The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-05-01

stood that a secret rested between him
and his master.
The leaves hung limp with heat, all
sounds were hushed save the dull thud
OF the overripe figs falling to the
ground as they rode into the wide patio.
The joyous ciamor Of welcome accorded
the master awakened Marianita from
her dreamful siesta, and with smiles,
sweet words and caTesses she waited
upon the weary traveller, but, like the
faithful Indian servant, never ques-
toned the object Of his journey.
The vineyards had yielded up their
purple fruits, and the struggling vines
were trailing their gold and crimson
banners on the ground. Great piles Of
pumpkins rose like golden thrones
within the cobwebbed alamazen, while
thrones Of gold glowed in the loft above,
where sun-kissed apples were heaped
high. Here, in garlands and festoons
Of chill peppers. the autumn's royal
colOrs were hung alOft.
Don Tiburcio stood among a group
of Indians without the open door Of the
alamazen, from which came the sounds
OF fun and laughter, where the merry
Indian boys and maidens were shuck-
ing the ripened corn under the super
vision of old Ysidor,
Don Tiburcio stood before a long,
rough table, upon which were several
pans and one large pail, with a huge
iron spoon. With a sharp knife he cut
into round of beef at his side, dipped
the strips of meat into the large pail
before him and, laying them within the
several pans around him, called out:
Here Juan, Jose, Pedro, Chapo, we
will give Don Coyote q royal feast to-
day. 1 should like to see the grin with
which he and his brothers will receive
this generous gift. All! but his Jaws
will grow too stiff to close upon our fat
young ducks again. Nothing like a
dose Of cayalonga for Senior Coyote, eh,
muchacOs?"
Thus, with merry jest, he passed
around the fateful poison and dispersed
his dusky helpers.
As the sun sinks westward the
shucking party energies and passes out
to the kitchen and corrals. At sunset
Don Tiburcio's band of helpers return,
singingan old mission hymn, Domingo,
who has been mending the sheepfoIds,
atthe head. ThelittIe procession winds
round toward the alamazen, when,
with one accord, they all stop; their
song ends in a shrek! As if turned to
stone they stand and gaze!
There sits Don Tiburcio upon the low
bench, his eyes starry and CLASSY, his
jaws tightly locked, the whole figure
horribly upright and rigid. With Z cry
like wounded animal, Domingo falls
forward upon his master. mi senior!
mi senOr!" he calls in harsh, choking
tones, then, without a word, he puts
his strong arms around the rigid form.
Instantly the others leap forward, and
they bear him through Marianita's
grove, around to the veranda. Slowly
they lay him down, and at that moment
the jaws unlock-a SILVER, a CIRCLE, the
head falls back, the CLASSY eyes stare
upward to the pitiless heavens!
Light footsteps sound down the wide
hall, a gay voice calls out: "Papasito,
papasito!" The Indians start with ap-
prehension, one muscular youth
springs forward. He will hold her by
main force if he must, from the sight
of that awful horror! Too late! Mari
anita bounds forward, one inarticulate
cry, she sways and falls! When Do
mingo cTeeps forward and lifts the arm
that lies stretched across her fathers
breast, it falls back heavy, lifeless. In
death, as in life, Don Tiburcio's price
less blossom rests safe against his
heart.
1t is many days after. The relations
there are many of them-have all de-
parted, after having filed the house
with loud lamentations and laid their
kinsman and his lovely daughter in
their double grave with all the solemn
Pomp of church ceremonial.
Don Tiburcio's legal friends have
come, and they search for ell that ru-
mored gold. They find buried gold and
silver, but still they are not satisfied;
the amount is not adequate to their
expectations. There must be more.
Then some one remembers that Do
mingo was the confidential servant of
Don Tiburcio, and they go out to him,