Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-06-23
with The Price Of Blood,
A Mexican Woman's Dark Deed.

Sofa Vejar, simple child of guileless
race, believed in her very soul that
wealth would outweigh in the heart
of Antonio Mascavel the beauty Of
Refugio Garfias, great and renowned
though that might be. Therefore, and
for this only, did she sigh for riches
and hate poverty with which Provi-
dence had seen fit to curse her. For
Sofa was not beautiful, save for the
beauty that some find in firm chin
and powerful mouth, wide fore
head and deep eyes overset with
mighty brows-which may have their
charr, for the student of his kind but
not 70; a lover, and, least of all, for a
Mexican lover.
Antonio Mascavel preferred the type
of Refugio-small-feat red-lpped,
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 Ga briel The fame of the daugh-
ter of Gasfias had spread even among
the Americans, and when strangers
asked to be shown a beautiful MeXi-
can, they were taken to the home Of
Garfias, upon the outskirts. of Sonora
town. So it may be supposed that
Refugio had lovers. They came
from far and near, and from
every rank of California life.
There was an American whose fortune
was vast and as generously spent as
fortunes were in the early fffties; there
was an Englishman with a determia-
ation to have her at any cost, even at
that of q few lives-a tendency Of char
acter witch accounted for his presence
in the States and for his expatriation;
there were innumerable Mexicans, ran
cheers shop-keepers, desperadoes, and
gamblers All followed tanely and
suppliantly in Refugios train.
But she loved only Mascavel. She
admitted it at last to Senior Garfias,
when that wiry little creature demand
ed that she make a choice. The senior
was aghast. The possibility of it had
not occurred to him.
Antonio Mascavel!" he said. But
you 90 not know him."
Refugio nodded her little head. Eyes,
she said.
Of this Senior Garfias became grad
ually aware after he had protested for
hours and days, and after finding that
despite his prohibitions, despite close
supervision, his fair daughter and Mas
cavel were in constant communication.
Then he hunted up Antonio himself,
and he pleaded with him. cautiously
Full fD
big man ,. I'D g desnerlte one. But he,
too, inS !" 55red that he loved and when
all was said and done, it had gone no
farther than this, that they both loved,
and that wisdom might stand aside.
Garfias went with his baffled hopes
to Senior Vejar-the brother of Sofa.
The house of Vejar-a two-roomed
adobe which had never been white
washed-stood several hundred yards
further north along the road than that
of Gartias. 1t was the last one before
the open country, and had no neigh
bors.
Senior Veiar was much younger than
Garfias He had the same mighty
brow and powerful mouth that made
his sister hideouS 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
twarted will and plans. and implored
advice as he made cigarette.
IF it were not for the cursed laws
of the Gringoes; il things were as they
were in my youth, l could force my
own daughter to marry the man
pleased" he said.
Vejar shook his head. you cannot
do that" he answered.
What, then, shall I do?" Garfias
was moved to the point of tears. They
hung on his long black lashes and
dropped on his old blue overalls.
The situation was too complicated
to be set straight in moment. 1t was
not simplified by WEARS having his
own suit and chances to consider. Il
cannot advise you at once" he said;
II will think and will help you. if
can, in the morning" He took coua-
sci with his siSer when Garfias had
ridden away.
"Oh,@ snarled Sofa, ''the love of An
tonic! A thousand dollars would bury
it so deep that it would never rise
again"
Yet" said her brother. not under
standing women, you would be glad
to have it."
Tie deep eyes shone. She shrugged
her shoulders. Eyes, would be glad
to have It. And could have it for a
thousand dollars-perhaps less.