ging to Don Juan de Dios-Souza y Soto-Mayor, a descendant of one of the noblest and richest f

all those heroic adventurers who, confiding in their sword, conquered for Spain those vast and rich countries, th

who, after the conquest, settled in these countries, which they have not quitted since. This has not prevented them, however, from ke

n our time we have seen a member of this family prime m

lready aged and father of a family, was one of the first who responded to the appeal of their new country, a

had endured courageously, and, before all, philosophically,

, a few leagues from Valparaíso, and there he lived in the midst of his family, who loved and respected him, like a country gentlemen, resting from his fatigu

. Inez and Maria were two maidens whose beauty promised to equal that of their mother, Do?a Isabel de Costafuentes. Maria, the younger, according to the custom prevalent in Chilian

handsome and worthy young man, who, following his father's exa

assembled in the garden, were quietly conversing,

of the wind could be heard amid the distant mountains; the moon, half veiled, only spread a vague and uncer

the general, "only see, father, how q

ay believe certain wounds, which are a barometer for me, we shall h

along his leg, while the convers

ture, rather thin, whose irreproachable demeanour evidenced dignity and nobility; his grey

e storms," the yo

n orison for tr

dashing cavalier, dressed in a splendid military uniform, and who, careless

aid eagerly, as she gave a pout of ado

ita; at least, not a

uan said, "are you re

e, general; you fought, at any rate, while

ur good moments too, and the war which y

ot feel annoyed, Don Pedro, at your inaction; I fear le

shall not hear anything of them for a long time; the las

emarked, as she crossed herself and rai

girl, and instead of talking about such serious things, try to be more

ad just said to her, and turning to her mother, who, se

xingly, "do you know th

z?" the good

ito, and kept him so closely to you that it has been

e and leaned over the back of her chair; "you will mak

make haste and tell me

hildish hands together, while her

ere talking about your approaching marriage

said, with a mocking smile; "y

oquette shot a killing glance i

er brother answered: "is

not sa

d when our sister Maria

th a sigh, but quickly resu

t yet pronounced, as my dear M

within three mo

ore then the donkey and its drive

ravely, "the colonel holds your word,

sparkled on her long lashes; she rose

father; I a

the colonel, and of

, Don Pedro? For I did not

ed; "peace is made, and I trust that

colonel, as he covered with kisses

marked, "here is the

, and heavy drops of rain began beating on the

he house, and were soon co

ch American houses contain; for gold and silver, so precious and so rare wit

sketch of what is called comfort in these countries, with which it is impossible for

ors and window fastenings were of massive silver; mirrors of the height of the room reflected the light of pink wax candles, arranged in gold candelabra enriched with prec

easure of the eye, and whose manufacture had been a prodigy of patience, perfection, and invention. These thousand nothings,-on which glistened oriental gems, mother-o'-pearl, ivory, enamel, jas

n over enormous Japanese vases, gave a fairy like aspect to the apartment; and yet, of all those who had

en had just been recommenced indoors, wh

" the general asked; "I

ed, and a ser

ly; "two travellers, surprised by the stor

le, and a tremendous peal of thunder burst forth. The

imed, "do not receive them, for these s

swered; "the house of a Spanish noble

t being enthralled by superstition, she kept her eyes anxiously fixed on the door through which the st

men; enter, in Heaven's name

then to the two officers, and thanked

emen," the latter replied, courteously, "we are entirely at your servic

proposal, sir

ing a massive gold salver, on which were arranged exquisitely carved maté cups, each supplied with an amber tube. In the midst of the cups were a

into the cups, and placed them before the guests. Each took the one within reach, and was soon drawing up the maté, while observing deep silence and sitting in a contemplat

oment in the palm of his hand, then remade it with the consummate skill of the inhabitants of the country, lit it at the flame of a small gold lamp prepared for the p

usy; but at the moment when he was about to light the cigarette which he held in his ha

change,

red to him, gave his cigarette to the young lad

is face had grown clouded, and he sat with his eyes fixed on the general, w

alarmed at his comrade's strange behaviour, which might be notice

er voice he had heard, though he was unable to call to mind under what circumstances he had done so. Then on scrutinizing Se?o

hich probably only existed in his imagination; then, all at once, on hearing a remark that fell from Inez's lips, h

t his sister Rosita will take the veil at the convent of th

of the same age,"

could not repres

er, Caballero?" t

my cigarette that fell in my poncho," L

length emerging from his silence; "an

e roads are too bad for me to let you depart. Besides, your

fuse, but Leon did no

eral, we will pass the

ubled its intensity; but it could be seen that the Vaquero obeyed against his will the necessity in wh

about ten o'clock, after prayers had been read, at

hem promise not to leave his house the next morning without wishing him good-bye, Leon and Diego thanked him for the last