The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-07-25


which his lot had been cast. From the
very moment Of his entrance, however, Don
lgnacio had measured him at glance.
HIS single Offering eye of jet had taken
INN IN from the heed collar of his coat to
the buckles Of his shoes. Not jewel in
his dress. from tho flaming opals in his
bosom to the brilliant stones ut his waists,
and down to the sparkling clusters at his
feet, OF which his own uneasy optic did not
drink in the fash and estimated value. Nay,
lie calculated by instinct the weight OF the
gold buttons on his coat. and tho price of
the exquisite lace which fell in snowy folds
about'his hands. Oh, rare mathemati-
cian was Don Ignacio! What greedy
thoughts, too, passed drought that littlo
Spaniard's brain! "Ah!" thought he, shall
I take my debt in those priceless, gems,
each one the ransom of u princess, which the
old Capitaine General may ono of these days
reclaim? Hola! no! Or shall / receive
more negotiable commodities in gold,
cochlneal, or silk? Well! vercmos! We shall
sect
The effect produced upon the good Padre
Ricardo was altogether different As the
captain burst. with all his glorious raiment,
upon him he started back. and howing be-
fore hinl-as if he were st. Paul himself,
and his idolater for the first time knecling
ut high mass in st. Peter's-he seized his
superior's white hand aud kissed it with
fcrvent devotion. Not satisfied with this
mark of respect, he raised his dingy PAWS,
holding his crucifix before him and MUIR
INJURED IN u sort of ecstasy.
Mi kijo! mi capitano! que brilliant! My
son! my captain! what a brilliant being You
are?" Singularly in contrast, however, was
the effect produced upon the doctor, who
merely raised his dark eyes in an distracted
gaze, gave n careless and rlther contemp-
tous nod of reorganization, and then turned
to examine one Of the richly inlaid cabinets
which adorned the saloon. All these var
ious phases Of sympathy. attraction, or con-
tempt, fiickered like a sunbeam into Cap
tain Brands rejecting brain. as, with de-
llcately perfumed handkerchief in one hand,
ani gold enamelled and diamond incrust-
ed snntf-box in the other, he bowed to his
visitors and seated himself Mt the table.
The table was now rolled out into the
middle of tho saloon, laid with n snowy
white demask cloth, and covered with the
equlpage for banquet. At either corner
were noble branches of solid silver candel-
"ba, which would have gr,ced an altar, ms
perhaps they had, and holding clusters of
wax lights, which shed their rays over the
display below. In the centre arose q huge
epergne Of silver, fashioned into the shape
of dropping palm tree, whose leaves were
of frosted silver, and about the trunk play
ing wilderness of monkeys. Beneath
around the board, were cut glass decanters
flat dubious fnsks of colo.ed Bohemian
glass crystal goblcts, delicate and almost
shadowy wlne-cu from Venice, silver
wine coolers, all mingled in IL hcterogen-
eous collection of rare china and silver
dishes. Such wines, too, as filled those
vessels! Not prince or magnate. in all the
lands where the vine is planted, could boast
OF so rare and exquisite collection. Pure,
thin, rain-vater Madeira, full threescore
years i'll bottle! Pale, limpid Port, whose
color had long since gone with nge, and left
only the mask like odor; f,sks of johann
nisberg of pearly light; bottles of Tokay for
lips of cardinals; tall, slim stems of the
taper TASKS of the Rhine. The ruby hues
of WINE from tho Rhone stood clustering
about amidst pyramids of pine-apples,
cranges, and bananas-and all loading the
air of the saloon with their DELICIOUS fra
grnnce.
When the party had become fairly seated
around the board, and while the host was
baiiina out the soup from an enormous sill
YER tureen with tea-cup-for it did not
appear that he had ever been presented, in
the usual way, with ladle-fishing out the
floating morsels Of rich callipce with tho
delicate frills Of his sleeves turned back, he
began tho conversation in the CastiIian
language
feast together, fear. on this little cluster
of rocks. for Ion, time to come. Another
spoonful doctor?"
How" exclaimed the padre, rs he stuff
cd q wedge of turtle fat in his oily mouth,
AMI opened his round black eyes to their
fullest extent in manifest surprise.
Come, mi hijo!" he repeated, as he pass
ed a dirty paw over his smooth chin, and
looked inuuiringly.
Yes, holy father our good friend Don
lSnacio here has brought IFS somewhat
startling intelligence, Capital soup this!
shall give Babette dollar. Yes. the eagles
and vulures are after us; MI the West nlia
fleet; the Lord only knows how many ships.
and bligs, and gunboats. Glass of NIadeira
with you. doctor?"-wiping his thin lips
with a corner of the dainask tabie-cloth rs
he spoke. AAnd they have tempered, too,
with MY old friends, the custom house peo-
ple-.aEo away the turcen, Babette--nnd,
i'll point Of fact, shouldn't be the least sur
prised to see swarm of those navy gentle
men off the reef here at any moment. A
sharp knife, Bnbette, for these teal; a duel,
should be cut, not torn. Try that Moselle.
Don Ignacio; know your fancy for light
wines. This was given me by a--Captain
pom my soul, forget his name; he Ind
such pretty wife-AIadame Matilde,"-
glancing ut the frame of miniatures on the
wall-"sweet creature she vas! took quite
fancy tor me, believe, and might have
been sitting here this moment but-a-
really forget her other name! However,
it makef no difference--the wine in called
Moselle."
Now, be it here observed, that Don Ignnico
drank very little wine or stimulants Of any
sort, and never by any chance drop from
any vessel which, with his single bright eve,
he did not see his host first indulge in,
This self-imposed sacrifice may have been
owing to his difiidencc. or modesty, or
Difference to Captain Brand, or perhaps
other and private reasons of his own; but
yet he never broke through that rule of
politeness and abstcmiousness. Sometimes
indeed, he carried his principles SO far MS
to refuse dish, or the fruit which his host
had not partaken of, and always with n slow
shake If his brown forefnger, as if he did
not like even to smell the dish presented to
him.
What What! mot a,s even qsip of that nectar
The compadre shook his digit, and OBJ
served, that drinking nectar sometimes
made people sick!
The captain laughed gnily and said,
Bah! learning to drink does tho harm, and
not the art when properly acquired!" Dur
ing all the foregoing interlude, the doctor
remained in his grave, calm way; and only
when the captain alluded TO the lady whose
husbands name escaped him did he show
signs of interest, Then his eye followed
the look toward the miniature. and his Jaws
came together with slight grating spasn,.
Padre Ricardo, however. i'll excellent
sympathethic spirits, eating and drinking
like glutton of all within his reach, and
turning his full eyes. Mt times, MS if TO deity,
upon his friend the captain. Once lie
spoke:
"But, my son. you were talking of leav-
ing this quiet retrert, where we have passed
SO many happy hours"
Yes, friend of my soul! Those fellows
with commissions, md pennants ut their
mnst-hcads, and guns and what not, seem
determined to do us mischief" The de-
yout padre crossed himself, and pressed the
trucitix to lis greasy lips ".Ay! they
would no doubt arraign us before some one
of their legal tribunals! Put us in prison,
perhaps; or maybe give us slight squeeze
in rope Or iron collar!" The padre aroan-
ed audibly, aud dropped the wing of teal
he was gnawing; forgetting. strange as may