The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-05-07
THE OPAL SKULL.

OF all places to oppress one with the
fruitlessness of life there is none like
unto the southern portion OF the Colo
rado river There seems ALWAYS TO be
visible from its banks, if banks they can
be called, some faint hlue-grav noun
tain peak off in the distance, beyond the
plain with its rare groups Of cotton
woods and its occasional lonely adobe.
There was no color anywhere. The
yellow OF the sky was only Il pale gIim-
ner over the whitening blue: the green
of the trees was duIIed bv the duSt and
the evening twilight. There was but
one house in sight, an adobe 400 wards
or less from the river.
In among the willows by the riverNvas
small canVas-coyeTed wagon. Two
thin broncos were hobbIed near and
a man was gathering sticks for fire.
He wondered if it would be worth his
while To make the acquaintance Of the
''greas@rS" who undoubtedly inhabited
IL They IN cht offer him hoSuitaiity
for the night; but he had learned bv
experience that Mexican hospitality
usually implies dirt. and he dfs.-a-'I
dirt. 1t was a question in his mind
whether a blanket under the wagon
would not he preferable. And while ne
debated the fiat board door cf the adobe
opened. and a woman came out. She
was slender, therefore she was young
so reasoned the man. who knew Mex
leans More than that he could not see
After a time she went back into the
house, and he fen 10 gathering sticks.
I h. . L..
finished his supper. was sitting besid..
the dying campfire. peacefully smoking.
the low willows parted. and the girl of
the adobe stood near him.
'Ah. beg your pardon. senior: 7
knew note Zat you wear hicr." she cried
starting back
1t gives me much pleasure to Sc.
YOU VIII YOU not sit here with me -
He spread a blanket on the ground
near the bright Goals and motfoned to
her. with deep bow. to be seated. She
took her place. and he. stretchin" him
self at her feet. leaning upon one elbow.
offered her 4 cigarette.
Her name. II transpired very soon.
was Anita-Anita Mauara: h-S. he told
her. was Richard Lowell. They fell a
talking. and he did what was expected
of hin-made desperate love instantly:
while she did what he had expected her
To do, responded with only enough re-
serve to keep up the illusion of ffirta-
ton Here. in the half tropic south
west. with an unwise child of I6. of an
amorous race. the rather lax code of
honor of Richard Lowell fell from him.
She told him about her life.
Il was born hicr." she said. zen zar
house. But wen 7 twelf years am. to
San Diego go to school. an zcre Eeng-
lish learn. I speak note much Eeng-
liSh now. for zat have only my muzzer
an my hruzzer. who zey spealc hut
Spanish; an Carlos he can Eenglish
speal<e, but he like eet note
who is Carlos. sweetheart?''
He ees my sweetheart, wat I to
marry him am
Where is he?" The young man drew
a little away and sat erect.
He ees at ze mines in Conception He
haf one mine for him, an he weel lt,
son.e time reech. lie come to sec me ze
Sunday. Do you note Spanish speuke-
talk. sare?"
NO. Just few words. And where
is your brother?''
He ees zis night far away. He weeI
to, morrow weeth Carlos come back"
Lowell understood. lie resumed grad
ually his posture of alteration. When
the cigarettes were finished. he held
her hands. and in time he put his arm
about her and kissed her. and forgot all
the maNims of wisdom that had ever
been taught to him.
What is that ring?" he asked. turn
ing and toying with the only one she
wore.
'Eet ees Carlos He geef eet to me-
Weel-you see?'' She drew it off. '-Eef
you weel one match light
He struck WAX one and held il to the
ring. 1t was an opal set in silver and
carved in the shape of skull. Lowell
knew enough of stones to understand
the difficulty of cutting an opal He
knew the skill ard patience it must re-
quire To shape IL like this one. There
Was probably not another like it in the
world; certainly he had never seen it.
if there were. In the ilickering light il
CLEANED and sparl.led blue, and red. and
yellow fires, and the Jaws seemed to
comfort themselves into a grin.
How wonderful" he calculated.
"Ies." answered Anita
lie was seized with a wild desire to OBJ.
tain il, and he played boldly for it do
you love me. Anita, sweetheart. beauti-
ful?" he whispered. taking her face in
his hands and looking into her eyes.
She uttered a faint but sincere Yes
He kissed her again, not once. but
many times. IF YOU love me. Anita.
you should give me the ring TO remem-
her you by keepsake, as we call it,
She slipped it into his hand.
'Ah. no. Geef eet - me- she cried
Of sudden
"Why?"
Carlos, he tell me zat eet ees very
vat you say mote nice lucky
Then why did he give il To you?"
HE say eet ees for man. note for
n woman zat Get ees like zat''
Il expect Carlos wanted to keep you
from giving it away"
No. He say zat one man wat keep
eet for fife years, he die sure
Il am not afraid. would be glad to
die TO have your ring for even year
No. Geef eet, back TO me-
Then you do not love me" he said.
You are like all women,
you are glad TO break mans heart
NO. no. l lofe you. You can keep