The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-06
The Globes Daily Short Story

him: He, spoke no English and said Of
H n1en tnat he came from far southern
Mexico. He was an expert monte dealer,
was Gregor1o, and won all the money Of
me other ranch hands. Also he PLAYED
b hue GUITAR TAR ana sang songs Of love and
DOrOer 1oray, IN sweet plaintiye tenor
the final notes drawn out into a long
whine. -'"5
D: June came and Pomfret stood upon the
ra 3t. Two understood wiry ponies were
mtched to road wagon. There was q
drive TO Il LARGO for the license and a
ana did not like to be hurried
- LoInoT r 1rG' then, my sweetest" he said
to her. TIL then, adios!'
., win swift passion, unlocked for in
her girlish calmness she threw two sIen-
ger arms about his neck and pressed her
lips to his cheek.
GTegor1o stood at the horses heads, q.
smile on his brown, handsome face
:, Iney are full Of corn he said genial
~. They will go fast when the senior is
READY, put Will come back faster"
At this the mother laughed and Mia
cast down her eyes, q wave of color
sweeping upward from her throat Old
trinidad blew out thin cloud Of smoke
and stared vacantly at the hills, which
were shimmering in heat haze. Pomfret
sprang to the seat and a minute after.
ward was half hidden in dust The
mother retired to hammock; the faith
er wandered to a nearby jacal to gossip
with cronies; Nita went into the dark,
cool house; Gregorio followed her.
Pomfret did not heed the complainings
OF the fat priest. He drove the twenty
miles next morning in little more than
two hours.
There is a plump fee for you, father"
he said. Cake and plenty OF sweet
wine, dinner and a siesta. Don't bother
me with grumbling. My sweetheart is
waiting"
Hurry is bad, my son. was the re-
joinder. "A year from now mayhap
you viii be as anxious to drive from
There was no answer to this Pomfret
did not think it worth an answer. He
brought his whip down and the ponies
broke into gallop. The valley curved
and the white adobe building showed.
no sign Of life. No smoke came from the
dirt chimney at it's end. The lover felt
a sickish sinking of heart He stopped
the team and rushed inside At a table
sat Trinidad, his white head on his arms.
Many cigarette stumps were about him.
An emptied meScal bottle stood near. He
raised his head and his eyes were blear
and watery.
''They are gone" he said slowly. Gone
gone away"
The air went black before Pomfret He
raised the heavy whip.
'FOol and dog!' he said fiercely. "Who
is gone? Where is my wife?'
They are gone-Gregorio and Nita. She
said she did not want your sheep. He
sang 10 n6F SO often. 1noY went In the
dark. I have been up all night
Your wife?"
"she is at Antonias jacal-afraid Of
you. I have been up all night
Pomfret lurched forward heavily and
brought up against the table. His hat
fall off and he did not notice it. Against
the dead white of his skin his reddish
hair showed crimson. His eyes were in
speak and failed. Then madness went
into him. Seeking an ak from it's place
in q. corner, he rushed to the room
which he had fitted as bridal cham
Der From it came the sounds Of rend-
ing wood, as he drove the ak into the
furniture. He struck it as if it were
alive. He gashed the gray and green
carpet in q hundred places. He whirled
up his weapon and brought down the
chandelier, and the glass crashed. Then
he reappeared and staggered toward the
old man. A slight foam was on his
lip and he gasped in exhaustion. The
| priest, sunk upon a low stool, battered
| prayers.
Dog of berder,' he said, hoarseIy,
where is the liquor?"
The drink craving was on him. Trim
| idad rose and brought bottle Pom
! fret clUtched it eagerly. "A half hour
later he fell from his seat, sodden and
unconscious.
Down a white Mexican road, which ran
southwest from the Rio Grande, man
and q girl plodded. The fine, hot sand
burned their sandaled feet; the gray dust
lay thick upon their hair and eyebrows.
They had sold their horse, and with part
of the proceeds paid a minister. They
had crossed the river into safety and
slept by the roadside. A cool spring
burst from a clump of rocks, and over
1t grew a single cottonwood. They sat
by 1t and bathed their feet Under her
Noe-like eyes were blush circles OF
WEAKNESS, but she smiled on him brave
ly.
I'VE are going whittier my Gregorio?''
ITO the rancho Of Espentosa 1 will
break their mustangs for them. 7 am
vanquero. Inuy bravo"
I did not love him, my man. hand
some and good"
cit is so!''
She rested her cheek against his shout
der and her hand sought his In the clear