Passaic City record., 1892-05-28

ing; she was charming picture.
The American regarded the floor fora
moment, let his eyes dwell on her once
more, then shook his head
s.No," he said. "You are the only
woman ever wanted, dear Dona Amata,
and cannot give you up. l have the
less scruple, because I know that you
will be far happier with me than with
your idle, shiftless Spanish lover"
But he was not allowed to proceed.
Dona Amata' sprapg to her feet and beat
her little hands clinched together.
ssNo say one word by him!" she cried,
her voice choked with wrath, her eyes
flashing. s.No say one word. You
think not man have the right to living 81
he no can make the moneys2 Before the
Americanos coming we have plenty
moneys and live happy; but now take
all. You are very--how you call hins-
smart. You lend my father the moneys
and make him sign the paper to give you
the ranches 81 he no can pay. We never
sign the paper, one for the other. Al
ways when we lend the moneys we trust,
and always we are pay. But you have
the heart like the stone. And because
it have been bad year, and the cattle die,
and my father no can pay, you make me
pay. You have fine chance and you tell
him, sGive me your daughter, never
mind 81 she hate me or not, never mind
81 she break the heart or not, give her to
me and give to you your land Oh,
you are bad man."
He had risen and listened to her out
burst unmoved. When she paused for
breath he replied, my dear Dona Am
alta. at least am aiming to benefit some
one besides myself. You say that / am
bad man. What will you think of
yourself when you see your father beg
CARED, living on charity IN an Indians
hut? say nothing of the fact that
your delicate hands will probably have
to cook his beans. Now, be reason
able"
s.Oh, hatcha you," cried the girl
with another burst Of grief, 'and I no
want marry old man..
sold man! Why, my dear senorita, I
am only forty" He looked at her
amusedly; he was certainly not old
enough to be sensitive.
'sBut it is very old to US, sobbed the
girl. II only am eighteen and Antonio
no is more than twenty-five. When
our mems are forty they are very stout
and have the complexion like coffee, so
no can think is young. You," spite
fully, '.no are stout because you work
all the time maka the moneys"
At this juncture another door opened
and an old man entered the room. A
black silk handkerchief was knotted
about his head, he wore short clothes of
green cloth decorated with large silver
buttons. He was very stout. and even
his features seemed to have relaxed un-
der the enervating influence of the Cali
fornia life of that period. His black
eyes we're trifle bleared, his indefinite
features wore somewhat testy express
sion as he glanced from his daughter to
her suitol.
ssDon James Cunningham, ! am glad
to see you," he said, slowly. "What is
the matter2 l tell her to marry you and
she do it," and he brought his cane
down sharply on the bare floor.
II no do It'll" cried Amatha, reused to
filial rebellion for the first time in her life.
81 no marry him; marry Antonio. Ay,
Antonio, Antonio!" and she flung herself
upon the sofa and vent into violent Sob
bing.
s'She tell you she no marry youa"
asked the old man of Cunningham.
ssShe certainly does not seem to ap-
prove of me, but you know the perver-
sity of woman, Don Pedro, and assure
you once more shall make the best of
husbands-and sons"
Don Pedro placed his stick upon a
chair. He hobbled over to his refractory
daughter and raising her in his arms,
bore into her own room and laid her on
the bed. He then went out and returned
with hammer and nails, with which he
fastened her window within six inches of
the sill.
"Now," he said, in Spanish, sshere
thou will stay and have nothing to eat
but bread and water until thou marryest
Don James Cunningham. Dost thou
think that will be left sitting in the
road that thou mayest marry man who
sleeps in hammock all day and CANDLES
all nighta Thou art like silly child to
refuse to marry a man who can make thee
like queen. But have spoken"
He returned to the sala, locking the
door behind him, followed by the sobs
and shrieks of his dauyhter. SAY,
mlsericordia! Ay, iDfeliz de mil Ay,
senori Santa Maria! Santa Dios! Ayl