The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-12-07
ROSE OF MEXICO
ANONYMOUS.


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, her
brother had been running bachelors
hall for three years, while his four
sisters stayed back home in Vermont,
as Bob said, wasting their time while
their one and only brother pinned 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 go 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, 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.
Cts ran down to meet them and took
Dolores in her arms. Bob stood
watching them both, his keen gray
eyes half closed.
Such child. senor." Cts cried, in
her brisk, hopeful way. why is she
so sad ?''
I'VE have lost our father in the
war, back in Chihuahua" he told her,
resting one booted foot on the steps.
Our mother lived a month afterward,
SO we two are alone. You must be
very sweet to her, my senorita."
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
for a week at least. Big, long-legged
Bob. twenty-nine years old with the
fiber of rock-ribbed Vermont in his
| being, would flush to the roots of his
| curly, straw-colored hair every time
| the senior spoke of leaving.
One day in the garden, while Cts
worked among her rose bushes and
sparse pansy beds, Dolores followed
| her around.
| 1T is glorious to have brother, is
1 it not?" she sighed. I'VE must be
very loyal TO them, for they need us
greatly. III were to marry--certain.
| ly will never marry-but if l were tc
marry, Ramon would almost die" 81
| Cecilia's hands went faster.
They're fearfully dependent crea
tures,' she answered. Bob wouldn't
| know his head from his heels if
wasn't right there to tell him which
| was which. I'll have to stay right
| here and take care of him"
| But if he should love, senorita? Ii
| would be very hard for your"
NO, it wouldn't I'd go back home
and teach school again
And you would not mind at all?"
Something in the eager, joyous tons
| made Cts look up. 1t had not occurred
to her that Bob might be interested
in this slender, dark-eyed girl from
over the border. And her own face
grew tender as she smiled up at her.
why, l guess l shouldn't mind
not if she was mighty sweet"
Down the road there came thu
sound of horses galloping up from
the south below the roll of land tina
sheltered the ranch.
| Curly Barton was the leader. a
be talked to Bob, he looked owe
where Cts stood and waved his ha
to her, but she stood silent, chin VI
waiting.
There had been fight along tn
| border, Curly said. Rustlers ha
stolen over and cut out over hur
dred horses. His cowboys had pul
sued them and there had been run
ming fight Five men lay dead dow
the wash, their faces upturned to tn
sunlight. 1t had been decided hes
f7r the community at large to driy
every last Mexican back over the linz
And they had heard that Bob had
couple there.
/ Yes, l have" Bob said calml.
THE young lady | am going to MARI
| and her brother What you got
r say to that, Curly?"
= Dolores heard, and her han
reached out for CHS.
you got all the horses back
;. asked Bob. Curly grinned remini
Gently.
Yep. And some of theirs, too"
: Then drop it. These are n
/, | guests" He stood watching the BIO!
/ ride on, and Baeza came toward hiI
They would have shot me, yes e
asked genially. You are very kin
: SENIOR very faithful. l am no band
: no revolutionist. / have been plu
L