The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-07
THE OPAL SKULL.

frultlesSnesS0 OF life there Is none Ike unto
the southern portion of the Colorado river.
Other rivers, notably such one as the
ella, may flow through as barren a coun-
try, but the desolation is different. 1t Is
suggestive of what is yet to be, while the
Colorado, at the south, rolls lifelessly
through land Mat is Of past so hope
lessly dead, so far away, that there is mel
ther memory of it remaining nor chance of
resurrection of its vanished bones. There
seems always to be visible from its banks
If banks they can be called-somc faint,
blue gray mountain peak off In the dis
lance, beyond the plain with it's rare
groups of cottonwoods and It's occasional
lonely adobe. And there is something that
makes one sad and restless in the sight of
those misty lines of mountains, something
a thousandfold more depressing than in u
prairie that meets its own unbroken hori-
ION.
Evening, which seems the only time
that should ever be there, was coming
upon this country Of forgotten cons. There
was no color anywhere. The yellow of the
sky was only a pale glimmer over the
whitening blue, the green of tho trees was
uullcu ny UHc utiSu uilN uIo INliiSlt, uH5
country was level, dun stretch and tho
mountains, far, far away, were only II
shading Of uncertain blue. There was but
one house in sight, an adobe 400 yards Or
less from the river but there was no sign
or sound Of life except the quiet rattling of
the cottonwood leaves in the evening wind.
Yet in among the willows by the river
was Il small, canvas covered wagon. Two
thin bronchos were hobblsd near by, and Il
man was gathering sticks fort fire. There
was little dry wood so near the stream,
and he went out into the open in front of
the adobe. He was in no hurry. All the
night was before him. SO he stood, with his
thumbs hooked in his cartridge belt, look
ing at the house. He wondered if it would
be worth his while to make the acquaint-
ance 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 disliked dirt. 1t was ques-
Sien in his autna whether a blanket under
the wagon would not be preferable. And
while he debated the fiat board door of the
adobe opened, and woman came out. She
was slender, therefore she was young. So
reasoned the man, who knew Mexicans.
More than that he could not see. After
time she went back into the house, and he
fell to gathering sticks.
When the moon rose and he, having fin
ishcd his supper, was sitting beside the
dying campfire, peacefully smoking, the
low willows parted and the girl of the
adobe stood near him. She was pretty in
the ideal Mexican way-red and full lip
ped, brightly colored, large eyed, with two
great braids of purple black hair, and she
was dressed with surprising neatness in a
fresh white frock and crude pink ribbons
"Ah, l beg your pardon, senior l knew
note Eat you wear hier, y she cried, starting
back.
The man arose. He was aware that it
was totally improbable that she had not
seen him when she had been standing in
the doorway. He was also aware that she
must have observed the smoke of his fire
Nevertheless he spoke and said 'Senorita,
l will go away" And he stood quite still
"Ah, no! Eet must be me to go" And
she, too, stood still "Ect ees Eat come
each night hicr to sect, an knew note Eat
you wear HER." she repeated.
at gives me much pleasure to see you.
Will you not sit here with mei" He 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 himself at her feet, leaning
upon one elbow, offered her cigarette.
Her name, 1t 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-re-
spondcd with only enough reserve to keep
up the illusion Of Irritation. Principles of
severity may flourish upon mountain
heights, may withstand great temptation,
but on the southern prairies of summer
night when the moon is full and shedding
gold light through the willows, and a slew
river trieklcs by, and the only voices are
those Of the crickcts and Of a Mexican
woman, and the woman is beautiful, mo-
rality is at ebb tide, and principles melt like
hard, white pearls in wine. Here in the
half tropic southwest, with an unwise
child of Ii, 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 her," she said, "een Eat
house But wen I twelf years am to
San Diego go to school, an zerc Eenglish
learn, l speak note much Ecnglish now,
for zat l have only my muzzer an my
bruzzer, who zey speake but Spanish, an
Carlos he can Ecnglsh speake, but he like
pct note
"Who is Carlos, sweetheart"
He ces my sweetheart, vat l to marry
him am"
"Where is he?' The young man drew a
little away and sat erect
He ees at re mines in Conception. He
haf one mine for him, an he wcel be some
time reech. He come to see me 10 Sunday
Do you note Spanish spaake-talk, sare1"
"No; just few words. And where is
your brotherf'
He ces zis night far away. He wcel
tolnorro weeth Carlos come hack
Lowell understood He resumed gradu-
ally his posture of alteration, When the
cigarettes " ere 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.
So they sat, to all purposes alone in the
prairie she with her black head upon his