Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1916-08-03
.
LOVE AT SIGHT
Story of q Heroic Mexican
Girl and a Yankee.
By F. A. mitchell
By F. A. mitchell


mountains runs in southeasterly d.
rection through the Mexican state of
Chihuahua. James Jernegan, a young
American engineer, was called to q
certain point In these mountains to
build dam on one of its streams with
a view to utilizing the water power.
The nearest house to where his work
was located was the home of Mexi-
can woman named Cavillo. Jernegan
persuaded her to take him to- board
during his sojourn and was thus fortu
nate in escaping the necessity of camp
ing. The house overlooked an extend
ed territory beneath, and from its
veranda one might gaze on very at
tractive view. The grounds were not
inclosed, and the whole mountain side
might be considered as belonging to
the place. Everything was kept tidy
and was In better condition than might
residence.
On the evening of Jernegan's arrival
little table was set for him on the
veranda for his supper. On taking his
seat he was regretting that he must
sup alone when q girl dressed in the
costume of the country appeared, bring
ing the viands.
"Ohor' he said to himself. IF can
have no one to sup with me ! can at
least have this little senorita to wait
upon me, and | shall contrive to keep
her with me as much as possible"
The girl, who was the daughter Of
Sonora Cavillo and whose name was
Inez, laid the dishes on the table and
was about to depart when Jernegan,
who spoke Spanish indifferently, said
to her:
II feel much honored, senorita, at
having a pretty girl to wait on me.
1t would be much more fitting that
wait on you. However, since you have
assumed the duty l beg that you will
not be. beyond call, for there may be
something that shall need which is
not on the table"
The girl. who had never before listen
ed to such deferential words from, a
man, was too confused and delighted
to at once reply. A quick succession of
bushes passed over her face, her .eyes
sparkled, and happy smile played
upon her lips.
"Ah, senor," she said presently, 1T
would not be proper for you to wait
upon me, and it makes me very happy
to wait upon you. If you want any
thing win be within call"
There is no greater danger than for
"A man Of superior caste to go among
his interiors and become involved with
one of their women folk, especially II
she be an attractive young girl Jerne-
gan, observing the effect of his words
upon Inez, felt the necessity Of eau
ton. But 1t is one thing to feel ne
cessity for resisting a temptation and
another to resist. He suffered the girl
to go into room opening on the veran-
da, but did not let her remain long
there. He called:
"Senorita p
81 am coming, senor." And from the
few seconds occupied in her appear
ance it was evident that she had not
been far away. Indeed, she was look
ing through lace curtain that covered
the opening between her and the hand.
some American. Those who believe
that love must have time to take root
and grow have never seen a country
girl suddenly &onfronted by hand
some gentleman. In such instances
the girl Is liable to throw up her hands
In token of surrender at a glance. AT
any rate, such was the case with Inez.
Gould you bring me some more ia
males" asked Jernegan in a tone of
perior being.
Eyes, senior"
When she returned with what he
had asked for he suggested that If she
would take chair on the veranda
she would not have to tire herself by
coming to him, as though she had a
long distance instead of a few steps
to come to him. She accepted the sug-
gestion and sat down in a bamboo
rocking chair near him.
Now. there was swarthy young
Mexican who the very evening before
had secured the little girls promise to
become his wife. He was a rough
mountaineer and not very clean, but
he was the best Inez had ever seen.
and she was sixteen, and that is a
proper age for Mexican girl to marry.
Jernegan had swept her away from
this man, Manuel Coral, in a twin
king. 1t is questionable If after COM
ing under the influence of the former
she gave the latter thought.
Nevertheless Coral was coming to
pass the first evening after his be-
trothal with his promised wife. Inez
was so wrapt In her companion that
she did not hear Manuel coming. But
he saw her sitting on the veranda. saw
the gringo eating at the table and
lnez's eyes resting upon him with a
look of idolatry. Coral saw at a
glance that the hated American had