Year: 1876




ing moment or two longer they once more
set their faces forward, and entering narrow
de6le which wound between two rocky walls
the valley was lost to their view.


To one as unaccustomed as Esther was to
long and fatiguing walks, the journey was
very trying one, specially as the heat OF the
day came on but her young companion sup
ported her with her slender arm, apd also
tried to divert her attention by every means
in her power from the discomfort she endured
and thus encouraged, she managed to get'on
When half way, they rested in the shade and
refreshed themselves with draught from 6
clear stream close by, and some lunch out of
basket of provisions they had brought, and in
about an hours time we're able to resume the
march. So slowly, however, did Esther walk
that the afternoon shadows were already
lenthening on the ground when they came in
sight of their destination.


The new home Picciola had selected was in
an old adobe building, tenanted by an aged
settler and his one child, commonplace but
kindly Hooking young woman, who received
the strangers with word of welcome, not un
accompanied by several inquisitive glances al
the face of tie beautiful, sad.eyed lady whose
superior air Was apparent even under the
coarse attire she had taken care to assume
The room assigned to them was the least di
lapidated in the house and here, when left
alone, Picciola busted herself in arranging the
little comforts they had contrived to bring
in order to give it less forlorn look, while
her mistress, utterly worn out, sought repose
on the hard bed they were to share together


Picciola had informed the people (who
were Spanish) that the Sonora was lady re-
duced to great poverty, and who had suffered
from other misfortunes, and was anxious to
live in retirement for awhile, having no rela'
tives in this part of the world to whom she
could go; that she desired to see no one but
themselves, and would do any work she
could Gin which, of course, Picciola herself
would assist to aid the young woman about
the house, and to help in paying their board.
Besides this, they had stipulated to pay a
regular sum by the week, which, as it was
exceedingly moderate, Esther had means OF
doing for some time to come. She gave the
Senoras name as Mrs. johnson, and an
nounced herself to be her adopted daughter,
her mistress not choosing that they should
maintain their former relative positions in
their new situation.


"She will be secluded enough here" said
the woman with shrug of her broad shoul-
ders. ave see no strangers, and the people OF
the place, like ourselves, don't concern them
selves about their neighbors' business. The
board will be help to the old man, and as
long as she pays it, you are both welcome to
stay"


Certainly no place of retreat could have
been selected where they would be less ex-
posed to the risk of discovery than here. Shut
up in her little chamber, from which she sci.
dom emerged, Esther felt herself as COM
pletely cut off from the outer world as though
she had been immured in convent; and
though this feeling of isolation was relief to
her mind, inasmuch as it seemed to guarantee
her safety from her enemy's pursuit, yet the
unbroken seclusion and enforced idleness OF
her life We're bad for her spirits, giving her
too much opportunity for the indulgence Of
morbid and distressing thoughts. Picciola had
thoughtfully brought one or two books as a
slight means of diversion, and from these she
sometimes read few pages; but her absent
air and wandering glances often betrayed
that the sense of what she read was complete.
" lost to her. The woman of the house, Ma
riana by name, seemed intuitively to guess
that her lodger was person Of rank, and
would never suffer her to assist in any work
though she often asked to be allowed to do So
Picciola, however, often helped her in the
garden and about the household, and sort
of intimacy soon sprang up between them
the woman being. of a kindly disposition, and
glad to have the society of young and cheer
full companion for Picciola, though deeply
sympathizing in her mistress misfortunes, was
not of an age to brood over sorrow, and
moreover, possessed buoyant nature, dis
posed always to look on the brightest side Of
everything.


"How sad the Sonora always seems" re-
marked Mariana one day, when they were
thus working together. "She must have suf
fered very deeply, to judge from her appear
ance."


Eyes, she has suffered much" replied Pic
ciola. "And yet she is so good and sweet that
she deserves to be happy"


81 would so gladly aid her in some way, il
1 could" continued Mariana. "But she never
seems to like me to converse with her, and
always fear to question her, lest she might
think me intrusive"


Il fear you could not help her" replied Pic
ciols. "She feels too sorrowful to care tc
converse much with any Que, but it is not dis
like to you, which causes her reserve. l have
heard her more than once say that you were
very thoughtful and kind"


II have never seen any one whom l liked
more," said Mariana "although she allows
me to know so little of her. My father said
to me, but yesterday, that she had the face o.
Que of the saints, he thinks her 30 beautiful


Although Esther shrank from admitting
these people to anything like familiar inter
course-not from PRIDE but from the desire tc