The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-06-17

DON TlBURCIO' TREASURE.

|
DON TlBURClO'S TREASURE.
A proud descendant Of proud old
race was Don Tiburcio Tapia. His
many servants and dependents found
in him a kind but naughty master his
many friends chivalrous, generous,
true-hearted gentleman. Like all his
wealthy neighbors, he was lord Of vast
domains, and for one-half the year he
dispensed the free-handed hospitality
Of those festive Spanish times within
the pueblo of Los Angeles; the other
half he spent in happy, quiet ease
among his olives and his vineyards on
the beautiful ranch of Cucamonga,
named from the frowning sierra that
forms its~northern boundary wall
And here it is that on a perfect June
morning of 1916 we find him pacing up
and down the noble avenue of ancient
olives, his brows knit into an anxious
frown. his much perturbed spirit find
ing vent in an occasional low motter,
'Americanos ladrones!"
For many weeks vague rumors of
war had been waited upon the orange
scented breezes and the spirit of unrest
had invaded this paradise of peace.
But as yet it was only a vague and
underlined feeling OF mistrust, and not
even in Don Tiburcio's own mind had it
| formed itself into an actual and active
protest. But only this morning
| dnst-covered rider had flung the hate
| full words to him which raised his ire,
and then spurred his horse onward to-
| W. r tho ri1a1nIn nf An0pIaG
| THE Americanos have risen openly
against General Castro! The flag of
! Mexico has been pulled down in the
pueblo of Sonoma and a flag with an
Oso floats over the town.
Then the messenger had gone on to
paint the scene in vivid, fiery language,
telling of the plumber of horses and cat
tie and household goods, of the indig-
mites offered proud old gray headed,
Idons and their families. and how some
of their "paisanos' had been led away
by the filibusters to be imprisoned in
Suffers Fort.
All of Don Tiburcio's angry spirit
leaped to his eyes; the proud passion of
hundred passionate ancestors rang
in the tones with which he uttered.
"Alye osos! demonios- A los infer
nos con todos! Dios, Dios donde es-
tas?" CAye! bears! demons, To h
with them all. God Godl where art
thou?'
And the messenger sped, on with his
hateful message.
Now, an hour later, Don Tburcio
strides UP and down the Alameda de
Olives, the fires Of hate still raging
stormily within his breast, Suddenly
all anger dies away. Don Tiburcio
awakes to a sense of the beauty and
freshness of the morning, the glory of
the light upon the frowning crags of
the sierra. the sparkle and flash Of last |
nights dew upon the glowing blossoms !
of the pomegranate. the song Of the I
hooking birds among the orange |
groves, the tender light of love within
a pair of deep dark eyes, all conjured |
Up by the sound of sweet voice that |
calls from the depths of the grove:
"Papasito, papasito where are you?" |
"Aqui, hija aqui" CHere, daughter, |
here"), he answers, as he hastens for +
ward.
Instantly two plump arms are flung
about his neck; pair of soft warm |
hands drawn down his grizzled head;
the dainty little figure in his arms
bends forward with pretty. bird-like
gesture, then, with a glad, caressing
laugh, suddenly falls forward upon his
breast, and the pretty mouth is lifted
and lost in the depths of his long beard.
That kiss is Don Tiburcio's morning
benedictiOn.
She Is his priceless treasure, this VIM
some Marianita. Four little mounds
within the churchyard tell of buried
hopes, and none but the loving wife
had ever known how his proud heart
1ad grieved that there were none left
o peypetuata his name, This glowing
blossom Of the south she gave to him
With her last breath, and for sixteen
,ears he has worn it upon his heart.
AS for Mar!anita, the world for her is
bounded by the horizon which encloses
Ter father. She draws him now, unre-
among her birds and flowers,
md beneath the srel of her witching
weetness passion dies out of his heart.
But later in the day, and for many
lays, the haunting thoughts recur,
oubts arise ard a purpose grows
=
whispered about that Don, Tiburclo
vas possessed of fabulous sums Of
money, real old Spanish gold All who
new him were aware that his pock- :
is always jingled, and some there
.ere who told of his counting ont the :
esetas and onzas by handfuls, as an
Their man would count his reales.
ION Tiburco was well aware that I
hesa whispers had been widely spread :.
trough all of the Candado de Los An
eles, and the story of the outrages =
ommit ted against the property Of his =
riends farther north had more than :
Significance to him. Day ;,
fter day he pondered and his purpose
rev. q
The rumors of war on the Rio Grande
acame louder and louder, and at .
myth, when the grapes of Cucamonga =
ere taking on the purple huas of the :.
stant canons, word was brought that ;,
,e Stars and Stripes Of Los Estados g
njdos had been raised at Monterey g
on Tiburcio said nothing, but the
ext day announced to Marianita that >,
2 must Journey to Los Angeles. Close -
! was the tie which bound these two, | !,
lie traditional pride and faith of her !,
Ice permitted no doubt nor further >,
,aetio1, than the simple: IN / to go |