The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-26

I
mors Of q rebeliion had been floating In the
air, and the day came when 1t broke out.
The sympathy was mostly with the insur-
gents, the rising being In consequence Of
the unjust and one sided administration Of
those In power. The rebels gained the
victory, and general turn OUT Of off,
cials took place, followed by putting in
Of new men. Another judge was appoint
ed in the little town, and matters soon set
tied themselves very comfortably, as II
nothing had occurred Meanwhile Manuel
Rodriguez had been reused from his usual
apathy and the question of his preference
for certain senorita definitely settled. An
| energetic sutton for the hand Of tho fair
| Anita having come forward caused Rod
| riguez to realize the state of his own heart,
and the fact that Anita, and she only, was
its mistress. He then lost no time, but
made such favorable overtures that he was
accepted and the marriage arranged for the
next Fiesta"
A few days previous to the wedding he
called at the residence Of the newly ap1
pointed judge TO notify him that he should
present himself with his betrothed, her parJ
ents and usual witnesses on the morning
of the fiesta for the civil marriage 1t was
not surprising that Rodriguez failed TO-
recognize in him the dusty, unkempt, worn
ont traveller of two months ago, whose shoe
still remained unmended and unclaimed
on the shelf of the workshop. But the
judge recognized Rodriguez and listened
gravely while the latter stated his BUSH
ness, and said they would, with the per-
mission Of his excellency, assemble before
n he Of ~
fiesta. The only response of the judge was
a brief Buenos," and taking up a paper
he signifed that the interview was closed.
Rodriguez, thus dismissed, uttered his
thanks and bowed himself out.
If Rodriguez had glanced back on leav-
ing the room, he would have seen the grave
countenance Of the judge Instantly relax, o
smile spread over his face and his eyes
twinkle with fun, as he rubbed his hands
together, .exclaiming, "Ah, shall now be
even with you, my friend" ]
81
1t was n glorious morning. The fiesta
was one Of the great ones and general
holiday. The tinkling bell Of the little
church had been calling worshipers togeth5
er ut intervals from very early hour The
Argentine colors were displayed over the
residence of the judge, and few minutes
before 9o'clock the wedding party came
In sight, gay procession Of some length,
threading Its way across the plaza by q
well trodden path under the acacia trees
thus avoiding the dusty road. The invita-
tons to participate had been well respond
ed to, and the party crowded the room
where they awaited the appearance of the
judge.
Ten minutes passed, and Rodriguez,
becoming impatient, rose and looked out.
A vigilante was walking saddled horse
to and fro before the door of the judges
bedroom, which opened on the plaza. At
the same moment, dressed for riding, out
came the judge himself, and to the utter
CONSERVATION of Rodriguez proceeded to
mount his horse. He was then about to
start; but this was too much. Rodriguez
dashed forward
Pardon, senior, he gasped. 1.-THE mar.
riage-we are all assembled in the office"
"Ehr' said the judge. "MarriageP"
Isl, senior. 1t was arranged for this
feast day at 0 o'clock with the permission
of your excellcncy, and we are now watt
ing
"Ah,'' said the judge frowning "but I
am indisposed' lam going to ride out
in the camp. The marriage can be put off
until tomorrow"
Rodriguez was furious, but dared not
show it. Pardon, excellencia, he cried
in agitation, "but my bride--the company
The priests, too, will be waiting at the |
church. What nm l to dop'
"Quien sabe?" coolly replied the judge |
as he rode on few PAGES. Then turning |
his head he added: Perhaps you will now |
mend my shoe, my good fellow. Adios
hasta manana'' (adieu until tomorrow
"Shoe!" In q moment it all flashed on |
Rodriguez, and the angry blood rushed to
his face. But catching glimpseo of Anita |
peeping out in alarm, he swallowed down |
his anger and pride, and rushing after the
judge begged n thousand pardons for his
fault, entreating that his bride, so young,
so happy, who had done no wrong, should
not be punished and put to shame. All,
his cxcellency should sec how grateful he
would be.
Now there was not In the whole province
of Santa Fe kinder hearted man than the
judge, and although he had determined to
punish Rodriguez, he did not intend to
give him more than "a bad half hour"
The priests, who were to be the guests Of
the judge at his breakfast table that day,
being in the secret, thought the lesson was
well meritcd, and might prove beneficial
But as the judge glanced back,at Rodri-
guez, he also saw the pretty Anita's trou-
bled face, and this, together with Rodri-
guez's appeal on her behalf was too much
or his kind heart. He could hold out no
onger. So, dismounting, he led the poor
elbow back to his bride, said few gra-
'ious words to her, and remarking gener.
lily that there had been "a little mistake"
proceeded with the marriage contract.
Before Rodriguez and his bride left the
DOM, the former placed on the table
ioublc fee and assured the judge of his
srateful feelings. They then proceeded to
he church, where the religious ceremony
ook place.
That day week the judge received pres.
nt-the handsomest pair of shoes Rodri-
uez ever sent out of his shop.
There is an odd shoe hanging up in
onspicuous place in Rodriguez S workshop
nth the word "Recuerdo' painted under
). Old habits are not as easily got rid Of
r mended as old shoes, and he needs this
for he still occasionally
ills to keep his promise, in spite of the
ldge's lesson, and continues to cherish a
'ndness for the visionary "manana. ~
ewark Advertiser.