, 1896-03-18
HIS TREASURE.

kind but naughty master; his many
friends a chivalrous, generous, true
hearted gentleman. Like all his wealthy
neighbore, he was lord of vast domains,
and for one half the year he dispensed
the free handed hospitality Of those fes-
tive Spanish times within the pueblo Of
Los Angeles; the other half he spent in
happy. quiet ease aiIoug his olives and
his vineyards on the beautiful ranch Of
Cucamonga, named from the frowning
sierra that forms its northern boundary
wall
And here it is that on a perfect June
morning of 1916 we find him pacing up
and down the noble avenue of ancient
olives, his brows knit into an anxious
frown, his much p%erturbed spirit finding
vent in an occasional low mutter,
"Americanos ladrOnes!'
For many weeks vague rumors of war
had beer waited upon the orange scent
ed breezes and the spirit of unrest had
invaded this paradise of peace. But as
yet it was only n vague and underlined
feeling of mistrust, aud not even in Don
Tiburcio's o~n mind had it formed it
self into an actual and active protest.
But only this morning a dust covered
rider had flung the hateful words to
him which raised his ire. and then
spurred his horse onward toward the
pueblo Of Los Angeles.
1.-THE Americanos have risen openly
against General Castro! The flag OF
Mexico has been pulled down in the pueb-
10 of sonoma and u 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 cat
tie and household goods, of the indigni-
ties offered proud cid gray headed dons
and their families, and how some OF
their "paisanos' had been led away by
the flibusters to be imprisoned in Sut-
ter's Fort.
leaped to his eyes. The proud passion Of
q hundred passionate ancestors rang in
the tones with which he uttered:
"Aiye. osos Demouios! A los infernos
con todos! Dios! Dios donde estas?"
("Aye, bears! Demons! To HI with
them alll Godl God ! Where art thou?")
And the messenger sped on with his
hateful message.
Now, an hour later, Don TiburciO
strides up and down the Alameda de Oil
vos, the fires of hate still raging stormily
within his breast. Suddenly I'LL anger
dies away. Don Tiburcio awakcs to a
sense of the beauty and freshness of the
morning, the glory of the light upon tho
frowning crags Of the sierra, the sparkle
and fash of last nights dew upon the
glowing blossoms of the pomegranate,
the song Ct the mocking birds among
the orange groves, the tender light of
love within a pair of deep dar!, eyes,. all
conjured up by the sound Of a sweet
voice that calls from the depths Of the
grove:
"Papasito, papasito. where are you?'
"Aqui, hija, aqui' ('Here. daughter,
here"), he answers, AZ he hastens for
ward.
Instantly two plump arms are flung
about his neck; a pair of soft warm
hands draw down his grizzled head !;
the dainty little figure in his arms bends
backward with u pretty. birdlike ges-
ture, then, with n glad, caressing laugh.
suddenly falls forward upon his breast.
and the pretty mouth is lifted and lost
in the depths Of his long beard. That
tion.
She ia his priceless treasure, this win
some Marianita. -Four little mounds
within the c%hurchyard tell of buried
hopes, and none but the loving wife
had ever known how his proud heart had
grieved that there was non left to per-
pettate his name. This glowing blossom
Of tho south she gave to him with her
last breath, and for 16 years he has
worn it upon his heart. As for Marian
tia. the world for her is bounded by the
draws him now INCREASINGLY, among
her birds and flowers. and beneath the
spell Of her witching sweetness passion
dies out of his heart.
But later in the day, and for many
days, the haunting thoughts recur,
doubts arise and II purpose grows with
in his mind. 1t had often been whisper
ed about that Don Tiburcio was possess
ed Of fabulous sums OF money, real old
Spanish gold. All who knew him were
aware that his pockets always jingled.
and some there were who told Of his
counting out the pesetas and onzas by
handouts. as another man would count
his ,eales. Don Tiburcio wao we'll aware
that these whispers had been widely
spread through all Of the Candado de
Los Angeles, and the story Of the out
z committed against the property
of his friends farther north had more
than sympathetic Significance to him.
Day after day he pondered, and bis pur.
pose grew.
The rumors Of war on the Rio Grande
became louder and louder, and at length.
when the grapes Of Cucamonga were
taking on the purple hues Of the distant
canyons, word was brought that the
stars and stripes Of Los Estados Unidos
had been raised at Monterey. Don ii.
buroio said nothing, but the next day
announced to Marianita that he must
tourney to Los Angeles. Close as was
the tic which bound these two, the ira
ditional pride aud faith Of her race per-
mitted NO doubt nor further question
than the simple, IAN l to 60 with You,
~papasitoi" When the hesitating reply
came, mo, I cannot very well take
you,. hiti mia" this proud little de-
soendant Of old CASTLE thought for only
Q moment, II wonder why" then dis
missed the subject from her mind, and
sent her father upon his journey with Q
CLOSE abeaso and tender words Of fare
we'll