Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-06-11

wearing a grin on his face like wicked
dog as he did so, though / do not know
what he said. Then Don Pedro con-
Quoted him to place of honor at the
head of the table, that beside his own
seat, while was led to another table at
little distance. where my meat was
served to me alone, since, as an Indian
of pure blood, was not thought lit for
the company of these cross-bred ours
Don Jose having taken his place at the
further end of the table with the
Americana, the meal began, and an ex-
cellent one it was.
TRY some more of this Burgundy"
said Don Pedro when the dishes had
been removed, filling his tumbler for
the seventh or eighth time: lit is the
right stuff, straight from France.
though it never paid duty, and he
winlxed his leaden eye.
''Your health, senior, and may you
live to do many such brave deeds as
that of yesterday, when you saved my
son from the sea. By the way, do you
know that on board that ship they said
that you had the evil eye and brought
her to wreck; yes, and your long-faced
companion, the Indian, also"
Indeed, I never heard of it before"
answered the senior with a laugh; but
if so our evil eyes shall not trouble you
for long, as we propose to continue our
journey tomorrow.
Nonsense, friend, nonsense; you
don't suppose that 1 believe in
We say many things that we
do not believe. just for joke; thus, %
and he raised his voice so that I could
hear him at my table, ''yOur companion
there's he not named Ignatio?-told a
story to my disadvantage on board the
ship, which am sure he did not be-
lieve," and suddenly he stared at me
Tc
indiana"
IF you seek my opinion, Don Pedro"
I answered, leaning forward and speak
ing very clearly, 81 can say that it is
improbable to repeat words that are
said, or to remember deeds that are
done with. If I spoke certain words, or
if in the past you did certain deeds,
here beneath your hospitable roof is
not the place to recall Them
''Quite SO, Indian, quite SO; you talk
like an oracle, as MOntezuma used to
talk to Cortes, till the conqueror found
a way to teach him plain speaking-a
great man, Cortes, he understood how
Spat upon the floor, and. having looked
down the table, spoke to the senior in a
somewhat anxious voice, TELL me, y
he said, for your sight is better than
mine, how many there are present here
tonight"
Counting my friend, thirteen" he
answered.
Il thought so,'' said our host, with an
oath, land it is too late to mend mat
tiers now. Well. may the saints, and
they should be thick about a monastery,
avert the omen. I see you think me a
fool.
Not at all" he answered. 81 am
! rather superstitious myself, and dislike
sitting down thirteen to a table.
10 T 10 I nd
| Listen, last time we dined thirteen in
this room there were two travellers here
Americans, friends of Don Smith, who
were trying to open up a trade in these
parts. They drank more than was
good for them, and the end of it was
killed each other yOnCer in the abbot's
chamber, where you are sleeping
poor men, poor men! There was trouble
about the matter at the time, but Don
| Smith explained to his countrymen anC
| it came to nothing"
Indeed" answered the senior. 'sIt
was strange that two drunken meI
| should kill each other"
$50 / say. senior. In truth for a while
1 thought that Indians must have got
into their room and murdered them, bu
it was proved beyond doubt that thi;
was not so. All! they are wicked PEG
| pie, the Indians; I have seen much O.
| UIlcIl ttuO = SuOulo NOW OllS
| government wishes to treat them too
well. Our fathers knew better how tt
deal with them, but luckily the arm o.
the government scarcely reaches here
and no whining padres or officials come
prying about my house, though once
we had some soldiers" and he cursed
at the recollection and drank another
| glass of Burgundy.
Il tell you that they are wicked
people," he went on, 1.-THE demonio!
| their fathers worshipped still possess
them, also they are as secret and dan
| gerous: and there are Indians nov
who know where vast treasures arr
buried, but they will tell nothing.
Yes" and suddenly growing ex
cited under the influence of the strong
drink, he leaned over and whispered in
to his guests ear. 81 have one such il
the house at this moment, an old Laca
| done; that is, an unbaptized Indian
not that think him any the worse fol
] that, and with him his daughter,
woman more beautiful than the night
perhaps, if I go on liking you I viii
show her to you tomorrow, only then
should have to keep you, for you would
never go away. Beautiful! yes, she i
beautiful, though a devil at heart.
| II have not dared to let these little
ones see her." and he winked and node(
| toward the villains at the table. 'bu
Jose is to pay her and her papa a visi
| tonight, and he won't mind her tenn
| perS. though they brighten me.