The St. Mary banner., 1901-08-10

Gale de los ParJaros would end mat
ters. so far as he was concerned "An
now" thought Boniiacio, grimly, as II
seated himself on his high stool. "wha
shall l dor"
For hours the under secretary sa
motionless at his desk His companion
did what work remained, chatted anon,
themselves. and finally betook them
selves to their various homes and occu
pations. Then. and not until then. di,
Bonifacio bcstir himself His fac
flushed, and his eyes beamed with re
newed hope. for a brilliant thought ha,
had its inception during his severa
hours sranrf. Don Bonifacio had, &C
cording to his own belief, at last strucl
oil. Now to prove it,
With the aid of paper. ink and his bes
quill, he set to work. and within hal
an hour his writing was completed
Drying the sheet and finishing it of will
an impression of the government seal
Bonifacio inclosed the document in ar
inposing-looking envelope. and hasten
ed to the Office Of the secretary of the
yiceroy and captain-gcre of New
Spain. There the package, addressed
to no less person that the illustrious
viceroy himself. was left: and . Don
Bonifacio, with renewed hope and cour.
age, repaired homeward TO his Scoldins
wife and babies.
Two afternoons later you might have
seen Don Bonifac:o station himself, had
you been there to note. at the corner OF
Plato-os and Portal de Mercaderes. He
looked strangely agitated. and his face
was very white. while his hands shook
SO that he could barely light his cheap
cigarette. Not that any one noticed the
poor, thinly clad clerk-far from it.
People were as thick on the street as
the tabled leaves in Vallombrosa. but
their eyes were fixed upon the great
palace of the viceroy across the square.
and upon the magnificent entrance which
would soon have the honor of allowing
to pass the cortege of his excellency the
viceroy himself. and the richly capari-
soncd and mounted mobiles who daily ac-
conSsnied him on his afternoon rides.
Sc there was burst of music from
the palace courtyard. hoarse shouts
from the guards, and then there was a
Gathering of Andalusian horsc-hoofs on
the marble-paved court. showing that
his honor the viccroy was now just is
suing from his gates. People pressed
nearer. in order. to see the great man.
but Don Bonifacio, cold and trembling
from head to foot, and with very sick
feeling at the pit of his stomach. had
not the nerve to even look up. In fact.
had his feet not refused to carry him,
he would have fed from the spot As
it was. he stood rooted to his place, un-
able to speak or move. while the COM
pany of richly dressed horscmen rapidly
approached the corner of the street
where he stood. He heard the clattering
Of hoofs, the jingling of the great silver
spurs worn by his cxcellency's escort.
and the clanking of magnificent bits and
saddle equipment-Dios de Ia Vida,
ae, were upon him; they had stopped;
some one ives speaking, calling his
name!
With his tongue cleaved to the roof
IF his mouth, Don Bonifacio forced him.
self to look up and into the face of the
man who had reincd his great black
within an arms length. 1t
was the viceroy! Steadily he gazed at
he poorly clothed clerk facing him,
md steadily did Don Bonifacio, tremb
ing though he was at his own temerity.
gaze his viccroy in the face. And then.
o the wonder of the crowd, who stood
" in gaping awe, his excellcncy, with
/ kind smile on his face, drew out a
jeweled snuff box, which he
extended TO the undcr-sccretary, saying
"Scnor Don Bonifacio Ortiz de la
iuerta Legumbres. will you do me the
avor?"
"Un million de grdeids, your excel
ency; with great deal of pleasure
answered Banifacio, as he held the rich
'ox in his hands and scooped therefrom
pinch of snuff
Three minutes later the viceroy took
cave of the clerk, after layishing upon
'im many of the ornate courtesies in
which the Spanish people delight, all of
which were equally ornately returned
y Don Bonifacio You can imagine
ow the crowd. who were watching the
Gene, wondered and gossiped. Never
ad such thing been seen before--such
ehavior upon the part Of the vlceroy
D a poor, miserable clerk. There must
c more behind it than could be seen
nth the naked eye 1t would be well to
ultivate this clcrk-qnien sdbc, with in
uence he might or might not hold with
he ruler of New Spain?
And so people began to run after Don
'onifacio as much as they had once run
rom him. entreating his favor, his in
uence with the viceroy-for con-
liberation, of course. And in the
curse Of time these accumulated con-
iderations amounted to such a great
aluc that Don Bonifacio became very
ch man.
Meanwhile, during many intervening
-eeks, the viceroy daily stopped his |
orsc at the same corner Of Plateros.
resentirg there his snuf-box to Don
onifacio, who. accepting a small pinch.
'ould gracefully return the box to his |
xcellency, while all the city stood by
nd thought What a powerful man is
lis Don Bonifacio Ortiz de Ia Huerta
Legumbres !"
One day the viceroy sent privately
,r Don Bonifacio, who came this time
his own rich carriage, and in fine
othcs. Said the viceroy to him: You
re a wise man, and deserve a reward
,r your wit. Rise up, Count Bonl-
lcio"
What had been contained in the poor
crk's document. sent to his excellency
, long time beforeo Merely the mod
+ request that "7rhen passing the cor
r. of Ploteyos and Mevcaderes, his
orship stop end offer q poor, hungry
an a Pinch of snnf-no more"
As the ~iceroy stated. only a mean