay dead dow
the wash, their faces upturnej to II
sunlight 1t had been decided be
for the community at large to dri'
~ every last Mexican back over the lin
And they had heard that Bob had
NV couple there.
an Yes, | have" Bob said calml
The young lady | am going tc mar
to and her brother What you got
ed say to that, Curly?
.ly, Dolores heard, and her ha'
ito reached out for Cts.
d. You got all the horses back
asked Bob Curly grinned remin
Gently.
Yep. And some of theirs, too"
Then drop it, These are .
18th guests" He stood watching the DO
ter ride on, and Baeza came toward nj
ia. They would have shot me, yes?''
ich asked genially You are very kir
,se. senior, very faithful. | am no band
he, no revolutionist | have been plu
1an dered alike by Villa and the othel
,ral 1t has been peace here at your rant
on I have fingered because ] love 20
so, ster | have already told her, B
got she is loyal and tender-hearted. 5
ced will not leave you alone, she says.
'OI NJ h.,n his haad