Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-05-13
WITH THE
PRICE OF BLOOD.

PklCE OE BLOOD.
~ OLA VEJ.AR. simple child of a
~ guilelcss 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 Sola was not beautiful,
save for the beauty that some find in a
firm chin and a powerful mouth, q wide
forehead and deep eyes overset with
mighty brows-which may have their
charm for the student of his kind, but
not for a lover, and, least Of all, for q
Mexican lover.
of Refugio-small-f featured. r%ed-lipped,
s%oft-eyed, graceful, and lovely as q
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 Gnrtias had spread ever among
the Americans. and when strangers
asked to he shown n beautiful McxA
can, they were taken to the house of
Gartias, 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 Cali
fOrnia life. There was an American
whose fortune was vas and as gener-
ously spent as fortunes were in the ear
~ tifties; there was an Englisilman
with a determination to have her at
any cost. even at that Of a few lives-a
tendency Of character which accounted
for his presence in the States and for
his repatriation; there was u 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 suppliantly in Re-
fugi0's train.
But she loved only Mascavel. She ad-
mitted it at last to Senior Gartias, when
that wiry little creature demanded that
she make a choice. The senior was
aghast. The possibility Of it had not
occurred to him.
antonio M%ascavel!" he said. But
you do not know him.
Refugio nodded her little head. ssh
she said.
where have YOU seen him?"
She Was not minded to tell of the
meetings in the willow-hidden bed of
the arroyo, so she held her peace.
But the MAI is Il bad character. He
is a gambler"
Still Refugio was silent. There must
be better arguments than faults, vices.
or crimes to bring against the unan-
swerable one that Il woman loves.
OF this Senior Gartias became grad
ually aware after he had protested for
hours and for days. and after finding
that despite his prohibitions, despite
close supervision, his fair daughter and
Mascayel We're In constant commune
cation.
Then he hunted out Antonio himself
where he sat playing ut cards in the
bar-room of the Lafayette. and he
pleaded with him. co%urteously and re-
spcctfully, for Mascavel was a big
man and a desperate one. But he, too.
answered that he loved. and when all
was said and done. it had gone no far
ther than this, that they both loved,
and that wisdom might stand aside.
Garfias went with his baff1ed hopes
to Senior Vejar-the brother of Sofa.
Thehouse of Vejar-a twO-romed adobe
which had been whitewashed-
stood several hundred yards farther
north along the road than that of Gar
fias. 1t was the last one before the
open country, and had no neighbors.
Senior Vejar was much Younger than
Garlias. He had the same mighty brow
and powerful mouth that made his sis
ter hideOus to n race that loves all
things gentle and gracious. He was
one OF those who pinned for Refugio. hut
her father did not know this. So he
told him the whole story of his tLwart-
ed will ard plans. and implorcd advice
as he made IL cigarette.
IF it were not for the cursed laws of
the Gringoes; if things were as they
were in my youth, i could force my
OWL daughter TO marry the man l
pleased" he said.
Tciar shook his head. "You can not
do that" he answered.
What. then. shall 1 do? Garias
was moved to the point of tears. They
hung on his long black lasles and drop
ped on his old blue overalls.
The situation was too complicated TO
be set straight in n moment. 1t was
not simpliticd by WEARS having his
own suit and chances to consider. II
can not advise you at once" he said: II
will think and will help you, II l can, in
the morning." He took counsel with
his sister when Garfias had ridden
away.
"Oh!" srarled Sofa. "the love of An.
tonic! a thousand dollars would bury