The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-14

woman was in bed, muttering over her
beads. She shook her head to Gaspar's
impassioned demand that she go to bis Sis
ter.
1T am too ILL.," she moaned. LET me
alone. The young get well by themselves
and have plenty to nurse them. But who
looks after old Brigida? l dared not go
near the town lest they kill me. and have
had no food for three days"
II will carry you on my horse"
'It would shake me to death. I should
be dead before we get there"
'"rhen for the love of God, give me med-
cine"
II have not seen her, How" Then
terrified by the menace in the mans eyes
she slid out of bed and tottered over 10
the shelf. She held several walls in sue
cession to her eyes. then handed one to
Gaspar. at is fever, 1 suppose, give her
this"
Gaspar seized the vial and ran out, I'M
needing the words she flung after him, and
the old woman returned to her bed.
AS soon as Gaspar reached home, he
poured the contents of the vial down his
sisters throat. She shrieked in agony. and
it was an hour before she was exhausted
and the terrible discord over. Then she
sank into a heavy sleep. and a few mo-
ments later burst into a cold sweat.
"She will wake no more" said one of the
old crones, who still swarmed about the
sick bed, like so many turkey buzzards.
at is the death-sweat."
The two brothers exchanged a glance.
then without a word. left the hut together.
An hour later they Were laundering
through the Sandy Canyon on their mus
tangs and leading another When they
reached the hut Gaspar descended ana
flung open the door with his fist. The old
woman lifted her head eagerly, then cow
cred as she saw his face.
"She is not better?' she asked.
"She Is dead; and you have killed her.
SAY, dos! Why did not you listen? You
gave it to her all at once, and 1t made her
mad! But she will be better: she will be
better. 1 swear it,"
"She is dead" repeated Gaspar. monot-
onously. "Will you come with me quietly,
or do we carry your"
81 never go with you, never-never! Ay!
yip'
Gaspar caught her up in his arms. and
though she struggled and kicked and even
bit him, he carried her out and bound her
on the extra horse with little more effort
than If she had been quiescent. She tried
to scream, but her voice was feeble, and
there was no one but the two young men,
frantic with grief and lust for vengeance.
to hear.
They rode the long length Of the canyon,
leaving it halfway down the bend where
the walls sloped gently up to road leading
to the town. But they did not go TO the
town, they spurred their mustangs ana
rode rapidly for the mesa. Once Francisco
gave a sharp exclamation, and pointed TO
a road far on the other side of the can
yon, and near the coast: it was the road
that led to La Paz. Three people We're
riding rapidly in the direction of San Ma
teo; two men and a woman, the latter In
nuns attire. Gaspar pulled in his horse
and narrowed his eyes. He was very far
sighted.
YES" he cried in moment ''It is
Pope, the doctor, and the nurse. They
come to deathbed. Ay, Dios! Dios!" and
the young men rode on furiously.
Finally they paused and looked about
them. Nothing could be seen on four sides
but the great level mesa, the harmony of
its surface broken only by rocks. cacti,
palms and cocoa trees. The silence was
absolute. In the dark blue sky hung the
golden sun
Gaspar and Francisco dismountsd. teth-
cred their horses, then united Brigida end
stood her on the ground. She fell In a
heap, wringing her hands. and muttering
her prayers. So merciless was the glare
Of the sun that she closed her eyes Tight