Chata and Chinita, Chapters XXXIX-XLI [pp. 291-310]

308 C/iata and C/~inita. [Sept.
seriously agitate Chata, for not once was owned near the city; provided herself with
the name of the place he called his strong- ~ome rolls of gold, and presently entered
hold mentioned. her mother's room, dressed in a somewhat
One night she had a vivid dream. She soiled cotton gown, and with her reboso over
dreamed she saw the chieftain and Chinita her arm. Doffa Isabel, who in the excitelying dead, the one on one side of a village ment of her thoughts was walking hither and
street, the other on the opposite. The thither, taking up and putting down articles
people were rushing wildly about, scream- of apparel, looked at her blankly. Why
ing and gesticuhting madly, while Dona had a servant come at that hour?
Isabel, followed by women clothed in "See, I am ready," cried Carmen cheerblack like herself, was in frenzy passing fully. "The diligence is to leave the city
from one to the other, uttering that low fbr the first time today. We shall pass
wail that seems the very key-note of woe. through the country quite safely. Who
Chata woke with a stifled scream. The would stop such poor creatures as we apwind was blowing shrilly through the trees pear to be?"
and seemed to bring to her a voice, which Dona Isabel looked at her gratefullysaid, "Wake! 0 wake! Chata, I have her mind had been running helplessly upon
dreamed of her." The voice sounded close carriages and mounted escorts, and all the
to her ear. It came from Dona Isabel, who paraphernalia of travel, which require so
leaning over her bed was repeating again much time and thought to prepare. "True,
and again the words, "I shall find her. I true!" she said. "That will be best, 0,
have dreamed of her.` much the best!" In feverish haste she pre Chata raised herself upon the pillows and pared herself for the journey, as Carmen had
caught the lady's wasted hand. " Yes, done, arraying herself in a plain, dark dress
yes," she continued, "I have dreamed of and reboso. But her daughter noticed that
her and of another - one I loved long years she did not think of the expenses of the
ago. I saw them together in Las Parras. journey, and herself silently assumed the diIt is a revelation! Why have I not thought rection of the little party.
of it before? No other place would be so She led the way from her own house so
fitting. I shall find her. I am going now, quietly that only the portero, to whom she
now. My carriage, my horses, my men gave a few directions, which he doubtless
must be here; I will call them. Tell my in his amazement straightway forgot, was
daughter when she wakes - she will under- awakened. They were so humbly dressed
stand." that they attracted but little notice at the
She turned to leave the room, her excite- casa de deligencias, and being hastily moment supplementing her returning strength; tioned to the poorest seats in the coach were
but Chata detained her. "I too will go," soon on their way. Covering their faces
she cried. " Nothing shall prevent me. with their rebosos, they did not so much
Dona Carmen will not stop us - she as speak to each other.
knows - she dare not forbid me. I will Some ten leagues from the city the dilitell her now. She will know what is best gence was stopped by a half dozen armed
for us. The carriage is still here, but - " men. The male passengers were ordered
She hastened from the room, and wakened to lie down upon their faces, and were reDona Carmen. "Ah," said the daughter lieved of all their money and valuables.
to herself, "the thought is come, and the Chata, to her extreme disgust - which forhour." She hastily wrote a line to her hus- tunately was disguised by her alarm - reband, who was absent at a hacienda he ceived an amicable expression of approval