Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-06-16
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
The Stranger
From California
IOrignaI.l


married Aztecs and remained in the
country. He had one daughter, a girl
so attractive that she had many suit
ors, but there was an attachment from
childhood between her and young Juan
Estrella which kept her from being in
terested in any one else. When Don
Miguel realized that his daughter had
become Il woman and her heart was ir-
revocably given to Juan. he was beside
himself with anger, for Juan was
without fortune. and there We're others
OF means who would gladly marry the
lovely Donna Maria. Don Miguel for
babe Juan the house. The boy pom
his promise not TO attempt to see Maria
again WAS permitted TO bid her adieu.
81 am going away, Maria," he said,
"since / cannot live near you and not
see you"
"GO. Juan, make fortune and come
back. l will wait for you"
There are no fortunes TO be made
on this coast" he said, land l am go
ing northward, where the country is
new and there is still less chance. New
ertheIess should l ever be able to give
you home l will come back, and if
you are not married.
81 shall not be married. said the
girl. She was young end full of hope.
All things looked possible TO her.
After Juan's departure Don Miguel
endeavored to persuade his daughter
to select n husband from among her
more well to do suitors, but she reso-
lutely declined
In some way she managed TO put
them off for five years. Then stran-
ger, Don Fernand ClaverGaro. came
up from Mexico to buy land. He was
reported TO be very rich. He was fifty
years old and unattractive, but he pro-
posed for Donna Maria.
Don Miguel was Il great lover OF
Spanish traditions. He had borrowed a
custom from Granada and initiated It
In the new world. Every year he gave
Il ball. to which all the better classes
for many miles around his hacienda
were invited. 1t was for the purpose
OF charity. One of the ways of making
money for the poor was this: The
privilege OF dancing with any lady
could be obtained only by the man
who would pay the highest price for
the honor. At the ball given by Don
Miguel in the winter OF 1851 there was
more spirited, bidding for II dance with
Donna Maria than any other lady.
Clavergaro soon outstrippetl all other
bidders. Offering 500 Spanish dollars.
and was about to lead the girl forth
when voice from behind the crowd
cried: I--.
II bid a thousand dollars"
All turned to see who was the new
bidder. and a man with grizzly gray
hair and beard stepped forward. No
one seemed to know him. and Don
Miguel wondered at his presumption
in coming to the ball unlimited. But
since the poor were TO be benefited he
held his peace.
Fifteen hundred" said Clavergaro.
''Ten thousand" from the stranger.
Twenty thousand"' from Claver-
CARO-.
"a hundred thousand" cried the
stranger.
This is absurd" said Clavergaro.
ut is easy TO bid such a sum, but can
the money be paid?'
"I have it at the tavern"
THAT is not here said Clavergaro.
All looked at Don Miguel for a de-
cision.
Go and bring it." he said.
The stranger left the house, and at
once the silence was broken by babel
of voices expressing wonder as to who
he was and whence he came, the men
betting as to whether he would bring
the money. The tavern was not far.
and the stranger soon returned. The
guests opened way before him to
where Don Miguel was standing wait
ing with his daughter and Clavergaro.
The stranger paused. and Don Miguel
asked:
where is the mOneyT
''It is coming, senior"
do you require assistance to carry
bank biIlsE"
at is gold, senor."
Two servants came through the
crowd, each bearing a number of bags,
which they deposited before Don Mi
guel. The stranger opened one of the
bags and. thrusting in his hand, drew
it out full of gold dust.
"What impudence," exclaimed Cla-
vergaro, "to attempt to palm off brass
filings for goldr'
You, Senior Clavergaro," replied Don
Miguel, "who come from the far south.
are not used to this kind of money,
which has made its way among us
since the gold discoveries in Califor-
MIA. Perhaps the stranger is one OF
those men who have suddenly made
money in the mines. Who are you.
senor?'
The stranger pulled off a wig and
beard. 81 am Juan Estrella." he said.
There were suppressed expressions
of wonder among the guests. and Don
ma Maria trembled.
Il did not know what should find
here" continued Juan. looking at Ma
ria. Therefore 1 preferred not TO be
known till 1 SHOULD discover what had
occurred in my absence. II your daugh-
ter is unmarried and you still are in
clined to marry her to the wealthiest