Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1894-10-11


We'll, we'll l have seen it done before;
bat senior, the mantle man-thare is
no one in the camp -carambal 100
pesos no, senior, no one man has that
much los todos muy pobre Diosl will
she rattle hero
As he ceascd speaking woman's
voice walled out;
"Romulal Romula! Love of my
heartl Snvem And rs we listened
from across the canyon cane the
echo, "saver
I approached the house, long,
sprawling building constructed Of
adobe and poles plastered with mud,
and few Indians gathered around
the door made way, with the solid
Indifference so peculiar to the race,
and l entered II room lighted by two
crude tallow dips stuck into the neclss
of bottles that rested on u small shelf.
A table and n few chairs composed
the furniture, while this walls were
void Of ornaments of any kind, with
the exception of cheap, highly
rudely carved crucifx hanging above.
Grouped around We're some twenty
men and women engaged in boisterous
conversation, while in u corner oppo.
site the door stood Mariquita, girl
of about IS, tall and beautiful, and
possessing that languid grace which
belongs only to women of the South.
Her dress, Il gown of soft material,
bright red in color had become de-
ranged, and opening at the bosom eX-
posed a white ch mise that only partly
concealed her heaving breasts; Il
wealth of dark hair fell in disorder
far below her waist, and from face
oval in shape and of rich, creamy
complexion, flashed eyes us black as
night Her lips, carmine tinted,
parted and showed little white teeth,
grinding together in anger, as she
stood, child and yet woman, re-
ceiving with silent scorn the storm
of abuse which her mother poured
forth in perfect torrent of language.
AS | reached the woman | asked If
she really intended to rattle her
daughter. for SUCH from the CONVEX
sation, l judged to be her purpose.
Isl, senor-why not? Do not find
her a husband She will go with that
diablo of an Indlo, and will lose her
forever. No man here has one hun
bred pesos, and l am poor Rattle
her? Yes, why not; True, the priest
will not be at Baborgame for three
months, but what matter? She can
marry then; it will be all the same"
In the meantime five of the miners
had managed to obtain twenty pesos
each, which they were anxious to
risk for the purchase of Mariquita,
and the money being handed over to
the widow the dice was produced and
on the table that had been drawn
into the center of the room the throw
ing began.
The first man to throw was Carlos
Mendoza, tall swarthy-loolsing
Mexican, who stood wrapped in n
serape of orange and purple HIS inn
mense sombrero, resting on the back
of his head, allowed mop of coarse
black hair to fall over his low fore
head into his eyes. Raising the box
he brushed the hair aside, and after
slowly rattling the dico threw il
silence-sixteen. Again the dice
rattled-thirteen; and again-seven
teen; forty-sx in all.
A murmur of applause from the
spectators and Mendoza turned to
ward Mariquitn, but some ching in hei
look quailed him and with II low
laugh lie turned to watch the throw.
ing of his opponents. The box passed
from one to another without avail ant
was now in the hands of the las
thrower. Slowly he shook the dice
and then threw seventeen: again
eighteen. The excitement was now
intense in the silence, broken only by
the heavy breathing of the onloolsers
and muttered curse from Men ozr
as he drew his sombrero down over
his eyes, the last throw was made
the box was lifted-two tours and al
ace. Mendoza won and with glac
cry he sprang toward Mariquita, but
before he could reach her there wa,
rush through the door, an arm
passed around his neck and pressed
his body slowly back flash of stee
"a groan-agaln flash of steel anC
the arm descended and Carlos Mendoz;
was dead on the floor And there
with the knife still grasped in hi
hand, Romulo, the Indian, stood like
statue of bronze, nalSe1 but for a
breechcloth; his limbs like polished
mahogany ana his eyes flashed fire
from under his heavy dark hair thai
fell to his shoulders.
For one moment he stood; Their
there was a flash, the report of re
volyer and Romulo tottered and sanl