The Pride of Palomar

ich she had noticed under a catalpa tree outside the wall. From this seat, she, like Pablo, could observe anybody coming up the palm-lined ave

lled round to the other side of the hacienda. Before Pablo's casa, sh

right toward Don Mike, but resentful toward us. I do

the oaks. When she was satisfied that Pablo could not see her, she made her way back to the avenue, emerging at the point where it connect

e brisk tread of military men, sensed now the drag, the slow cadence of his approach; wherefore she realized th

not see it and bumped into it. "Dios mio!" she heard him mutter. "Dios! Dios! Dios!" The last word ended in tragic crescendo; he

staring at him, fascinat

h a timbre in it that never creeps into a hound's voice until he has struck a

hound sounded. "Now, Mollie! Come now, Nailer!

stant, and fell over into Don Mike's arms. The others followed, overwhelming him. They licked his hands; they soiled him with their reaching paws, the while their cries of welcome testified to their delight. Presently, one g

n Mike comman

les, in a hopeless effort to express their happiness. Suddenly, as if by common impul

so he did not see her white figure step out into the avenue and come swiftly toward him. The first he knew of h

"somebody else cares, too. We wouldn't be human if we d

his hagg

ed. "You-you've been

the notice was so terribly short; but we'll go in the morning. I've saved dinner for you, Don M

his fac

a choked voice. "I can't stan

hand on h

ldier," she assured him. "You'll have

ealize what this means-to me. My father was an old man-he had-accomplished his

he was helpless, that he lacked the greatest boon of the desolate-a breast upon which he might weep. Gently she lifted the b

ch of the littl