Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-11-21


the little girl TIe was angry when Pc
dra was born, and went away and staid
week. but now Isa was sure he would
be happy when they told him that the
child was beautiful girl. Ii some one
would only fad him and tell him, she
said
Rica went to the door. but lisa called
her back. Not Jose" she whispered.
Rica understood and shoot; her head;
but when she stepped into tie road
and looked up and down she only saw
Jose, old San Juan's grandson, who
was carrying his ola down to the river
bed for water.
Rica hcsitated, looked behind her,
then silently stepped to his side and
touched his arm. He turned, and in
stinctively glanced toward Isa's house.
Rica drew her shawl closer over her head.
$50 get Antonio" she said, ''lsas
baby is a girl" Jose looked into the
face of the woman before him, bowed
his head and started off down the path
which Antonio had taken the night be
fore with the sheep.
As ne ncared Moreno's he heard
loud talking and cursing; now he
heard something fall heavily against
the wall; then the door burst open and
four men rushed out dragging the fifth
by the throat. They kick him out into
the road and leave him there-then
turn again to their table.
Jose knows that the figure in the
road is Antonio. This thing has hap
pened often, and it is no use now try
ing to get him home But there is lSa
waiting with her baby. Poor Isa! Jose
loved Isa Why did she marry that
thing lying there in the sand, who only |
brought her suffering2
Jose stood a moment thinking, then
went up to Antonio and touched him.
The drunken man stirred and groaned |
with pain. Jose lifted him, but An
tonic fell back without speaking. An
instant, then raising himself with Joses
help he staggered to his feet and turned
toward Moreno's door.
Jose held him. Not there. you fool!
They'll kill youl Go homer
But Antonio, afire with thirst and
wild with anger, tOttered back into the
low, close room full of men, and reel
ing toward the table drew from his
belt a club and struck the man who
had won his sheep.
A murmur, a hiss, a volley of curses,
and then they flew at Antonio, pound
ing him with benches, wood, anything
they could lift.
Jose struggled to drag Antonio out.
A club struck his wrist, he writhed with
pain, loosened his hold, and in an in
slant Antonio lay bleeding and gasping
On the floor. They kicked him out
again, but when Jose turned him over
he had stopped gasping.
Marie Isa's baby, was eight months
Did, and it was time for the priest to
,one again.
Isa had washed the blankets and
ouilt bed in the corner of the small
oom where the priest was to stay.
1reat strings of bright pepper hung on
he south wall of her house, making
leep fringe of scarlet and green on the
ray adobe. The pepper tree in front
If the door, with its long, will wiike
was gay with its white bios
'oms and its long stems heavy with red
berries. The ground around the house
was sweet and clean as the floor with
N. Above the rough fireplace hung
broken crucifix. Antonio had stepped
On it once when he was angry.
All, Antonio! Isa shivered when she
thought of him and covered her face.
She was glad that she heard just now
the sound of happy voices and children
laughing and men talking, for she knew
that the priest had reached the village
She brought him proudly into her
house; he looked at Marie and called
her a beautiful baby, and said she was
ike her mother. Isa smiled and was
very happy. Rica lived with her now,
and together they cooked the supper of
beans and rabbit and cakes.
The priest had been in the village for
3ix days, going from house to house and
blessing the people and bringing them
peace. The men had promised to stop
and now this morning he
would baptize the children, and tomor-
row he would go away for another year
lisa had put scarlet skirt on Marie,
and pinned around her waist, close up
to her arms, brown band.
She was standing in her door hold
ing her child, hugged to herself, with
corner of her own shawl thrown over
the baby's head. She was waiting for
Rica, for the priest had gone on with
San Juan and Pedro to the place where
he was to administer the sacrament.
1t was large, open square. The
men had cleared away the bushes and
built walls of sticks and boughs, and
made the roof of branches of the live
oak.
"Isaw The woman started, for it
was Jose, who came quietly up behind
her and spoke to her She had only !
seen him three times since that awful
day when Antonio was killed and each
time he had brought her roots to burn.
"Hal the priest goes away tomor-
row." Isa's eyes fell. She only held
Marie closer to her and answered moth
ing. Jose's brown foot traced figure |
in the sand. He looked up and then
held out his arms for the baby.
II will be good 10 you, Isa," he said
She turned as though she would go