The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-02-26

IN his veins! WlaG 10 Inoy say!
Hadn't I better wait and see il
you can get into the house, Miss
'Chona?"
ooh, but I can! I see Pascural's
pruning knife-and that will reach
through the crack of the door and lift
the bar. Adios, Meester Baohois!"
She dropped lightly down into the
garden, and was gone. Mr.. Badgers
hid the board and sauntered quietly
down the street. In the shadow on
the other side a figure came out from
behind the shrubbery and followed
noiselessly.
Dona Maria Evangelista Ortiz, an
ancient virgin of stately mien, was
less fortunate in her slumbers that
night than she was wont. Long after
little 'Chona had slipped in unheard,
the house rang with words, scufae,
q crash, scream in 'Chona's voice, a
babel of cries in which there were
even English. Dona Maria had blood
in her veins; and if her hand trem'
bled as she struck candle, she did
not falter, but strobe out into the
wide zaguan.
Valgame Dios! There was the lit.
tie waiting maid stretched upon the
floor, her long braids twisted about
her neck, aud the blood trickling
from cash in her forehead. Beside
her, holding the poor little head upon
his arm and kissing away the blood,
was Por6rio trembling and moaning.
"Dios MIC! What is this? What
do you in my house?" The Senorita
Ortiz was terrible now; but Porfrio
seemed to grow cool under her fash
ing eyes.
''Look to your jewel Chest" he
said, calmly-'I came too late to save
it-too late to save this, my soul, my
little 'Chona. That barber, the goat,
was carrying it away and she heard
him and caught him and struggled to
take it from him. And the dog struck
her upon the forehead and was gone
with it even as I came-for seeing him
climb the wall Of the garden I fol.
lowed"
The old bronze bell in the garden
struck up the liveliest replique that it
had ever throated; and half Monterey
came running. Dona Maria was
calm as calm. She had come into
her fit habiliments, and 'Ohona's
wound was dressed, and 'Chona
beamed on Porfrio, with soft eyes
that anyone might know that he
would never have to doubt again. OF
o surety the house had been robbed,
and the thief must be caught but II
was not Dona Maria Evangelista Or.
tiz who would be in an unseemly stew
about it.
If the Constable's spurs had not
been the haudsomest in Monterey
and therefore not to be left behind
when State occasions came-the San
Anselmo might not have got clear Of
the wharf before he came galloping
down. But fate is so. Word was
sent, however, to St. Luis Obispo,
and when the boat landed there the
officers found little man who an
swered the description; but no chest
or jewels, though the San Anselmo
was searched from end to end.
In Monterey when one makes hue
and cry over any ordinary loss, the
gossips shake their heads pityingly.
Porque? Now there was Dona Maria,
who lost a chest so big Showing with
the arms outstretched)-a chest full Of
diamonds and rubies and pearls
without the flicker Of an eyelash. II
others were as brave!
For you see the barber never told
what he found when he pried up
the lid; md as for the Senorita Ortiz,
she will 90 to the grave with the Sc.
cret Of what was packed in camphor in
the old teak chest.-San Francisco
Post.