Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-03-24

Cu2xk0 "a luQ A0<A(A00s \AAn00nu w
was the largest city | had ever beer
lin. and wandered about the plaza fol
d day or two quite lost IN the crowd
The Americanos were everywhere, anl
seemed 10 have pleaty OF money, AMI
10 own everything. and when thought
how our beautiful Mexico had belonged
to Did CASTLE befo.e an Englishmar
rad set foot on the soil hated the Up.
starts. ! soon found friends who felt
the same way that did, and we picked
quarrels with the gringos until tie pc.
lice interfered.
"One night, after had been thers
about week, we went to fandango
There l met my fate. took my seat
beside the most beautiful senorita that
had ever seen. She was not DARK
like our Coahuila bellies, but her head
glinted like the ripening wheat on the
uplands, and her eyes were a deep
dreamy blue. and her form-well, / lost
my heart. She threw back the man
tilla that covered her head and smiled
at me. This gave me courage, and
asked her to dance. l can never for
get the touch Of her hand. 1t gave me
a thrill that / had never before expe-
rienced. felt 1t often during the next
two weeks, but / have never known II
since. The next dance she gave to one
Of my friends, and, as they passed me,
she dropped a rose at my feet. Before
the night was over / knew all about
her. Her name was Maria Sepueveda,
and she was an heiress. OF course, she
had been much sought after, but as yet
had shown no decided preference for
any one. This was my chance. I was
as constant as her shadow. II she was
at fandango, / was there also, and
when there was no fandango, / would
take my mandolin and stand beneath
her window. In less than week had
told her all about the beautiful Boulson
de Mapimi, and, for you know we do
things quickly in our country, told
her that l loved her and she prom
ised-"
Diego paused. His passionate voice
was choked with sobs. Padre Sebas-
tiano stroked the bowed head, but did
not speak. In a moment the young
man resumed.
Such happiness could not last for
ever. 1t was too great. One night, and
l was to return home the next day, we
were at fandango. A party of Amer
icanos came in. One of them was 4
great man. He spent gold where
spent silver. He used to drink a great
deal and to gamble great deal more.
The senoritas liked him too well; but
/ hated him. He would show his gold
and diamonds, and was reported to be
a powerful hidalgo in his own land.
Well, Maria and 1 had enjoyed one
dance, and then this Americana asked
her to dance with him. did not think
she would do it, but you know, No ay
cerradura 81 Sc de orc la ganzua (there
is no lock If the key be golden). So
they went on the floor together. / saw
him whisper sweet words in her ear,
just as had done, and rattle the coins
in his pocket, and my heart became hot
within my breast. 1 wanted the next
dance, but Maria paid no attention to
me. She danced again with the gringo.
When they came near me l scowled. He
saw me and laughed sleering laugh
and said something in English. / did
not understand the language, but l did
know the word 'greaser.' Maria I'M
derstood him. She turned toward me
and laughed also. l could stand it no
longer / went outside into the cool
air. 1t did not cool me. / heard the
sound of music. 1t had no charms for
now and again, as l looked in, / saw
Maria still dancing with my enemy.
For hours l waited At length the
Americanos came out and walked to-
ward their hotel. There were three of
them. I followed like a cat. l could
have followed that man to the end Of
the earth. BY and by he stopped be-
hind his friends to light cigar. This
was what l wanted. In an instant my
knife was between his ribs. He fell
with a groan. His friends ran back,
and while they stopped to raise him
escaped in the darkness. I knew Chi
huahua as well as they. l hunted up
my friend Ramon, and told him all
about it.
Diego said he, they know you,
and you have killed great hidalgo.
You must get out of the city tonight
right away. You cannot go home, be-
cause the police will look for you there,
and the United States will never let the
matter rest
What shall l do?'
Take your horse and go across the
river. They will never look for you III
his country. Here is money. Your
father will repay me-
I'm another hour l was on my way.
thought that / would go to Santa Fe.
So told Ramon; but the blessed moth
er brought me to your mission. Padre.
will you turn me away?"
God forbid, my son. But did you
kill Senior Americana"
THAT cannot tell. I meant to-
1T is just as likely that you did not,
If you struck him only once. These
Americanos have many lives. Do you
ever think of Maria now"
"Oh, Padre, can 1 ever forget her?
Sometimes l have the ola love just as
bad as had it in Chihuahua, and some
times / think that IL she were here l
could kill her, too"
"You must put such thoughts away,
my son. If you have killed a man your
whole life must be one of repentance.
Do you repent?"
'I do indeed: and pray all the holy