The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-04-16
SRleet Stpru.
PERRo-
A TALE OF THE CERRo QUEMADo.*
From Illustrated American

''It is said you desire mozo, senor.
DR.. Wallace looked up impatiently. He
was an important man at best and could
better pardon anything than what he
pleased to term an unwarranted Interrupt
ton, and, unless you allowed him to ad-
dress you first, you were apt to be guilty
of one, in the worthy doctor's opinion.
''Dog p said he with an ominous scowl
at the slight brown figure before him,
oblivious of the fact that he had stood
there hesitatingly, sombrerO in hand, for
perhaps quarter Of an hour. Dog,
could you not wait until | had finished p
1t would have puzzled the doctor to
have told what was the thing he would
have finished, except, perhaps, that it
might have been the digestion Of his din
ner, bnt that was minor detail that did
not merit his attention.
Pardon, senior, | had not meant-E
did not think -
You did not think ! None Of you do;
it is like you Indian peTos. You who
have no capacity for thought, cannot ap-
preciate such thing. | would say you
were brainless had | not carved so many
Of you
IL will retire, senor
'lou will remain where you are. That
is like you, too, faith ! You would retire
to come again, that again you might in
terrupt me. No. Now that the mischief
is done, at least remain to give your ex-
cuse.
Il had heard that you wished a
mozo.
And, if | do-do you know of one?'
II do but speak for myself, senior. y
You mozo You-do you call your
self man? Why, you are a child-a
spear Of grass-a reed that has not yet
budded. How many years do you claim,
sir?'
MY mother could not tell that, senor.
am young, but strong and faithful. "
The doctors frown relaxed. 1t was
with almost good -natured smile that he
regarded the Indian boy, who stood ner-
vously tapping sandaled foot and thumb
ing his straw sombrero. AS the smile
broadened, betraying the truly tender
heart that lay beneath the gruff exterior,
the doctor glanced up at the smoking peak
that was outlined against the distant hori-
zon and for moment drank in the beau
ties of purple and bronze with which the
sinking sun dyed it. Then he lightly
rose from his hammock. Laying one hand
on the boys shoulder, and with the other
pointing toward the distant peak, he said
You say you are faithful. Suppose
now, that | employed you. Suppose that
| asked you to scale yonder peak and by
sunrise to bring me mineral found
there --'
What is the mineral, senor?''
1T is a yellow substance that boils up
from the volcano. 1t is that which burns
with blush light--''
And a smell that is like Inferno?'
The doctor laughed. Yes; that is
what we call sulphur.
Then | will bring it to you.
Ere the doctor could protest he had
gone.
'sWell, well, the doctor muttered, If
he does he will make ii good retriever;
but these dogs take lot of breaking.
With which he returned to his seat in the
hammock, and banishing the Indian boy
from his thoughts resumed the interrupted
task of digestion.
The doctor was wont to call punctuality
the foremost of the virtues. He loved
punctuality-in others. That he did not
practice it more himself was always the
fault of circumstances He knew he pos
sessed its essence in more than an ordi-
nary degree; and he was fond Of looking
forward to the time when that grim mon
ster, circumstance, will allow him to ex-
ercise it. Next to punctuality, in the
Doctors mind was the virtue of early
rising, and of this he was sometimes
guilty.
The first faint streaks of amber were
tinging the eastern edge of the sky, as he
opened his eyes the next morning. He
sprang from his bed of stretched rawhide,
threw the door wide open to fill his lungs
with the cool, bracing air, bathed and
rubbed himself vigorously, and dressed in
great good humor, pleased to know he had
beaten the sun and so stolen an hour from
life s handicap
Juan, you rascalr he shouted !;
Juan, lazy dog, would you sleep all day?'
''Comins, senior, coming
Juan was the doctor bodyguard, his
cook, and at times his master. For the
doctor feared to lose him, and by good
luck Juan had found this out and used it
to advantage
He presently appeared in the doorway.
"What is it now, Senior Doctor?'
''My coffee and cheese. Would you
have me starve p
"Till l have the time to prepare them,
yes; but it will not be long waiting. F."
"Not long waiting, SON of dog
Why should he keep nae waiting p
II have heard the good doctor say the
world was not made in minute, and
smiling, the worthy Juan disappeared.