Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-04-09
DON TIBURCI0'S TREASURE.

A proud descendant of proud oil
race was Don Tiburcio Tapia. Hi
many servants and dependents fount
in him kind but naughty master; hi
many friends chivalrous, true
hearted gentleman. Like all hi
wealthy neighbors, he was lord of vas
domains, and for one-half the year h,
dispensed the frce-handed hospitalit,
| OF those festive Spanish times within
the pueblo of Los Angeles: the othei
half he spent in happy, quiet east
amoug his olives and his vineyards OF
the beautiful ranch of Cucamonga
named from the frowning sierra tha
forms its northern boundary wall
And here il is that on perfect June
morning of 1s45 we find him pacing
up and down the noble avenue of an
cient olives. his brows knit into an
anxious froYn, his much-perturbed
spirit finding vent in an occasional low
mutter: "Americanos ladrones!"
"l'or many weeks vague rumors OF
war had been waited upon the orange
scented breezes and the spirit of unrest
had invaded this paradise of peace. But
as yet it was only a vague and underlined
feeling Of ristrnst, and not even in
Don Tiburcio's own mind had it formed
itself into an actual and active pro-
test
But only This morning a dust-cov-
cred rider had flung the hateful words
TO him which raised his ire and then
spurred his horse onward toward the
pueblo of Los Angeles.
"The Americanos have risen openly
against Gen. Castro. The flag of Mex
leo has been pulled down in the pueblo
of Sonoma and a flag with an Oso floats
over the town"
Then the messenger had gone on to
paint the scene in vivid, fiery language.
telling Of the plumber of horses and
cattle and household goods, OF the in
dignities offered proud old gray headed
dons and their families and how some
of their ''paisanos" had been led away
by the flibnstcrs and imprisoned IN
Suffers fort.
All of Don Tiburcio's angry spirit
leaped to his eyes; the proud passion OF
a hundred passionate ancestors rang in
the tones with which he uttered;
"Aiye. osos. demonios! Dios Dios
dondc cstas?" ("Aye. bears! demons.
God. God. where art Thou?"
And the messenger sped on with his
hateful message.
Now, an hour later, Tiburcio strides
up and down the Alameda de Olives, the
fires Of hate still raging stormily with
in his breast. Suddenly all anger dies
away. Don Tiburcio awakes to sense
Of the beauty and freshness of the
the glory of the light upon
The frowning crags of the sierra. the
sparkle and flash of last nights dew
upon the glowing blossoms of the
the song of the hooking
birds among the crangs groves, the ten
der light of love within pair Of deep
dark eyes. all coniured up by the sound
Of sweet voice that calls from the
lepths of the grove:
"Papasito, papasito, where are your
"Aqui, hija, aqui" ("Hcrc, daughter,
lere"). he answers, as he hastens for
ward.
Instantly two plump arms are flung
about his neck; pair of soft, warm
lands draw down his grizzled head;
he dainty little figure in his arms
,ends backward with a pretty, bird
ks gesture, then, with glad, caress-
ng laugh. suddenly falls forward upon
lis breast. and the pretty mouth is
fitted and lost in the depths of his long
,eard. That kiss is Don Tiburcio's
morning benediction
She is his priceless treasure, this win
ONE Maranita. Four little mounds
within the churchyard tell of buried
Icpes, and none but the loving wife
lad ever known how his proud heart
lad grieyed that there We're none left
Q perpetuate his name. This glowing
lesson Of the south she gave to him
With her last breath, and for 16 years
e has worn it upon his heart. AS for
farianita, the world for her is bounded
y the horizon which incloses her IA
her. She draws him now, unresisting.
Y, among the birds and flowers, and be-
cath the spell Of her witching sweet
ess passion dies out Of his heart
But later in the day. and for
lany days, the haunting thoughts re-
ur, doubts arise and a purpose grows
'ithin his mind. 1t had often been
1hispercd about that Don Tiburcio was
assessed of fabulous sums of money,
sal old Spanish gold. All who knew I
i'm were aware that his pockets al {
avs jingled, and some there were who I
I'D of his counting out the pesetas