Kentucky. Within its walls have assembled some
scores of the very bluest blood of this blue grass country--stalwart,
handsome men, alongside a like number of lovely women. They are
assisting at a marriage ceremony, not an uncommon occurrence in a
church. But in the Kentuckian place of worship--a little rural edifice,
far away from any town--it is something unusual to see three couples
standing before the altar. In the present case there is this number,
none of the pairs strangers to the other two, but all three, by mutual
agreement and understanding, to take Hymen's oath at the same time.

Foremost and first to put the ring on his bride's finger is Frank
Hamersley. She who holds out her hand to receive it is Adela Miranda.

Of the couple coming next, the bridegroom is known to the reader. A
handsome man, of dark complexion and pure Spanish features, remarked by
the spectators as having resemblance to those of Hamersley's new-made
bride. Not strange, he being her brother.

But who is the lady, the tall, fair girl consenting to make Don Valerian
happy, so like Hamersley himself.

No one asks this question, all present knowing she is his sister.

A fair exchange between the brothers of the bride; each equally quick to
fall in love with the sister of the other. On the sterile Llano
Estacado it took scarce a minute for the dark Mexican maiden to subdue
the heart of Hamersley. Almost as soon, in the fertile State of
Kentucky, has his bright-skinned, blonde-haired sister made conquest of
the Mexican Colonel.

The third pair that presents itself to be made man and wife--who are
they? The bridegroom stands six feet two in his boots; the bride, in
her satin slippers, far under five. Without thinking of the
disproportion in their stature, the reader will recognise Walt Wilder
and Conchita.

As the ex-Ranger puts the ring on the finger of his blushing bride, he
accompanies the act with certain ludicrous protestations of fidelity not
to be found in the printed ritual of the Church.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Another scene ends our tale; a simple episode of every-day life; but
life in a strange land, remote from the ordinary centres of
civilisation.

It occurs in New Mexico, in itself a sort of oasis in the great middle
desert of North America. Locally, the scene takes place near
Albuquerque, on the azotea of a handsome house, which commands a view of
the town.