The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1898-08-20
WITH THE
PRICE OF BLOOD.

~ OLA WEAR, simple child of
gulleless race, believed In her very
~ soul that wealth would outweigh
In the heart of Antonio Mascavel the
beauty of Refugio Gartias, great and
renowned though that might be.
Therefore, and for this only, did she
sigh for riches and hate the poverty
with which Providence had sect fit to
curse her For Sofa was not beautiful,
save for the beauty that some find In a
firm chin and powerful mouth, a wide
forehead and deep eyes oyerset with
mighty brows-which may have their
charm for the student of his kind, but
not for lover. and, least of ALL for a
Mexican lover.
Antonio Maseayel preferred the type
of Refugio-small-featu red-lipped,
soft-eyed, graceful, and lovely as a
dark Venus. And his opinion was also
that of the surrounding country, of the
city of Los Angeles, and the mission of
San Gabriel. The fame of the daugh-
ter of Garfas had spread even among
the Americans, and when strangers
asked to be shown beautiful Mexi-
can, they were taken to the house Of
Garfias, upon the outskirts OF Sonora
town. SO 1t may be supposed that Re
fugio had lovers. They came from far
and near, and from every rank of Call
fornia life. There was an American
whose fortune was vast and as gener-
ously spent as fortunes were In the ear
ly fiftles; there was an Englishman
with n determination TO have her at
any cost, even at that of few lives-a
tendency of character which accounted
for his presence In the States and for
his repatriation; there was n priest who
was eating out his wretched soul for
her. and who had so far fallen from
grace as to have told her so; there were
innumerable Mexicans, ranchers, shop
keepers, desperadoes, and gamblers. All
followed tamely and suppllantly in Re-
fuglo's train.
But she loved only Mascavel She adj
mitted 1t Mt last to Senior Garflas. when
that wiry little creature demanded that
Hic liAhE u NhplACs ut bShpA oho
aghast. The possibility Of 1t had not
occurred to him.
"AntonIo Mascavelr he said. But
you do not know him."
Refuglo nodded her little head. ST.
she said.
where have you seen himP
She was not minded to tell of the
meetings in the willow-hldden bed of
the arroyo so she held her peace.
But the man Is bad character. He
is n gambler"
Still Refuglo was silent. There must
be better arguments than faults, Vices
or crimes to bring against the unan-
swerable one that woman loves.
or this Senior Gartias became grad
ually aware after he had protested for
hours and for days, and after finding
that despite his. prohibitions, despite
Mascavel were In constant communi-
cation.
Then he hunted out Antonio himself
where he sat playing Mt cards in the
bar-room of the Lafayette, and he
pleaded with him, courteously and re-
spectfully, for Mascayel was a big
man and a desperate one. But he, too
that he loved, and when all
was said and done, 1t had gone no far
Their than this, that they both loved,
and that wisdom might stand aside.
Garflas went with his baffied hopes
to Senior Wharf.-The brother OF Sofa.
The house of Vejar-a two-romed adobe
which had never been whltewashed-
stood several hundred yards farther
north along the road than that of Gar
fas. 1t was the last one before the
open country, and had no nelghbors.
Senior Vejar was much younger than
Garflas. He had the same mighty brow
and powerful mouth that made his sis
ter hldeous to race that loves all
things gentle and gracious. He was
one of those who pinned for Refugio, but
her father did not know this So he
told him the whole story of his thwart-
ed will and plans, and implored advice
as he made a cigarette.
IF II were not for the cursed laws of
the Gringoes; II things were as they
were in my youth, l could force my
own daughter to marry the man |
pleased" he said.
Nejar shook his head. You can not
do that" he answered.
What, then, shall DOR Garfias
was moved to the point of tears. They
hung on his long black lashes and drop
ped on his old blue overalls.
The situation was too complicated TO
he set straight In moment. 1t was
not simpllGed by WEARS having his
own suit and chances TO consider. II
can not advise you at once" he said; II
viii think and VIII help you, If can. In
the morning" He took counsel with
his sister when Gartias had ridden
away
OH" snarled Sola. "the love Of An
tonic! \ thousand dollars would bury
II so deep that it would never rise
again"
Yet said her brother, not under
standing woman. you would be glad
TO have it,
The deep eyes shone. She shrugged
her shoulders. Yes. would be glad
to have II. And cOuld have II for a
thousand dollars-perhaps less"
al that cost you must be content TO
50 without it. What advice shall
give 10 Don Garfias?"
How should know? Let him see
10 his own troubles. and he glad that
your sister is not so beautiful that you
t.oxa No t.ao.a t.ao,,,a ~ haru