The rustler., 1891-11-13


slaughtered captain and his men. The
casting was 10 take place in the great
plaza before the cathedral, that all
might attend 1t was long since any
episode of war had caused such excite.
ment and sorrow. The wild character
and remoteness of the scene of the
tragedy, the meagerpess OF detail
which stung every imagination into
action, the brilliancy and popularity of
DE la Tore, above all, the passionate
sympathy felt for Delfina de Capalleia.
Mexieo's most beautiful woman.
served TO shake society from peak TO
base, and no event had ever been
anticipated with more enthusiasm than
the casting of that silver bell. No ono
had seen Delfina since the arrival of
the news which had broken so many
hearts, and great was the curiosity re.
garding her possible presence at the
ceremony. Universal belief was
against her ever appearing in public
again; some said that she was dead;
others that she had gone into con.
vent, bat few maintained that she
would be high-priestess Mt the making
of the bell which was to be the symbol
and monument OF her lovers gallantry
and death.
Much ceremony went with the melt
ing of the bell. Priests In white robes
stiff with gold chanted prayers above
the silver bubbling in the caldron. A
full-robed choir sang the Te Deum.
the regiment to which De la Tore be.
longed fired salutes at intervals, the
crowd sobbed and shouted.
Thunder OF cannon, passionate swell
OF voices; the molten silver was about
to pour into the mold. The crowd
hushed and parted Down the way
made for her came Delfina de Capal- |
leia. Her black hair hung over her
long white gown, her body bent under
the weight of jewels-the jewels of
generations and the jewels of troth.
Her arms hung ut her sides. In her
eyes was the peace which belongs only
to the dead
She walked TO the caldron, and, talk.
ing a heavy gold chain from her neck.
lung II into the silver. 1t swirled like
snake, then disappeared. One by
one, amidst quivering silence, the mag.
lificent jewels followed the chain.
Then, as she took the last bracelet
rom her arm, madness possessed the
oreathless crowd. The Indifferent.
elf-conscious men, the languid coquet-
ing women, the fat, drowsy old dowa-
Fers, rusned, scrambling and scream.
ng TO the caldron, tore from their
leads and bodies the superb jewels and
opes OF gold with which they were be-
ecked, and flung them into the molten
nass, which rose like tide. The elec-
ric current sprang to the people, their .
aubles sped like hail through the air.
% great was the excitement that n
udden convulsing of the earth was un-
cit When not a jewel was left TO /,
acrifice, the caldron held enough ele-
lent for five bells, the five sweet !
oiced bells which rang in the mission !
San Gabriel for more than a GEN.
Try. '
Exhausted with shouting. the multi
ide was silent Delfina de Capalleia. .
no had stood with painting chest and
lating nostrils, turned from the sac
ficial caldron. the crowd parting for :. !,
sr again, the Laudate Dominum o
Yelling As she reached the steps of Q
e cathedral, man who loved her. =
'ting change in her face, sprang to :
IT side. She raised her bewildered
es to his and thrust out her hand y
ddenly. "Adios,' she said, and fell :,
his feet dead.-Gertrude Franklin =
.herton, in Lippincott'A "