The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-29

From The Argonaut.
"It is most wonderful! Nay, more, n is
marvellous. miraculousl Why, hundred
hurros could not draw so great load.
No. not even hundred OF the best horses
OF Las Delicias Come, my friend, let us
instantly depart. OF truth IL Us the work
OF the Evil One himself, andNto remain
longer would be 10 endanger the welfare
OF our souls. Let us never have railroads
I'm our MexlcN!
Don Enrique was n provincial Mexican
gentleman who had iourneyed I'm that
good. old fashioned conveyarce. rattle
trap OF a diligencla, from his far away
rancho 10 the frontier town Of Paso del
Norte, where he had been persuaded, not
a little against his will, 10 accompany
friend 10 FL Paso, on the Texas side or
the Rio Grande, there Go view the won
ders being wrought by the Americans The
first railroad TO enter El Paso had just
been completed. and he saw for the nrst
time In his life that wonderful machine
steam locomotive. Its strange noises fill
cd him with alarm: the foul smoke pour
ing from its stacks almost strangled him.
and, awe stricken by its miraculous
strength. he finally gave expression TO
hts emotions, as shown above. He turned
a deaf ear TO the laughing remonstrances
OF his friend, meanwhile piously crossing
himself, and insisted upon immediately
returning 10 the Mexican side OF the riv-
er; there, he felt, they would be safe from
the malignant influence Of the diabohcai
machine And upon arriving In Paso del
Norte. lost no time In starting back home,
it was With heavy heart; he WAS oppress-
ed with the fear that he had committed
a heino1s sin.
A few months later he was informed
that concession for the construction OF
a railroad I'm Mexico had been granted 10
eric. M hGr
held up his hands in speechless horror.
Regainlng use of his tongue, he de-
nOunced the impious government OF his
country I'm terms both vigorous and pict-
uresque. but that accomplished nothing;
, and when the engineers who located the
! line OF the road entered the bounds OF Las
Delicias he used all the diplomacy at his
I command TO turn them aside, but 10 no
effect. for the road was surveyed 10 pass
within a mile of his house.
In due time the graders came, n motley
crowd of rude rough men who laughed
i'm his face, and with many an outburst
of impotent rage he saw them tear an
ugly trench across the breadt.. Of Las
Delicias. Then came the track layers, and
he raved and stormed like one beside him
self as the lines OF glittering rails crcpt
up to and past his home; and he crossed
: himself IN piouS horror at sight Of the
telegraph wires. He was not i'm the least
Modified when the railroad company paid
! him a good. round sum for its right OF
way across his property, and rejected
with suburb gesture of scorn the annual
pass that was also rendered him.
mo, no. senor," he exclaimed indig-
nantly; II was powerless TO prevent this
desecrat ton of my beloved country. but
did what l could. AS yet the Infamous
government has not enacted laws COM
pellng me 20 patronize your railroad, and
| until that be done neither ] nor my fam
! lily. nor yet my servants shall imperil
! their souls by going near your trains
! Take back the pass 10 those who sent IT,
and tell them that l. Enrique del Toro
f, do execrate il and them"
Don Endique's opposition gave the Off
! cials of the road but little concern; his
WAS only one OF many cases. Nevertheless
! IL was decided TO propitiate him by estab-
| fishing station convenient 10 his use,
ard a neat frame building was erected
not far from his house. When the time
arrived TO select man to have charge OF
this station. Bob" Evans. man who
was a thorough railroader and with a
reputation for coclness and nerve. but
who was utterly lacking in respect for
Mexicans. was chosen. He was not the
man 20 make overtures of friendship "a
Don Enrique. most decidedly aot-and
Don Enrique would have repelled such
overtures had they been made. Weeks
passed. with each seeming 10 be insensi-
BILE OF the others existence; but there
were agencies at work that were destined
soon 10 break down the barriers between
them.
One morning a vaquero galloped madly
l. 20 the hacienda. bringing Don Enrique
the terrifying news that q large war