CHAPTER XXIII.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 171, 25 September 1886, Page 7

CHAPTER XXIII.

MORNING AT THE BANCHO. Toward the evening; of a hot summer day a gentleman sat alone on a long, low, broad piazza which nearly encircled his house, which was, after the tropical fashion, low and large on the ground. The main body of the house was built of stone. A wide hall— whiohL ran through the centre, and into which opened two rooms on either aide —courted the. cooling breeze which bad only just sprung up, and was rustling the vinos which draped every pillar of the porch. Starry jessamine blossom?, rich red roses, tartarian Honeysuckles, into which the humming birds were dipping their long bills, made beautiful the green sprays which waved and floated from the roof and pillars. Two wings stretched out from the rear of the house at either side, with pleas ant rows of Venetiar windowß opening upon narrower piazzas., Behind the main building was a cluster of outhouses, almost resembling a small village, and farther off was still another cluster of adobe huts, occupied by the peona who worked the farm. A lovely open valley lay, extended in front, tha sloping hills on either side of which, were green and pleasant. Farther back are caught glimpses of gnow capped-mountaine. Close at hand were delightful groves of palm, fruit orchards, gardens and tilled fields. A fountain in front, on the epacious gteen lawn, joined its murmur with the soft rustle of leavee and sighing of the evening breeze. It was a charming place, a delicious hour. The gentleman idly reclining on a cane sofa glanced over the landscape, watched a bird dart intu the flowers, another splashing in the fountain, and sighed. " I feel lonesome hereto-night," ho murmured. He wasa small, graceful, dark gentleman, a Spaniard, and about fifty year* of age. " It is so strange ohat I never thought to instruct Senor Harris to look up my boy when he reached San Francisco. I might have had tidings directly from him had I done eoi Correspondence, in theBe days, ia so very # uncertain. I feel gloomy— as if something Was wrong with my son. Yefc his aunt said, in her last letter, that his health had improved surprisingly, and that Bhe had just advertibed for a tutor. ]am sorry I let him go. I might have had a tutor sent here. What is life worth spent alone? Senor Harris is an interesting person. He amuses me. He makes me forget, for a time, that I am so desolate - wife and children all £one but this one precious boy. The good God, I am' afraid, will see that 1 think too much of him. But since He has taken away the others, how can He blame me ? It is time Harris returned. I waß hoping he would be here to-day. Ah ! what'sthat?" He sprang to his feet and looked off down the narrow road which led out toward the pile of mountains at the left. A cloud of dust floated up into the rosy faunget air. "There are several persons coming in from the mountains. It may only be some of the miners ; but I half believe Senor Harris is there. They have plumes in their hats, and the 'miners have no such horses. It »s Harris i and, by the saints, there are ladies with them !" He stepped into the hall and rang a bell. A servant came. "Company, Carlos, company! r Do you see them coming ? Go J give orders at once for a hot supper, the best that can be prepared." The man hurried away with his orders. In a moment the <vhole place was in a buzz ; the cook peeped around ttie corner of the wing to find how many he would have to provide for. Alone the rose-lighted road, in the odorous cool of the close of day, advanced the cavalcade. < '• How slowly they come ; their animals must be fagged out. Yes, there ia niy Good 1 But who the deucehas he with him ? Yankee partner. I recognise him now. My Aunt Julietta— yea, it is ! And little Bella ! Of course Anatole is with them. My boy ! my boy I" Courtly and reserved, as a Spanish grandee should be, both by breeding and habit, the sanor could yet do longer restrain himself, but ran out to the low stone wall which divided the lawn from the road. "Welcome! welcome 1" he shouted, as Boon as they were near enough to hear. The gentlemen lifted their hate, but not a cheer did they give in return, while, 'if possible, it seemed as if their pace' lagged more the nearer thty approached. "Worn out with their jaunt, evidently. But where i« my boy ? T don't see my boy ! He. would clasp spurs to trig horse if there wae a spark of the old spirit in him. lam afraid Aoatole has not come." ; Hie joy'died out a* suddenly as ifc had flamed up. What did he care for all these friends, if they had left Anatole behind? "Some of Julietta's work," he muttered, angrily. " She wa3 always plaguing me with «ome theory about tho poor little fellow'n education or health. I dare aay she ' put him in some big school where he will pine to a shadow." ' •'Quite too hospitable by instinct to show hie deep chagrin ,to .those who were not to blame, he cleared his brow of its frown, endeavouring to preserve his cheerfulness as the party rodeup tjo the gate. 1 , , 41 Julietta, Bella, Harria.l How solemn you all appear. Quite a funeral procession, 1 declare. ' Jump off your horses. Hoi Peter, Robert, Juan^ you rascals,' come out and take these animals. Bella, my pretty,, come, let me lift you from the saddle." 1 As he set her v .feet on the .ground, he" folded his' arms about her, giving her two or three embraces, an'd ; kieaing her forehead.' '" • > ■ "How, pale you ar,o, plaid I"; j She b'Vrpt into'apaaeiqq of tears, i *' . ■ . " Wh^t to the matter \vitb, the little one ?. (Tell me, my girLwhere y,ou havelefj:- Anatole,?, You should have brought my boy- to me^ i£ yQu deeded to, be thoroughly, wel-, come.^ Why t dq,you look at ybu'r mother? Julietta, .wh^rS i^An'-ftole;?" , , ' ,•- ,!,u' The doptor, had, helped' Mra .Tariiipe, from, her h'ojee, .arirt'stUl partjiatly supported h«r, for she appeared as^shjß.wpuld'fttibib.' "SW n.ot raise j^qfts'tfttyq, face f wbu>hwaYa;Ri^y;changirig/ro >% earnest ( a 9 quiry ,|p deep anxiety, and^om ttoat,so t]be, dull pallor -of dread, and anguish.' '/,_.,"',,* h «i Ma. w r aeiqlingiog<;ouHimiii>etiace l hiddert> ,pa h?> Bhoulder ; he pusheivhet! afray, .afocM ,&,tare u 4#r9rtnd?ttpp^tH<> ej^nt-;comp;an.vj of^ . Aft ifelBii6ye,)ejaQO}int6d^Airrl i fel8ii6ye, ) ejaQO}int6d^AirrlB 11 B J tha,t I g«tit!e. . jcaau i came , fomwud.rftttd' caugUt /: hie l hand,*

Thrice Harris opened his dry lips to speak, and-at'la»t only -a groan - came -for thr-"£fo was worn and sick with the dread of this ordeal,'* wWeh ' Had preyed 'upon*' hWfor 'days.' I >;! . ),„ .■ r i.»f • 11 ,) i' ViU \r > •i 1i 1 Don't 'tell 'me anything* P» murmured Senor S^WstiWj'wrenfchinghis^harid Wway, aud> walking "olf 'towards the" house Slone 1 -; but before he reached it he 'staggered, and .fell to the ground, unconscious. It was some time befoie he was restored toa life that no longer-had any pleasure for him. Mrs Jardjne had gone to her room and her' bed. ' " She was ill," her daughter eaid ; * * she could not bear to meet Sebastian, under the circumstances." J But Bella, brave in her sympathy, although worn and' pale also, u'nd' quivering in evory nerve, as if the knife' were being applied,' nestled by the senor's side, holding his hand and caressing ifc, while the gentlemen told him the sad story of Anatole's' disappearance from camp ; of the long, faithful, up tiring efforts they had made to diecoVer his fate, and their complete failure. It appears that Captain Ilarris did come upon the trail of savages who had evidently been following the expedition ; but the trail did not approach within ten miles of the camp. The Indians h~d evidently spent the night at a plaoe ten milos lower down, and had there ' turned about and abandoned the chase. Of course ifc was not impossible that two or three of their number might have followed on, entered the camp, seized anrl gagged the child, and carried him off. But it seemed running a risk for a small end. However, Harris, and those with him aiosfc learned in Indian affaire, searched long for tracks leading into and out of the camp, such aa would be raado by an Indian's foot. The only raeult was a single footruep leadirg back over the road, stamped with the tramp of men who had passed the other 'way ; and this was seldom distinct. They only made out;, 1 rrom _ seeing it here and there, that a pair of moccasins had come from the valley clown the road.' This was quite ' suineient to induce them to follow tho Coraanches All the remainder of that £ay they followed the trail; and for hours after night had sit in they followed, by the light of the stars, a stream along which thoy believed the pavcige-i had travelled. They wero rewarded, juat as their fatigue way overpowering their purpose to go Farther that night, by discovering the *moke of the enemy's night-fire arising trom beneath a high bluff which overlooked {he stream, leaving their horses so far behind that no souud from them should betray their vicinity, the whites crept up the bluff' and looked over. There waa tho same p.»rty of warriors whose numbers they had le.-sened a few days previously. Many of them wero asleep, their feet to the fire ; come weie still gnawing the bones of the animal they had cooked for supper. There was no child wil.h them. Ifc was not difficult to ascertain this, aa all were lying oue on the sandy river-bed or crouchintr about tho firee. • s Having made himself poeitiveon this point, Harris ordered a retreat. He did not care to bring on a battle with eighty redekine without a motive. Had the boy been' in their midst, he would have rescued him or • have left hi 3 last man on the ground As ifc was, he thought best to retire, and did so, marching several rniled back before halting for a few houro' rest. Hit party did nob dare to build o Gre. After tour hours,' sleep on the ground they arose, ato their cold rations and galloped back to camp, where they arrived at noon of the following day. h All hope was novr abandoned of ascertaining the fate of Anatole. It was thought that he must have fallen into the ravine. Nevertheless, the captain willingly yielded to Bella's earnest pleading that they should remain until there was no possibility of the lost one's return. They stayed four days intho valley, and every day they fired tho cannon as a pignal to bring the little warderer in, should he be trying to make hh way to them. On the fifth day they resumed their march. It was indeed like a funeral procession, as the eenor had unwittingly called it. Not a man but had admired and loved the littlw gentleman; Not one of his friends but shrank from the mournful duty before them of communicating the tidings to hio father. At the la?t Mrs Jardine had kept out of it, leaving it to Harris, who had taken the child s loss deeply to heart. It was he who so delicately, tenderly, and with co much feeling communicated the facts to the bereaved parent, making him feel howearne&t was the sympathy ot every man iv his com pany, how all lov«d the 1 brave and courteous little fellow, how every heart was beating iv unison with the father's. He but followed tho dictates of his own great, soft, womanly heart, little noticing tho favourable impres-t-ion he made on Bella, who clasping" the senor's hand and weeping silent tears, listened, with gratitude and admiration softening her grief •' He is good," she sighed to herself. Perverse, feminioenature, which sostldom yields homage to goodness! The hot supper waa eaten in silenoe by the guests, 'l he host reiterate! hia welcome tb all, grandly preyed them to make his houee' theirs, and then retired to his library to bear his desolation alone. !Not even Bella venturedyjO' intrude upon him there. When t%> genor and Mrs Jardine met, late on the following morning, it chanced that no 6n§ but Harris was present., Ho eat, enioking a cigarette on the steps of the piazza, while Sebastian walked up and down its length with a heavy, dragging step that was not like hia usual light and graceful movements. Mrs Jardine, whose room was "in one d! tho wings, seeing her nephew pacing to and, fro, stepped out of her window, and came round to speak to liira. She did not obBerve Har'rip, who was concealed by the luxuriant growth, of 'honeysuckle about 1 the pillar against which he was leaning. Be did not intend to play the part of eavesdropper, Supposing himself in eight, and not thinking of overhearing a, confidential communication. ' ' •'Pedro!" " "Julietta!" •' Heaven forgive me for having brought this upon you I" " Do nob speak, it hurts me," . j" But' r must t'eiryou. I was opposed to itbe journey from the beginning. When Mr ' Harris urged, and urged ifc, my only answer was* Something may happen to my darling.' But Anatole was rendered uneasy by their invitation ;> BeDa.,taO?»begged &i6 J to accept ■ it,' in short, aprWur'e was brought to beaV greater than I could stand Against. At the ; laet moment I told them-allr that if 'anything unfavourable should happen I should nof responsible*" ■ it, s^ebad'Vpld.jthemi nothing ,oj! the k,ind. She hai; said ij^once 'or twice in the beginning; bn^ihe,.]asfc) after they hadi entirely abandoned the' idea' of her ac-, companying theina, ehe had* sent them -word t^hat .ehe ,h&d £*gqided, t,o ,g0. ,: Johiu could > not very, weH.tjurn round and .'tell, the lady. t-h^t.she wajylvjog ; but; hJ8 V fftce flushed \\ „he flqticej,^ tpp, Ju whe continued toiefleak^ tn&fc,,6he^n < ev%r4i;eferjredVto the child.'sin(i pre4j|ing>iU*h^Vi ; |lpjr JpJd hia father ttjiat, oW.* i^m^JWSl; ;,fpr. )} J;he; : ge«ttemen(B , -*.!. ,3m ? o i V He" . vrvd setting tont fnplondidly! 1 ; Bpleh* aidljjM 1 )* Rheiumurmured, '-wij&n'^ hwMyeS k}f With the exception of one or"t«o elight

attacks of dyspepsia, which no one thought -seriously of^his health Tvaß- wonderfullyim* proved." As she concluded thi,a assertion toeyVs.happen'ea'to 1 light ori Harris, who Was 'looking at her with. profound' slstonish^' ment. i;: "/, ," '•' "M" M '"' '- . ' For a' mottjent'she' was 'discdncerted' ; tk* ' ' nefct'sheralliedi going oh hastily: ( "Our jtoung gatitlemen were alarmed oa one occasion ; but I believe the doctor? ' laughed at them. They all thought so ' much of the child that they were as nervoua as fond mothers about him. I pet a trusted Chinese servant to watching with him one evening, ,and he gave Anatole a pretty largo , dose of opium in order .that he might get^i off to his own quarter* earlier, I suppose, 'We were all wall frightened." i " Don't !" begged thesenor, motioning her «aw»y. It would eeem as iif he were not very fond of Mra Jardine at any time ; and that now the sound of her voice, the eight of her, irritated his tortured nerve*. "Do I distress you, Sebastian ? My mind. is full of him, but I will send Bella to you., I never had the art of soothing pain." '• I believe you," thought John, as she moved away ; yet this woman wae Bella'a mother, and, as such, he desired to like her. " How easily a' falsehood slips off her tongue," he reflected "It is in her Spanish, blood, I suppose. It would disenchant me, woefully, if I found her daughter given to this fault. Thus far, 1 Mies Jardine has ' appeared to mo the soul of truth and k onour. As she resembles her father in looks, she has probably inherited hi 3 qualities." Presently Bella, herself came out on the piazza. tier mother had sent her, as if she imagined Sebastian wanted any one to attempt the task of consolation. She stood timidly by .Harri*, vrKo had throwti away ;his cigarette 1 and risen as she approached him, looking longingly at the poor father, as' he paced up and down. Finally the slipped her velvet hand into hie, as he \*as paseiog, and walked with him in silence. He felt the reality of her sympathy, and did not repulse her as he had done her mother. "One of earth's angel 3 ," thought Harris, as lie watched her. c% What a home a fellow could have with her to keep it bright tor him. Just my luck, not to have her fancy" me 1 ! There's Romeyn, pre-engaged, yefcshe must take him. The running-gear o£ this world want 3 oiling or repairing— it jolts ' awfully." Presently the senor bringing Bella with him', came and sat down by Harris. > "I have not given my boy up," he said, in broken tones. " I shall start, this afternoon, for vac valley where he was lost. Ife may be that I shall, at least, find his pooc bones, and give them Christian burial." " You will find nothing, friend Sebaßtian, — nothing. Do you euppoee ' we would abandon the place as long as there waß a ehadow of hope ? But if it will relieve, one particle, your anxiety — if you will rest? better for having done it, I am the last one> to oppose yon. I will go with you, with all my heart, and you shall have as many of my men as you ask." "Thank you, friend," answered the) senor, pressing his hand. When Mrs Jardine heard of the proposed renewal of the search, for which the two gentlemen began instantly to prepare, she ventured to express her strong disapproval. She went so far as to call it "foolish,'* " absurd," " perilous to Sebastian's health ;" to entreat him not to undertake! it, to expostulate with him. All her displeasure ahe dared not show, but fhe asked Harris not to encourage it by offering ta accompany the sen or. John put her politely aside, as her nephew had done. She felt that she was powering to prevent the expedition, and retired to her rooua to conceal'lier chagrin Long before night, as/ soon as the dangerous heat of midday had passed, the company set out, leaving the rancho to the two ladies and the servants. The doctor and Romeyn returned as far s" the mines, "where they undertook to euperntend affairs in the captain's absence. The men called! 1 Harris "captain," allogeiher, and 80 it. grew, gradually, to be his title. Mother and daughter were lefn alone mt the lovely, sweet, delicious solitude of ths old place. As they fat, with their arms about one another, on the cane«3ofa of the piazza* watching the punset lieht fall over the pleaeant JandBcape, Mrs Jardine softly pre.-eer] her daughter'? waist. " This i^ all ours," she said. " What, do you mean, mamma ?" Now, tbo laidy wag thinking this, but she had not meAnt to speak her thoughts so Boon. She turned away from the eurpriso in the i»nocent> even 'of the child. "I meant that you would probably' be Sebastian's heir, Bella. He has no one else now to whom to leave his immense estates* You will be very rich, and as you are already very handsome, you can have youu> choice of the best man in the land. Cap* tain Harm is well enou&h ; and it seems thero is a prospect of his ' becoming very wealthy through these mi nee ; but you can do better still than that. "Don't compromise your prospects in any way, Bella." " Oh, mnmrna, how can yow talk of such things at e-uch a time?" cried the girl blushes and tears appearing " I don't want poor 'Toles money, and I don't wank to marry anyone."' For once ehe drew herself away from her mother's arm, and, leaving her, wandered away down to, the fountain, with whoso silver waters phe mingled her own tear?, as she ftood leaning on the edge of the marble baein, ' '