Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-04
HIS TREASURE.

race was Ion IlburclO Iapla. Ills many
servants and dependents found in him
kind but naughty master; his many
friends a chivalrous, generous, true
hearted gentleman. Like all his wealthy
neiehbors, 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 among his olives and
his vineyards Oh the beautiful ranch Of
Cucamonga, named from the frowning
sierra that forms its northern boundary
wall.
And here it is that on 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 perturbed spirit finding
vent in an occasional low mutter,
"Americanos ladrones!"
For many weeks vague rumors of war
had been waited upon the orange scent
ed breezes and the spirit of unrest had
invaded this paradise of peace. But as
yet it was only vague and underlined
feeling Of mistrust, and not even in Don
Tiburcios own mind had it formed it
self into an actual and active protest.
But only this morning 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.
"The Americanos have risen openly
against General Castro! The flag Of
% Mexico has been pulled down in the pueb-
10 of Sonoma and 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 plunder Of horses and cat
tie and household goods, of the indigni-
ties offered proud old gray headed dons
and their families, and how some OF
their "paisanos' had been led away by
the flibuste1s to be imprisoned in SUIT
ter's 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 A los infernos
con todos Dios! Dios donde estas?"
wAye, bears! Demons TO hi with
them all God 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 all anger
dies away. Don Tiburcio awakes to a
sense of the beauty and freshness of the
morning, 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 pomegranate,
the song of the mocking birds among
the orange groves, the tender light Of
love within pair Of deep dark 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, as he hastens for
ward.
1bct0utly sWO eaiiho esiO htiiS3
about his neck; pair of soft warm
hands draw down his grizzled head !;
the dainty little figure III his arms bends
backward with a pretty, birdlike ges-
ture, then, with 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
L. h0,, ~,
tion.
She is his priceless treasure, this win
some Marianita. Four little mounds
within the churchyard tell of buried
hopes, and none but the loving wife
had ever known how his proud heart had
grieved that there was none left to per-
petuate his name. This glowing blossom
of the south she gave to him with her
last breath, and for 16 years he has
worn it upon his heart. As for Marian
ita, the world for her is bounded by the
horizon which incloses her father She
draws him now, unresistingly, 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 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,
md some there were who told of his
counting out, the pesetas and onzas by
handfuls, as another man would count
his reales. Don TibuIcio was we'll aware
that these whispers had been widely
spread through all of the Candado de
Los Angeles, and the story of the out
RACES committed against the property
Df his friends farther north had more
than sympathetic significance to him.
Day after day he pondered, and his 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 Oh 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 Ti-
burcio said nothing, but the next day
announced to Marianita that he must
journey to Los Angeles. Close as was
the tie which bound these two, the ira
ditional pride and faith of her race per-
mitted no doubt nor further question
than the simple, Gam to go with you,
papasito?" When the hesitating reply
came, "No, I cannot very we'll take
you, hiji mia," this proud. little de-
scendant Of old CASTLE thought for only
moment, I wonder Why then dis
missed the subject from her mind, and
sent her father nnon his ionrnav with q