Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-04-12


same trick upon him that she had play
ed shortly before upon Vasco--that is,
throwing herself upon her pony's neck
and coming to stop SO suddenly rs to
cause him to miss his grasp, and then
60 plunging ahead far beyond her.
But in this instance she was moro
tardy in recovering her own equilibrium
than before. Indeed, before she could
do so and get away again, Vasco, who
had been following closely behind Man
uelo, spurred down upon her like a
whirlwind, giving utterance to wild
and triumphant cry.
But neither was the prize of youth
and beauty for him.
When Vasco was midway in his on
ward rush, Mario, who had made an
unexpected detour, suddenly sprang out
Of the cacti to the left, and collided up
on his rivals flank with such q shock
that Vasco's saddle-girth was burst as
sunder, and he went foundering in the
dust, while his riderless steed galloped
far away.
Then Benjamin. dashed away in the
clumps once more, with Mario close up
on her heels, the other twin bringing
up a furious but almost hopeless rear.
The suspense of the spectators was
now wrought up to the maddest pitch,
but it was Of brief duration
While the endorsed Vasco picked
himself up, with peculiar murdcrous
expression on his dark face, there first
galloped into view Bcnjamina's pony
without a rider. Then, amid storm
of applause from the lockers Oh, came
the favored Mario, with the girl in his
arms
Riding after them came Manuelo,
with pale check and lowering brow,
his smile of easy countenancc having
given place to smothered rage and
troubled discomfort; though, for that
matter, his disappointment was resigna-
tons self compared with Vasco, whose
aspect was more like that Of baliled
fend than anything else / could con-
ceive Of.
Though pale from cher hard riding,
Benjamina's handsome face was wreath
ed with smiles, as she was brought in TO
receive the congratulations Of her
friends and she seemed joyous that,
according to the custom of her people,
there was no appeal from the result of
the trial to which she had submitted
herself.
How different, however, would have
been the girls feelings had she fallen
to the lot of Manuelo, for whom she
had no liking, or Vasco, of whom she
stood in positive dread, can readily be
imagined! But pluck and horseman-
ship had been cunningly supplemented
by loving strategy and natural inclina-
ton, and the mountain beauty was des-
tined as the bride of the man she low
ed.
The enragcd Vasco, however, was al
ready giving vent to his disappoint-
ment and to threats of vengeance, in
spite Of the laughs and jcers that bcsct
him on every side.
81 was cheated by base trick--rob-
bed by the mcanest treacheryw we
overheard him exclaim, in the villain
ously mongrel Spanish that forms II d.
alect of these people. "Cnaio! I
will not submit to it,
"Pcace, Vascop' said Manuelo,
mournfully. 81, like thee, have been
defeated in the race. The fatcs were
against us both"
"Cdramba, no! 1t was not fate, but
the treachery Of thy brother that lost
her to me at least" hoarsely vociferat-
ed Vasco. "Let him look to himself!
A fortnight must yet clapse before the
Ere that shall come to
pass"
Here roar of disapprobation
drowned his passionate words, and my
companion and rode away.
A week or ten days later, when
was preparing to quit Guayaquil for
the southern coast, saw a man being
led to Jail by squad of soldiers, with
n furious mob at his heels. The man,
to my establishment, was Vasco. | ran
for information to Mr.. Provost, whom
| perceived making his way out of the
crowd.
"The trouble has come, as | antici-
pated," said he. "Thc body of Mario
Is said to have been found an hour ago
among the rocks, with Vascos stillctto
in his heart"
"And Beniamina?"
"Poor child She is doubtless UP in
he mountain, wringing her hands and
earring her hair, in her mothers cabin.
Mario and she were to have been mar
lied in three days. Let us go up there,
md sec if we can comfort her with
'ome little present. hear they arc
carrying up the body of the murdered
nan, to lay it at her feet"
willingly assentcd. On our way up