Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-04-30

AAHAlAA~N AAA' va
Antonio hurried away down the path
bordered with sage brush the horned
toads ran before him and the lizards
dortcd across the sand The sun had
lust gone down behind the mountains,
ana there was "a soft amethyst tint 10
sky and hills and valley, while the air
was fraightcl with the fresh smell of
Inc, sage ami the delicate odor Of tiny
flowers that blu~-1mcd iu thc sand
I,a slowly crtvlcd into the house.
The children had fallen asleep ON the
floor bv the bench She covered them
with "a blanket. and then went into the
small. low room where old San Juan
had died
Throwing herself down in the corner
she lay there, hoping that Antonio
might return. and yet knowing ia her
heart that she would not see him again
| for two DAYS. She did not sleep, but
/ tossed and prayed until day began to
/ break. and then her baby was born.
The mother called little "a Juan,
and told him 10 cruss the road and beg
Rica 10 come 70 her. Rica wa lsa's
cousin. and She followed the boy TO
where the baby girl was crying.
Isa smiled upon the child, and then
turned her face To the wall and prayed
that Antonio might come home and he
good Perhaps he would lie good TO
the little girl. He was angry when Pc
dra Wa born. and went away and stald
a week. but now lisa was sure he would
be- happy when they told him that the
child wa "A beautiful girl. II some n
would only find him and tell him, she
said.
Rica went to the door, but lisa called
her hack. Not jose she whispered.
Rica understood and shook her head;
but when she stepped into the ruad
, and looked mp and down she only aw
{ jose. old san Juan's grandson, n
, Wa carrying his ola down to the 2
g bed for water.
RIGA hesitated. looked behind her,
I then silently stepped 70 his side and
O touched his arm. He turned, and in
= st~inctively glanced toward lsa's houSe.
. Rjcadrpv her shaw closer over her head.
no ~ AlAlNlAAbf H' @f
: baby l. "A girl" jose looked into The
I, face of the woman before him, bowed
ms head and started of down the pail
which Antonio had taken the night De
n fore with the sheep
. A. lac uearrd Moreno- he heard
loud talking and curing now III
heard something fail heavily agahns
~ - Al. H. lrHHF AraaU. AM
n four men rushed M dragging the MT
bv IN. throat. They kick him out int
the road and leave him thcre-theI
q, turn again 90 their table
Jo>. knows that the figure In IN
rnad h. Antonio. This thing IA haI
- u-.ne-i often. and il j. no Use now try
II. Ing Ia get him home. But there l. Is
waiting with her baby. Poor la. Jos
a loved Isa. Why did she marry tina
thing living there in the sand, who onl
brought her suffering
"a jos stood a moment thinking uhe
went up to Antonio and touched Inn
The drunken man stirred and gruslne
with main. Jose lifted him. but Al
d, tonic fell back without speakiug. a
instant. then raising himself with jos
help he staggered to his feet and turns
bo toward M~oreno's door.
Jose held him. Not there, you foe
THEY'LL kill you, 60 home
But Antonio, afirc with thirst al
Wild with ? tottered back into q
low. clo~e room full Of men, and ~
ing toward the table drew from
belt "a club and struck the man vi
had won his sheep.
A murmur, a hiss, a volley OF Guns
and then they flew at Antonio, pour
ING him with benches, wood, anythl
they could lift.
~ Jose struggled 10 drag Antonio Of
20 A club struck his wrist, he wrthed vi
he' main. loosened his hold, and in an
slant Antonio lay bleeding and gasp
: On the floor. They kicked him
ack again. but when jose turned him o.
he had stopped gasping.
ngs Marie. Isa's baby, was eight mon
ven old and il was time for the priest
'an come again.
her Isa had washed the blankets q
built a bed in the corner of the sH
ped room where the priest was to 81
uan Great strings of bright pepper hung
ling the south wall Of her house, maxim
she deep fringe Of scarlet and green on
in. gray adobe. The pepper tree IN ir
left Of the door, with its long, willow
the branches, was gay with its white b
SONS and its long stems heavy with
and berries. The ground around the Inc
ward was sweet and clean as the hoor W
ten in. Above the rough fireplace hun
broken crucifx. Antonio had step
ant ON IL once when he was angry.
arm All, Antonio! lisa shivered when
thought of him and covered her I
And She was clad TINT she heard Just