The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-07-17

mustache was like black satin. He
came of a family of the old clerical
party, but was a follower of Diaz.
Diaz believed in him, for Pagaza ac-
complished, spent, and built. He
owned ten haciendas; he was har-
Messing the great Falls of Tacata-
huilpa. Many dowagers with daugh-
tiers had tished for him. He knew all
the other games of chance, but,
never until Adelaide came, had he
tempered with that one. He was
then thirty-two.
But Aquiles had not always been
n success. When his young brother,
Bias, was shining prodigy in school,
Aquiles had seemed atrophied Bias.
having the face of priest or a poet,
and the ways of tender philosopher,
had been brilliant as well. He
charmed everybody, won everything.
AT nineteen he was a phenomenon,
with the mind and spiritual growth
of two men instead of one, and the
rich society of Jalisco's capital be-
gan TO worship him. But, alas, he
had gone off to a medical school in
Mexico, and had become failure at
twenty-three; and Aquiles was strid-
ing on. Strange, that sinking back
of Bias! Society's worship turned
TO Aquiles. Though everybody liked
those brothers by turns, nobody liked
the two of them at once. And they
stared at each other in a fascination
of misunderstanding. What-was
the family vitality not great enough
for two?
Simultaneously with the coming of
Adelaide, Bias returned from his
third year in the medical school at
Mexico. He was tIiin, with hollow
eye, and face that people stared at
and wanted to love.
''Why, Bias, my boy!" cried the ro-
bust Aquiles, when Bias first appear
ed, you're overworldng-you' not
yourself. Bah! Well warm you up"
Bias was pulled into Aquiles'
bachelor rooms, which overhung the
arches and overlooked the enchant-
ing plaza. These rooms were all lit
and alive with people. This was the
prettiest little affair that Aquiles had
given that season, and it was into a
glistening throng of women and men
that Bias had inadvertently stepped.
A purple curtain hid one end of the
salon, where there was something to
drink. A portrait of Limontour, in a
gold frame, gazed down from the
wall. There were maidens in the bal
comics.
Bias" whispered Aquiles, his
smile lighting up, his fingers twirl-
ing the satin mustache, come with
me-you must know Adelaide. Ny
soul-you must"
He dragged him to the balcony,
where she stood.
81 told you about him-and here
he is" cried Aquiles. Look at him,
now; didn't l tell you he was poet,
priest, philosopher, and mystery? If
you can't read all that in him-why-
Bias, you young lunatic, what has
changed you? Blessed if I believe
you get enough to eat. Studying and
thinking his soul out, Adelaide, while
i, with enough flesh and bone to
make two of him, hammer away at
machinery"
His imagination paints in warm
colors," said Bias, slowly, standing
gazing into her eyes. Il haven't
studied. l haven't thought. l haven't
lived. Aquiles, l have been asleep,
believe, for three years. Senorita,
are you an enchantress, that you
seem to wake me up all of sudden?"
He laughed laugh that cast a spell
on her. "While this man-this man,
mind you-has been doing something,
1 have let forty months drop out of
my life"
With an impulsive welcome she had
taken his hand at the introduction
She was rather tall. He had the i'm
preston of unlimited masses of black
hair. But you are thinking now"
she said, smiling.
''The fist time" he replied, letting
her hand slip from his, in three
years"
Nobody was surprised that he
seemed torpid the rest of that even
ing-they knew he was queer. But
they were surprised to find Adelaide
Adelaide, the poised, the exquisite
now restless. melancholy.
After that she held Aquiles' suit
off. She had never let him speak,
but, with the freedom which the
newer cosmopolitan manners were
beginning to allow, he went to see her
all the time. She was suffering
strangely, and seeing in her mind
Bias unusual face.
Bias, having on that very night
Weakened from his fatal apathy. be-
gan to repent and change. He had
been failure ct school; he had done
nothing. The expansion of his ma
ture had ceased. TO be flung back
into old surroundings, and there to
see the eyes of the one woman-that
causes profound revolutions in men.
He began to regret, to grow, to curse
himself, to endeavor, with that in
ner, spiritual attempt which is the
r.