Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-03-19

Were the days not almost perpetual sun
shine? and such sunshine as warmed III,
bones and made life the luxury Of the pool
as we'll as Of the rich
Could he not supply his wants with tht
least imaginable expenditure OF labor, ant
was not Marlnsha the prettiest girl in tht
whole district. and would he not marry
Marinsha when she had earned enough t.
support him and their family, and, lastly
nersef in ease and comfort
But the sunshine and Ma. .nsha and hi,
| happy prospects were all so much a matter
OF course to Carlos that he never dreamej
or blessing his patron saint, but only
stretched himself fuxurfousIv in his he'd
ana thought now coed a thing life was and
VINO so fortunate as Marnsna
Inc little white washed hut where Carlos
HFed with his brothers and withered. old
round-shouIdered mother was far I'D the Hill
rom the sea. with the land rolling in huge
soou, tempered pillows on every side, cloth ed
IN black volcanic dust and bound by acres
of vines.
Beyond it the mountain crest rose high in
me mist. its barren rugged peaks softened
phere.
Below was the blue Of the sea, with the
"hlle nat roofs Of Las Palmas Just showing
over the lower slopes
fuftner on lay the Iseta, on the road to
"hlch Carlos went each day to his work
OF at least each day that a ghostly ex-
cneQuer warned him of approaching evil.
by profession Carlos was stone breaker.
but chiefly by profession.
IN practice he lived in a genial way on his
motners earnings, aided by a few pesetas
IoHl Marlhsha,s store. What did it mat er
was IL not all to be his some day: and if he
ureW upon it prematurely It only meant
the postponement of the wedding for a little
longer; and was that not as hard on him "a
on Mar1nsha? for every one knew he loved
Marlnsha and wanted to marry her as
soon as prudence would allow; but mean
While ne must live When these sources OF
supply failed he turned to his labor.
miserable present after such a beautif,,,
past! Yesterday there had been a fiesta, and
carlos had-With Marinsha's money-treated
Marlhsha to all the delights Of the town.
me marlonettes that played under the
shadow of the tall, gaunt cathedral the
"onoerful poodles that tumbled like clowns
ana shot at one another with real guns in
me oooth beyond, and all the ecstacy of an
al fresco dinner at little round wooden
liable behlnd an oleander in the corner of
the plaza. Oh, delightful time! Marnsha
SAID IL put off their marriage for at least a
month; but the wise Carlos knew YOU could
not De more than happy, and that happiness
was shy maid who pouted and hid herself
unless seized On the moment So happv
they were to the highest pitch for five whole
hours, and until all Merinsha's money was
spent. Then they climbed into an already
ovefcroWded coach bound across the island
with His Most Catholic Majesty's scanty
mail, and Carlos paid both their fares with
merry words, songs laughter and many
promises
Who could be angry with Carlos. he was
so gay and light-heartedi NOT the coach,
driver, who only smote him gently across
the shoulder with his whip, and genially
cursed him for rogue, driving on, Laughing
the while at the latest jest; Carlos was SO
ofoil Not the other passengers crowded
and hot as they were before even he and
Marinsha pushed their way amongst them,
for had net Carlos made them forget tha
heat and the dust; and did not the cheer
fulness die out of the day as thew turned
the next corner and were hid behind the
aloe hedge with IFS softanned outline Of lux
ur.ant dusty brambles, while Carlos and
Marinsha stood in the middle of the road,
waving farewells,
Only Gius"~ce Molina, I'D in the seat he
side the driver but then Giuseppe loved
Marlnsha, so how could he find good in
Carlos, whom Marinsha loved? Naturally
he hated Carlos, and OF course some day
they would come tc blows; after that II
Giuseppe were only half SO good a fellow az
Carlos, they might be friends
But the fiesta was past, and Carlos had
nothing but empty pockets; not even A
cnarto to buy cigarettes-ah, the hateful
day!
A handful of maize ground into a coarse
-four and then baked over the glowing
charcoal served Carlos for breakfast. His
dinner was a square of dark rye bread and
a dozen of figs, together with a small skin
full of red Piquette wine, acid enough but
refreshing in the middle of the day when
the almost tropic sun was at its strength
Such e small skinful; it was a shame to
have killed so small kid.
The bread and fruit were carefully knotted
into a gay crimson handkerchief, while the
wine-skin was slung round the body by
strap at the waist.
Hanging the bundle over the head Of his
stone breakers hammer and resting il on
his shoulder, Carlos tramped slowly down
the black cnder-strewn byway leading to
the main road depressed and out of temper
with life.
But not for long; the futter Of a brown
wing from hedge to hedge, and the sudden
trill of a song among the branches, was
like &. challenge. and he answered blitheIy
enough, shaming the bird with the changing
melody of his whistle. All the good day
that it was! even to live and be warm was
sood. and was there not another fiesta in
three weeks time! Then he caught sight of
the trim little house where Marnsha was
servant wench. A cottage much like his
only surrounded by cactus plants
with their heshy arms carefully swathed
in dingy muslin. Fer Marinsha's mistress
was cochineal farmer, and Marinsha
worked not only indoors but also among
the insects, and their curious grazing ground,
thus earning most of their money, Cor she
worked on shares, and the price of the dye
was on the advance. Only three weeks!
By that Marinsha would have added 10 he:
store and he-yes, he would earn money
too-two pesetas-three-pe d dollar
And the whistle broke into a song and all
the cares of labor were forgotten as Carlos
sat down under the warm shelter of the
hedge to wait for the first passing cart to
save him the walk into Las Palmas
OF certainty Christopher Columbus
must have touched at the Fortunate Isles
while on his long journey to the unknown
world.
How else would they have the same
blackboard so dear to New England hearts,
and so trying to fratl humanity,
AS Carlos sat in the shade enjoying to
the full the luxury of good intention,
there came jingle of bells from round the
bend of the road, then a slowly, rolling
cloud Of dust which filed the space from
hedge to hedge as it advanced.
"Hola-Matteo! flower of my soul, we
are both in haste this morning; let us go
together and the way will be shorter"
And without waiting for an answer, Car
los swung himself up on the vacant shaft,
while the flower Of his soul"-a swarthy
pock-marked half-caste-grinned an ap-
preofative welcome.
None Of thy Jokes. Carlos: keep them