"I suppose they
think it strange a girl should have to do with affairs, and so they
think of me as '_dona,_' instead of '_senorita,_' to satisfy
themselves."
A vague suspicion, that had been born in the young man's mind
immediately after his rescue from the river now recurred.
His first thought then had been that this young woman must be Valencia
Valdes; but he had dismissed it when he had seen the initial M on her
kerchief, and when she had subsequently left him to infer that such was
not the case.
He remembered now in what respect she was held in the home _hacienda_;
how everybody they had met had greeted her with almost reverence. It was
not likely that two young heiresses, both of them beautiful orphans,
should be living within a few miles of each other.
Besides, he remembered that this very Antelope Springs was mentioned in
the deed of conveyance which he had lately examined before leaving the
mining camp. She was giving orders about irrigating ditches as if she
were owner.
It followed then that she must be Valencia Valdes. There could be no
doubt of it.
He watched her as she talked to old Antonio and gave the necessary
directions. How radiant and happy she was in this life which had fallen
to her; by inheritance! He vowed she should not be disinherited through
any action of his. He owed her his life.
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