, 1896-03-18

As' ~
one Of his household servants, dined
with him al fresco. and as they smoked
their cigaritos under the shadow of the
orange trees, CALIFORNIA; position in the
present struggle between Mexico and
Los Estados was discussed with great
warmth. At length, when the l~ateness
Of the hour penetrated the consciousness
Of their heated spirits, the two friends
arose, and with the formal courtesy
which the closest intimacy never alters,
babe their host n ''buenas noches, Don
Tiburcio, voya V'd con Dios manana''
GOOD night, Don Tiburcio, God be
with you tomorrow'). He had not dis
closed, even to these two tried and true
old friends, the object Of his visit 70 the
pueblo.
In that darkest hour before the dawn,
when all his household slumbered, Don
TiburciO arose, listened for Il moment,
and finding all still crept cautiously ont
into the wide hail of the house. Noise
lessly drawing the bolt of the outer door.
he glided around the east corner of the
house to the servants quarters. Here
again all was still, save for the occa
sional mutterings of the sleepcrs within.
"Domingo!' whispered Don Tlburcio,
and ont of the darkness a tall figure
arose and stole silently toward him.
With nc further word or sign the two
passed away toward the stables. Here
Domingo drew out a cumlbrous four
wheeled ''carreta del pals" which roll
ed ont with dismal creakings. Hurried.
ly oiling the numbering vehicle, so that
its complainings were instantly hushed,
he yoked to it a pair of well fed, slow
moving oxen. Then, always with quick.
gliding motions, he saddled Don Ii
b%urcio's horse, and just as the day was
lighting up the crown of Ell Viejo CaIvo,
master and servant passed ont Of the
great gate, the master as,ride his favor.
lite horse Paloma, his Indian attendant
walking beside the cumbrous carreta,
which contained, besides a large metal
box, with strong brass clasps. pickaxes
and shovels of various sizes and degrees
Of strength.
Slowly they wendell their way toward
the Rancho de San Jose. and as they
rode the golden glory of the day gilded
<bo cractu ~ tha Siorr, N,1ro D,-,,
ent,v Don rihurc;o r,;sad his hroad
aud ,Lo s;1or, hr. ohso,,ant
I Indian cl,s,,ed his ormS and dronna1 his
Mood rror bis h,a,et Tho Wv Stood
s,;II W;,h Iii, oras r,an ,Lo -
oro,,rod slow, ~, T;b,rn;o ohantos
his morning prayer of praise and thanks
giving, to which the Indian added a
houd MON ,lo noorns, nf ,Lo cron thnr
-aSn,,ad ,ha;r slnw ;orr,or
M, .,,o L;.h,;. ~ a.,
,,rnIonanrom IS ,ho s,;II a;st"nt ,monn
tn;ns ora,, hnar u;,h ,ha aar,s ha.t and
tho lon, Ina - Hills 10 tho sorth ,ro,.,
fa;ut npd ;na;s,;nat Sill sIau.,s ~.
snn nassod nror ,ho;, hoaSs and souI,
s IT, ~ ,aroi -. nani
tsaa..... Hs,,tI. ..,.ans ,Lou III
oio,r - flo snnso, diod and ,ho drsL
GnLo ,,;st snftIr fo11 ana mu.nmaJ
TO-. u;.L;m mnair,hl ;nr;s;hIa XII
through which the light breeze foated
like the touch OF "a spirit nat ander
moving like a shadow beside the slow
rolling carreta, while the stars flung
dow a soft white light like the CLEAN
of the blooms in the orange groves. The
Indian and the master. each in his own
way. felt the silent power OF the forces
of the night. Perhaps within he In
dams untutored soul it stirred the
wider depths OF poetry. But he gave no
sign, only patiently guided the plodding
oxen.
The stars paled, and as the gray light
of another dawn lifted the shadow