The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-07


more sentimental than was customary
with MIN, and gazed tenderly after the
small. crlmson-clad figure OF Conchita
as she disappeared en- route to her dress
ing room. He waited to have another
copita before Joining her, however. think
ing that she would thereby have more
time to get wrapped up and be ready for
MN Wnen he did come. He was going to
take her home afterward and talk TO her
FOR an hour or so-Ionger she would not
permit. So, after tossing off the copIta
VI brandy. he lit a cigarette and moved
OH towards the dressing room.
strangled shrek Of "Dios Mic. HeIpr.
reached him as he turned the corner
thinking II came from the dancing room
he paid no attention 1t was repeated.
and he recognized Conchas voice He
ran to her room. She was struggling "a
the furious grasp Of Antonio who was
swearing by all the saints that she should
never marry the Gringo: she must marry
hlm' Antonio. who loved her. To the devil
with the Americana
Infatuated beyond all control. Hewitt
hunS himself upon the drunken Mexican
ana slammed him against the wall. shak-
Ing him as terrier would a rat Pant
ing. with his eyes cleaning murderously
ANTONIO made no resistance whatever for
a moment Suddenly, however he ntads
a spring forward. and Hewitt felt some
thing cold and sharp just Craze his coat
machete, the Mexican dog And trough
he never knew how 1t happened. and
could never account for Il, In the twink
ling OF an eye, that same machete waJ
IN MS own grasp, and he was thrusting
it straight home to the heart Of ths
would-be murderer. There was only a
sickening gurgle, a last dying curse, and
Antonio. in limp, bloody heap, fell dying
on the floor. 1t was over 80 soon. and
ut ho
could not grasp what 1t meant-that he
had really killed Antonio.
Conhca had crouched, trembling AMI
sobbing. watching it all with terror
stricken face. Now she moved and came
forward weakly to Hewitt. throwing her
arms around his heaving shoulders
you must go. querido mio she whis-
pered. brokenly. 'It is dangerous-they
will kill you. Then go, por el amor de
Dios. But quickly-run!" She knew the
danger. as Hewitt could not.
His first thought was to brave It out.
He had not meant to kill Automobile
could get off free. But how could he
prove it? Concha loved hin-her test-
mony would not be taken! Besides, he, an
American, had killed a Mexican, and
whether rightful1y or not would never b.
considered. AS he began to realize what
1t meant. Hewitt shivered! There would
be no trial-no show whatever. The ley
de fuga'-a lynching party. or perhaps a
stab In the dark. Because vengeance IS
Of the Mexicans!
There was no time TO lose If he meant
going. Now, they were all drunk. as
Concha whispered. and would know nth
ing. He would have time to escape. But
in the morning 1T would be different. Oh.
he must go-heei
AS they embraced for good-by, Concha
murmured, weeping that she would al
fol al I,fy ,ufu
he came. And wrought up to a high
pitch. as he realized at last how the girl
loved him. Hewitt swore that he would
return And then, with a last kiss, he
went.
Then Concha knelt down by the dead
Antonio, wetting her skirt in the blood.
Because she had caught the sound Of ap-
preaching footsteps-soon 1t would ba
known and Hewitt would be pursued.
caught-killedi They should never take
hina-her beloved novio-f1rst they should
take her-her life, If need be!
It all came out as she had thought.
Hewitt got safely out of the way. but
she was tried and convicted for the muir
der of her cousin, Antonio It means
hanging. or a life sentence. generally.
| but in view OF the circumstances. and her
youth and heretofore perfect character.
| Concha got only twenty-five years in San
Juan. She accepted gladly-for the
Americana And before imprisonment.
she was allowed to write Hewitt. telling
him that she would love him always and
would walt for him and marry him in
twenty five years. She knew that no
answer would come to her in San Juan.
but she wanted to write him Of her con-
stancy. Hewitt. of course. would have
understood had he received her letter.
which being addressed simply TO Senior
Hewitt. los Estados Unidos del Norte.'
never got to him. But Concha. believing
that everybody in the United States, from
the president down to the train porters.
must know her sweetheart, and would
deliver her letter, went gladly TO serve
out her prison terms. believing firmly that
in twenty-five years he would come. And-
that is what has kept her alive-and
sane For that, however. few women die
in San Juan, in spite of the yellow fever
more often they go mad!
Hewitt in the meantime, his wild oats
sown, has married his sweetheart with
money! and Is a most exemplary husband.
At rare intervals he thinks of Concha
and wonders what was her fate. Possibly
married to some brute of a Mexican. no
thinks who beats and otherwise Ill
treats her And of course. she is fat and
ungainy and has a mustache! That be-
ing the very last straw, he says pitylpgly:
Poor little Conchita' and promptly
forgets all about her. Meanwhile in the
prison of San Juan de Ulloa. Concha
waits!