Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-12-12

who had not slept, and looked at heT
in a manner she had never seen before.
"The pinata-have you forgotten,
stupid? Tonight is not Christmas
eve, no, no! But we're going to have
a pinata, anyhow. Everybody is COM
ing-you will invite them yourself,
big stupid. I'll fill the jar with the
sweetest things you ever saw, and
we'll all have a knock at it."
Federico vas mounting his horse
yonder, and riding away to inspect
some fields, and return in the evening.
She was confused, and could say no
more, but pasted and pasted. The
pinata was put away then, with a
sigh, in a corner of the kitchen, and
she sat down beside it and dreamed
for an hour.
At ten Benjamin called her out be-
hind the low white walls. 1t was
very hot and she came in the big
straw hat. It's ribbons were red, and
hung across her shoulders with her
hair, or blew with it languidly. There
stood her cousin and Roberto, look
ing like sick men, but stern. They
seized her hands and bound them
with ropes. She cried out a little.
but was too proud to beg for any
thing. Then they led her to the ruins.
She was terrified, but she defied
them. She laughed at them, as she
went, dragged On; and they but
turned smoldering Eyes or her.
The ruins were lonely. Only the
all-powerful sun looked on the mys-
| terious avenue of the race long dead.
They tied her, standing, to the col.
umn of a ruined temple, in the sun.
"Tell me now,'' said Benjamin,
slowly, all the evil of his nature look
ing from his burning eyes, did you
give me your owe at the feet of that
god?"
"And if you say yes" said Roberto,
his voice like the ring of iron, "then
are you traitor to me-"
"And if you say no, then are you
traitor to me-" echoed her cousin.
She was very white and could not
move her hands, which, tied behind
her, hurt her. big stupids!" she
dared, throwing defiance at them.
you think you have me c%ornered.
Ha! ha! Have you not seen the corn
give a single blade to the evening
breeze, that the breeze might wave it
to and fro? Thus, only thus, Benjamin
the medieval, did I give my love to
you'll"
"And did you not" cried Roberto.
give me-, then, your love, at this 9th
er stone gods feet?"
"And if you say yes" said Benja-
min, "then are you double traitor to
me-"
"And if you say no." the others
voice echoed, "then are you double
traitor to me-"
eyes, yes, oh, bloody beaten of wo-
men!" Knocked she; "as the corn gives
it's tassels to be tossed, once, by the
morning wind, thus, only thus,
Roberto, the medieval did I give my
love to you'll"
"And did you not, last night-con-
fess it, unbelievable wretch-yonder
by the heniquen, rest in the arms OF
Federico?-for thus are you triple
traitor to us both"
"Beaters of women she Knocked,
naughty, erect and smiling, "you
remnants of the medieval, as the
corn gives up its fruit in the fall,
thus did I give my love to Federico!"
"Triple traitor-basei" ragged Ben
jamin, whirled away in his trans
port, "as the corn is cut down-so
you die!"
They slew her, and buried her body
secretly at the gods feet. To this
day, so carefully did they conceal
their work, it is not known who
killed the fair-haired Soledad.
The slow, hot day dragged ID. Ben.
jamin and Roberto were seen no more
till the hot hour passed. The even
ing came, and the guests-on horse
back or in curious, old, high carriages
arrived. AT night the great parlor
was alight. From haciendas as far as
200 miles away rode the guests. They
are a unique people, and have their
w amusements. They feel them
selves lords of the earth. They are
enormously rich, and many have trav-
eled widely.
The pinata is an earthen jar filled
with sweets or little presents, and
dressed up like a doll. It is hung
bhS ~SAAAS' AdSA Lie o1 l1d1Q
is blindfolded, takes a stick, and
strikes three times, often with conf
cal effect, to break the jar. Many
miss, and, in succession, others try.
When at last the lucky striker hits
the doll, crash goes the pinata, and
the sweets all fly. Then for the
scramble. This is distinctly a Christ
mas sport, but is sometimes INDUCED
in at other seasons.
Dark maidens hid their dancing
eyes in that bandage, and struck al
air amid peals of laughter. Strong
men stumbled about in awkward
blindness. Once a stick shattered a
window. Once a fair lady hit a noble
gentleman on the shins. The fun was
uproar, and the doll swung whole.
But where was Soledad?
Il saw her recently" said Benia-
min, and shut his jaws.
"She will come, no doubt, in due
time," echoed Roberto, his lips sheer,
ing and cruel.
1t came Federico's time to strike.
But where is ~Soledad?' all e
now crying.
"She will come" said Benjamin.
But he could stand no more; he grew
dizzy and wen away.
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