The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-13

ventured to promise that you would
extend your hospitality to him"
My house is at your service, senior"
the Mexican said, courteousIy. One
who has rendered so great a service to
my friend, Don Juan Sarasta, is my
friend also Christina, ring the bell
and tell the servants to bring hot water
and clothes. and then do you go to your
room while we attend to Don Juan's
injuries
The wounds proved to be by no
means serious; they were ali on the
forearm, and, having to pierce through
six or seven inches Of cloth had not
penetrated very far. They had. how
ever. bled freely and, although the
young man laughed at them as mere
scratches, he looked pale from the loss
of blood
"A few bottles of good wine and
shall be all right again"
must apologize for not having ask
ed you before" Senior Guzman said to
Harland, when the wounds. were ban
Gagged, hut have you supped?"
Yes, thank you, senior. I bought
some food ash came through the town,
and l ate it as 1 was waiting at the
port"
send for?'
I have kit-bag, which I will fetch
myself in the morning. 1t is out on the
plain. 1 did not care to bring it from
the town until I knew that the vessel I
came in had sailed. -
can lend you some things for the
night, Juan said. He is a little taller
than L am. but it win be near enough"
some wine and biscuits were now
brought in and sons excellent cigars
produced
Were they thieves that attacked
you, think you, Don Juan" his host
asked, after the latter had given de-
tailed account Of his adventure
I cannot say. but l own l have an
idea that it was my. life that they
wanted rather than my valuables. had
a fancy that man was following me,
ana went to see the man had spoken
to about the mules. Coming back
heard a whistle behind me, and twenty
yards further three men sprang out,
and one ran UP from behind. so that
don't think that it was a chance en-
counter
DO you suspect any one?"
The young Mexican hesitated a mo-
merit before he answered. mo, senior,
have no quarrel with any one"
do not see how. indeed. you could
have an enemy" Don Guzman said,
seeing that you have been here only a
fortnight; still, it is curious. However,
have no doubt that there are plenty
Of fellows in the town who would nut
knife between any mans shoulders
II they thought he was likely TO have a
few dollars in his pocket. Your watch
chain may has attracted. the eye of
one Of these fellows. and he may have
thought it, with the watch attached to
1t, well worth the trouble of getting it,
and would have considered it an easy
matter, with three comrades, to make /
short work Of you, though I own that
when you showed fight so determinedly |
wonder they did not make off, for, as
a rule, These fellows are rank cow
ards
VIII Harland observed that when the
don asked if Juan had any suspicious |
"a to the author of the attempt. Donna !
Christina, who had returned to the |
room when his wounds were dressed. |
glanced toward him, as if anxious to |
hear his answer. Putting that and the /
young Mexican's' momentary hesitation /
together, he at once suspected that both /
he and the girl had a strong idea as to (
who was at the bottom of this at
tempt. The subject was no further /
alluded to, the conversation turn /
ing upon the United States, /
which the Mexican |
asked Harland many questions. 1T is /
Z pity so great a distance divides US /
from them" he said. 1T is more effec- ,
tual than any ocean, and yet perhaps /
we were nearer neighbors your people !
would disturb out quiet life here They /
Ore restless, and forever pushing for {
Yard, while we abhor changes, and live /
s our fathers did 800 years ago. You 4
zee the mountains act as a barrier to Us,
md we have never even tried to ex-
and the territory we occupy beyond the (
; rip of land between the coast and the |
n lOuntains. and, indeed, that is ample
5ur us. Our population has decreased
rather than increased, since Mexico de-
claFed its independence in 1921, and took
what l have always considered, the ILL
advised step of expelling all the Span
So residents about six years ago"
Now that we in this province took
3Ly very active part in the civil sVars
that for ten years ragged in Central
Mexico, but although the Spanish au-
th3rities were bad masters, it must be
granted that, while they were here
thGre was more trade and commerce
than there has since been, and that the
advantages all expected to secure from
the revolution have by no means been
obtained 1t is curious that the same
HAS b6eu the case IN the Ol06r cOun-
tries that gained their independence
In Central America there are constant
troubles, in Peru things nave gone
backward rather than forward. ana
Chile alone shows signs of enterprise
and advancement However, these
things do not concern US greatly; we
live by the land and not by the trade;
we have all we want, or can desire, and
i've like the patriarchs Of old on cur
1Ocl;s and herds"
Don Juan's father, a man Of vigor
and courage, has shown more erter-
prise than any Of us. for before the
beginning Of the troubles he moved far
Up c. valley running into the heart of
the mountains, and established himself /
there. He had large flocks and herds,
and his land was insufficient to support
hem, and, in spite of the warnings Of
all his friends. he determined to move.
So far he has proved himself a wise