The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-19
The Globes Daily Short Story


baro, we must never have that doctor
here again. He said it was dead"
mo, sonora"
60 tell him never to come any
more"
Isl, sonora"
Barbara was slowly melting; ah--
he had brought happiness to her. Pres
emily he wept Now he felt about till
he found the dead one, and putting it
in the coffin went out, carrying it.
Mexico is dream anyhow-but
doubly did Barbara walk in one. He
came to the plaza, looked about, and
put the coffin, with its new burden,
where he had found it. After that he
could scarcely tear himself away, but
stared at it; and went off forty feet,
and turned to stare. Suddenly he got
scared and tore down the street, filed
all the while with faithful yearning
for LuiSa, and joy.
When Martina wandered into the
plaza again there was the coffin with
which Gil had enhanced his courtship.
Gil came, too, peering around, having
gotten wind of the disappearance. Why,
she said, that was rather queer; and
she picked the burden up and went
on indolently with it on her hip. All the
way to the graveyard Gil made love to
him, but did not carry the coffin. How
ever, she didn't mind the coffin.
"A grave digger had dug the grave.
She and Gil came along presently and
put the little angel in, and the dirt in
after. What a glorious day. AS they
wandered out Gil knitted his Jagged
eyebrows, and bent as if working at
his bench, said: Martina, give me
kiss"
She blushed idly. "oh, be STILL she
said.
Wont you marry me?"
The priest won't do it because of
him." she said.
IF they won't Wen go off into an
other town." he responded
well, wait till after my saints day.
My uncle always gives me twenty
reales on my saints day."
There's the kiss, then"
You're so rough; go on"
When Luisa and the baby got we'll
they made, in the vines picture raw
ishing. She so fair, her neck so pref
ty, and the child cuddled up. She CUR
gled liquid happiness at it all day. And
Barbara, passing yonder every five
minutes, bringing her things, wor-
SHIPPED her as dog worships.
But his conscience hurt him; the
thing he had done was dreadful, it
given heri Whose baby could 1t be?
At least they thought it dead. But at
last he could stand it no more, went
into the church one morning, and knelt
at confessional. He had to walt
awhile for the priest, and the SOL
enlnity of the place made his sin the
heavier. The priest having come, he
told him.
"Then you must hunt" commanded
"a of cd ~ tl,A n,
ords, see the authorities, leave no stone
unturned till you find the mother and
restore the child"
Barbara came out Of the church
crushed, and a little later, suffering.
looked again into the patio. He would
see her in her Joy for the last time:
before he dragged his accursed heavy
limbs away to seek her doom for her.
She held the boy up-it laughed at
her; all her hair flowed down. He
wept, and went out staggering under
Gods command, as Abraham, when he
went to slay his son, might have stag
gered Poor thing-she wanted 1t so.
Never telling his secret Barbara
searched for two days. The death and
burial records, the visits Of the health
officer enabled him at length to find
clew. Such and such a case, the officer
decided, must be the one. So they went
It proved to be his old home, and
Barbara stood in the sun q long time
and looked at his door, feeling weak.
He shut his jaws hard and approached,
gazing at the entrance as though he
believed some horrible thing would
come out of it. Now he Strengthened
himself and knocked, and Martina let
him in.
Its you," she said, as though CIV
ing him information.
"True," he replied, and sat down in
the room.
She went and looked out of the win
dow, and then returned to the brasero,
paying little attention to him sitting
there. Gil put his head in, leaned on
the window sill, and puffed cigarette
in silent contemplation.
T see," said Barbara" that our Pepa
has grown fat."
God Wills" replied Martina.
81 see," said Barbara agan, that
Tomas will be strong and big"
Eyes. he is big" she said.
There was pause; he was like the
wood of his chair.
"How did your last one turn out 2"
asked he.
"All right" she replied.
Him. Was it in good health?"
ooh, yes, it had good health
He waited long time, she stirring
the beans; Gil putting his cigarette in
at the window where the sun came in
"Where is 1t now?" asked Barbara.
"In heaven" she replied.
"But did it not then have good
health?"
ooh, yes, 1t had"