Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-07-13


ence to Mexican when it is not cause for
laughter.
The American was {; mere youth. sofia
saw that when the patch of moonlight
finally worked around to where he lay. He
was so still that she began to think he
might be dead so she rose from where
she sat upon the floor, leaning against the
wall, and went near to see If he were
breathing 1t seemed that he slept very
lightly, for he started up, with his left
hand upon his belt and his right hand up
on his revolver.
You were so still thought you might
be dead" said Sola in her deep, placid
voice, full of the Indian sweetness of
sound He took his hand from the weapon
and lay BACK shamefacedly. 1t was only
woman, a thick set, lazy, good hearted
Mexican. He had not been able to see her
face, and he did not know that the COM
fortress pallet was her bed. He tusned on
it and fell asleep again. But Sofa sat
thinking Long after her brother was
dreaming in the next room she crouched,
lookin into the darkness with her great,
wide eyes-seeing nothing. And in her
brain ran the clink of the coins as the
young gringo had put his hand to his belt.
There was purpose il her untlinching
mind. That she debated 1t therein WAS
due only to her uncertainty as to how
many coins had clinked, rs to whether
there were enough to buy Antonio Mas
cavel Five hundred dollars would do it
for time After that he might kill her,
or he might let her live and go away with
Refugio, which would be worse. He was
a gambler through and through, and none
the less so because Of being luckless. A
o1lo tn, ash,
present to him unlimited possibilities of
the wealth that it might win. And there
is always the poor chance in a woman's
mind that the man may learn to love as
she loves He might forget Refugio, or
she might marry some one else.
She went slipping across the earthen
floor and CROPPED in n corner behind
string of chles Her hand came out from
the shadow holding a knife that CLEANED
as she moved back through the strip of
moonlight and toward the willow Dough
pallet where the incautious youth lay,
sleeping heavily now
Fifteen minutes later she went into the
room where her brother lay upon bed
like her own. She reused him with her
bare foot. He turned with a sleepy grunt
Get up and come here" she said She
was not a capricious creature. 1t was her
way to do little, but that in logged ear
nest So Vejar sprang up and went with
her She stopped beside the bed and point
ed down to the body.
II have killed him." she said.
Vejar made no answer. He did not I'M
derstand
II have killed him, she repeated. You
take him away and bury him.
1t flashed upon Vejar that what his SIS
ter said was true He was frightened He
dropped down beside the body and dragged
it into the streak Of moonlight.
Take care" Sola warned him. "H
there is blood on the floor, it can be SEEN
can burn the blanket that is on the bed
and no one saw him come"
Vejar let the body fall and stood up fac
ing her. She could see the dreadful light
in his eyes, but she did not care.
you can turn his horse loose, and it
will never be known, =" she said indiffer
emily. HE had money. There is $500 l
have counted it. Antonio will marry me
for that. -
Vejar struck her down with blow on
the breast. She sat upon the floor as quiet
ly as if she were basking in the sun
dreaming the eternal Mexican dreams
If you hit me again, l shall say that
you did it They would believe me.
Nejar stood thinking with the body and
the woman at his feet. He knew that she
was right The gringoes would believe a
woman 1t was the custom of the fools
She held his life in her hard, broad hands,
and she would give it for the sake of the
soft eyed gambler rs calmly, US relentless
ly as she had given that of the boy between
them.
He carried the body out and buried it
before dawn far from the adobe, and SO
skillfully that there were no traces of the
spot. Then he turned the lame horse
loose, and it wandered into the town.
For the sake of the 40 goldpieces that
were Sola WEARS dowry, that she had
come by he did not ask how or care,
that conjured up visions of limitless wealth
to be won, Antonio Mascavel consented to
take her and let the ungilded beauty of
Refugio Gartias go.
Many Americans disappeared in those
days and were never accounted for. 1t
was so with the one who had started from
the San Fernando district to Los Angeles,
foolishly carrying large amount of gold
in his belt-some said more than 81, 900.
The sheriff and posse searched and did
not find him; that was all.
Antonio lived with Sola for year, and
eIio was hhPPs' thlouSh ~ iau4o VI lis.
His luck turned, and he won with her
nest egg the fortune he had dreamed Of
Having done SO, he left her and went
across the border
For long time Sofa mourned sullenly
and deeply; then, Vejar having been killed
at round up by an enraged steer, she
took up her abode with Refugio and be-
came a devoted and patient nurse to her
children.
For Refugio had married the rich Amer
lean and had long since forgiven the de-
lection of Mascavel and the woman who
had cansed it--Gwendolen Overton in
Argonaut