Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-07-15
win lps Price Of Blood.
A Mexican woman's Dark Deed.


Sofa vejar, simple child Of a guileless
race, believed in her yerY5Doul that
wealth would outweigh iHthe 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 At 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
charm for the student Of his kind, but
not fo' a lover, and, least Of all, for a
Mexican. lover.
Antonio Mascavel preferred the type
of Refugio-small-fea 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 Gsbriel. The fame Of the daugh-
ter Of Garfas had spread even among
the Americans, and when strangers
asked to be shown beautiful Next
can, they were taken to the home Of
Gartlas, 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 az
fortunes were in the early fifties; there
was On Englishman with determin-
alton to have her at any cost, even ct
that Of few lives--a tendency Of char
acter which accounted for his presence
in the States and for his repatriation;
there were innumerable Mexicans, ran
chers. shop-keepors. desperadoes, and
gamblers. All followed tamely and
suppljantly in Refugio's train.
But she loved only Mascavel. She
admitted 1t at last to Senior Garfias,
when that wiry little creature demand
ed that she make choice. The senior
was aghast. The possibility of 1t had
not occurred to him.
Antonio Mascavel!" he said. But
you 90 not know him."
Refugio nodded her little head. Eyes,
she said.
or this Senior Garfas 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 no pleaded with him. courteously
and respectfully. for Mascavel was a
big man and desperate one. But be,
too, answered that he loved and when
all was said and done, II had gone no
farther than this, that they both loved,
and that wisdom might stand aside.
Garfias went with his bafiled 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 Garfias. Itswas the last one before
the open country, and had no neigh
bors.
Senior Vejay was much younger than
Garfias. He had tue 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 uade cigarette.
IF II were not for the cursed laws
OF the Gringoes; IL things were as they
were in my youth, could force my
own daughter to marry the man I
pleased" he said.
vejar shook his head. you cannot
do that" he answered.
what, then. shall do?" Garflas
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. II was
not simplified by WEARS having his
own suitRnd chances TO consider. Il
cannot advise you at once" he said;
II will think and will help you, II
can. In the morning" He took coun-