Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1895-01-31

wTT HE players had gathered around
y1T the gambling tables of Correo's
Gardens, for this was the "Diez
IHk y Seis," and Tucson held au-
tumn carnival. At the roulette
table, Perez Bicente, collector
for the Guaymas firm of Ortez q Ochoa,
held attention by his heavy betting,
and the big piles of gold spread before
him on the table. The other patrons of
the game dropped out to follow the for
tunes of the Sonora player.
He was losing rapidly, but took little
. notice of his losses, until young girl,
who had been intently watching his
play from the outskirts, crept through
the crowd and laid her light, trembling
1lhafld on Iis arm.
'Come, Perez" she said, "quit the
play and take ME to the baile It is II
O'clock, and you have not yet danced
with me once"
curse my luck. I'll find you quickly
enough when want you, - you p
The demon of play was in his blood,
! and he would have struck her, but the
crowd pressed closely and he could not
raise his arm.
Josefa covered back into the shadow
of the grove, where she climbed into
the low branches of tree, and there
sat waiting, watching the face of her
lover at his play.
From his expression, she could read
his changing fortune her seat was too
low for her to view the piles of coin.
Already his losses meant ruin, for he
was playing money not his own but
that did not matter, for when all was
gone she knew that she could lead him,
and welcomed the chance it would give
her, so fierce was her jealous hatred of
his mad passion for play-her only
rival in Bicente's love. She had risked
his blows to prevent his losses now
she would risk life and assist him in
flight to save him.
To JOsefa the moral of acts which
would help Bicente counted nothing,
for she was reared in the desert and
she loved him. Stealing two ponies
lethered in the grove, she led them to
he Santa Cruz and tied them in the
yhade of the cottonwoods. Then she
walked back toward the gardens to re-
sumo her vigil, and thrilled at the
thought of the night ride they must
AXE across the desert. How like it
would be to that perilous pilgrimage
which was their bridal journey, the
tight Bicente had stolen her from the
all barley that bordered the acequia,
where she had hidden from her father.
together they would retrace the old
rail and share its dangers.
If she could only wean Bicente from
his hated thirst for chance, he would
again become her old tender lover.
Once away from the glare of torches
and the sight of gold, in the solitude,
under the desert starlight, he would be
utterly her own. There she would win
! him back to her heart and take him to
her home in Sonora, where her father
would forgive them. Two years ago
she left that home under sunny skies,
where was born her sudden love, and
she had since revisited it only in
thoughts and in her dreams.
When she reached the garden, he
was still playing, but his luck was in
exorable. Bet after bet had been placed
and as quickly lost. The sinister smile
IN his calm, dark face caused Josefa to
remble and clutch the branches above
ler for support.
When his last bet had been made
md lost, she felt sharp pang which
rave relief to nerves overstrung with
png, cruel watching. Springing from
Ter seat, she started foI the table but
efore she could reach it Bicente, with
u oath, had risen, placed pistol to
is breast and fired. One bullet pierced
wo hearts.
With cry like that of wounded
nimal, Josefa was at his side and
hught the falling man as he sank to
be ground. Then, seated on the grass,
he tore the lace from her throat and
estled his black head against her bare,
own bosom; with arms about him,
pwly she rocked to and fro, laughing,
coming, sobbing, and covered the