The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1897-11-03
THE OPAL SKULL.


RADIO river. There seems, always to be-
visible from its banks, if banks they can
be called, some faint blue-gray 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 onlyn pale glim-
mer over the whitening blue; the green
of the trees was dulled by the dust and
the evening twilight. There was but
one house in sight, an adobe 400 yards
or less from the river.
In among the willows by the river was
a small, canvas-covered wagon. Two
thin broncos were hobbled near by, and
a man was gathering sticks for fire.
He wondered If it would be worth his
while to make the acquaintance of the
''greasers" who undoubtedly inhabited
it. They might offer him hospitality
for the night; but he had learned by
experience that Mexican hospitality
usually implies dirt, and he dis,i,sed
dirt. 1t was a question in his mind
whether a Blanket under the wagon
would not be preferable. And while he
debated the fiat board door Of the adobe
opened, and a woman came out. She
was slender, therefore she was young
$50 reasoned the man, who knew Mex
leans. More than that he could not see.
After n time she went back into the
house, and he fen TO gathering sticks.
When the moon rose, and he, having
finished his supper. was sitting beside
the dying campfire, peacefully smoking,
the low willows parted, and the girl of
the adobe stood near him.
"Ah! l beg your pardon, senior;
knew note Eat you wear HER." she cried,
starting back.
1T gives me much pleasure to see
you. viii You not sit here with me ?"
lie spread blanket on the ground
near the bright Goals, and motioned to
her. with deep bow. to be seated. She
took her place, and he, stretching him
self at her feet leaning upon one elbow,
offered her n cigarette.
Her name, il transpired very soon.
was Anita-Anita Manara; his. he told
her, was Richard Lowell. They fell a.
talking, and he did what was expected
of him--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 firta-
ton Here, in the half tropic south
west, with an unwise child of 16, of an
amorous race, the rather lax code of
honor of Richard Lowell fell from him.
She told him about her life
81 was born hicr," she said, Teen Eat
house. But wen twelf years am, to
San Diego 60 to school, an zere Eeng-
fish learn. / speak note much Eeng-
lish now, for Eat have only my muzzer
an my bruzzer, who zey speake but
Spanish; an Carlos he can Eenglish
speake, 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
little away and sat erect.
HE ees at re mines in Conception. He
haf one mine for him, an he weel be
soine time reech. He come to see me re
Sunday. DO you note Spanish speake-
talk sare?"
"No. Just a few words. And where
is your bro her?"
HE ees zis night far away. He weel
tomorrow weeth Carlos come back
Lowell understood He 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 maxims 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.
SECT ees Carlos. He geef eet to me-
Weel you see?" She drew it off. "Eef
you weel one match light"
He struck a 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 and patience IL must re-
quiqc TO shape it like this one. There
was probably not another like it in the
world; certainly he had never seen it,
il there were. In the flickering light ii
CLEANED and sparlsled blue, and red, and
yellow fires, and the jaws seemed to
comfort themselves into grin.
''IIow wonderful" he calculated.
s'Yes," answered Anita