The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-01-05
CHAPALA.
BY A. M. BARNES.
A%%o~ese~ee@~e~~eAeee~eee

Chapala Perez had come into. thu
stpatio' or court of the hotel at Dur
ango, where Hunts party was staying
for a few days. He had t'burros'
(doDkeys) to hire, by the day OF by
the hour, as the riders chose. Chapals
had some fair-looking burros, gray and
sleek, and apparently receiving not
only care but kindness. This was TN,
usual for Mexican burros AS a gen,
eral thing this patient and lougsuter.
ing little animal had the least care and
the hardest Of times. Afterward il
came ont that Chapala did not really
own the doakeys. They belonged to
the man for whom he worked.
It had seemed strange that Chapala
should have so much of worldly pos
session since he was in appearance the
shabbiest of mortals. His sombrero
had seer long and heavy service and
Topped about his ears like the wings
of some great bird tired of flying.
Eere aud there through the thread
worn blanket was a CLEAN of his shirt,
Lghler in coloring. though not so
from cleanliness. His neither gar
ments came but little more than half
way down between knees and ankles,
while the roughest Of s:guaraches'
(sandals) were attached to his feet.
''The fellow is a regular oo:npatch
scacecrown' announced Hunt one day
from the balcony of the hotel, where
he sat overlooking the patio.
ssHush, Hunt" said Helen, his
sister; ''the poor thing may under
stand English and hear you, and it
will hurt his feelings"
feelings, repeated Hunt, and in
cautiously raising his voice. "Why,
what does such a fellow as that know
Of feelings? No more, I'm sure, than
the perro yonder," pointing to one Of
the hotel dogs as he spoke.
At that moment Chapala dropped
his head and seemed in earnest con-
yereation with a gentleman who had
drawn near to speak to him about the
burros. =
The next day there was a long
mountain trip on burros that had been
z planned o. Z 20. :
himself among the number. As he
epproached to mount Hunt saw that
Chapala had charge of the donkeys.
He thought no more of it until they
were returning-were halfway home,
in fact then he had cause to remem-
Der it all his life.
They were moving along narrow
trail in tie mountains. Above them
rose the sheer face OF the cliff many
hundreds of feet, below them dropped
the precipitous sides ofthe gorge, even
deeper. Itrequired cautious riding.
A step Or two out of the path and
donkey and rider would go plunging
over the precipice. Hunt had fingered
for another view Of magnificent
mountain lion crouching on a ledge
across the chasm. Thus he had fallen
behind to the ,xtent that he was now
the last Of the party-or, that IS, the
last with the exception Of Chapala who
rode directly behind him.
Suddenly, as they were passing in
front OF q great bowlder, and it needed
more alertness than ever to ride safely,
Hunt heard the words, distinctly
muttered into his ear:
81 hate you!'
':He turned swiftly yet cautiously.
There was Chapa'a's burro pressed as
near to his own as it could be with
safety, and Chapala himself leaning
forward, his face distorted. his lips
wo,king as with some uncomfortable
emotion.
81 hate YOU" he repeated, ani
Hunt.if not Helen, knew that Chapal:
understood English. II could cas-
you down from the rock. and I willn
Who is to know but that the donkey
slipped with you! Whose body vii
be as the dogs then, unfit for ever
the birds to eat?''
He sprung from his donkey anc
made the movement to catch Hunt;
bride rein. But the boy was tot
Quick for him. It was daring thins
to do, but Hunt was equal to it, Civ
ing his burro sharp cut, he plunged
forward, keeping the animals heat
with a firm grip close against the-wall
In few moments he had come in sigh
of the rest of the party. They though
him crazy when they saw him urgin!
his burro so madly toward them, ant
called to him that if he valued his lii
and theirs to stop. He reined III
safely within few feet Of them, an,
when those more familiar with hin
severely reprimanded him he onl.
smiled and kept his own counsel.
Somehow Hunt never mentioned th
matter, not even to Helen. He fel
really ashamed of the part he ha'
played. He had had no right to cal
the boy cornield scarecrow and t.
announce SO positively that he had n
more feelings than dog. 1t was no
only cruel--it was contemplate
H1nt could see it all plainly now
There was better feeling stirrin
within him, Z feeling that urged hil
to seek Chapala and make humbl
confession. But would he receive it
It was Roger Arnold, Hunts par
ticula: chum, who proposed, nigh
or two later, aud just after supper
49, that they should go and watch tn
Ss.lac"an" hunters.
There is no dangar--that is oess
lookeron, if he is careful"-sssure
Roger. 1T is only the hunter WI
Suus the risk.