Evening star., 1903-12-19
The Iron Monster.
BY Florence Belle MerryIees

BY Florence Belle MerryIees.
Of course 1t was all very foolish. and one
would never have expected grownup people
who are always supposed to be quite wise
and sensible to have acted in any such a
way. but one never can tell what may
happen. The good people of Quadalcazar
were very proud and fond Of their church
and the old Spanish padre who had watch
ed over them and taught them for many
years They went to church very regularly
every Sunday and saved many centavo
they really needed in order that they might
give 1t to the padre for some tall white
candles TO burn on the altar on feast day.
or to buy some new vestments for himself
or another prayer book or two, Marcfa's
mother was noted for being one of the most
devoted persons in the village and her
dau&hter and Jose often shocked her by
laughing and playing On Sunday or some
special feast day just as though It were
some ordinary day and they were not ex-
pected to be quiet and sober.
The little church had Just been painted
dazzling white. with green outlining; the
two big windows and the low wall around
the church yard startled one by the inten-
sfty of its salmon pink hue. which shone as
though in rivalry with the blue OF the gate
posts
for the surroundings of a church. but can
assure you that; everyone in QuadalcaZar
considered these decorations most beauti-
full. and the village blacksmith and the
cobbler, the two painters whose work 1t
was. smiled with satisfaction every morn
ing as they passed it on their way to work.
The padre had announced that he was
going to hold Thanksgiving service for the
prosperity of the church and the general
welfare of the little parish when like q
bolt from clear sky, the stranger from
across the mountains. Meguel came into
the peaceful little village and In less time
IN nnnF FYrcin
Meguel was q tall youth with queer bright
eyes, a very eloquent tongue and a certain
something about him that made every one
who listened to him believe everything he
said and wish to do exactly as he told them.
No one seemed to know Just who he was, but
he said he was a great friend of the bishop
in San Luis and had been sent by his rever-
ence to tell them Of the dreadful thing that
was about to happen and how they might
save themselves For two nights he talked
to them in the plaza. and by then they were
all ready and eager to do just whatever he
wished. and indeed our friend Jose was so
excited he couldn't eat or keep still min
ute. Meguel told them that the bishop
wished him to tell them the following things
and ask them to act at once.
The Anfericanos who owned the new rail-
way were planning to lay a tract through
the beautiful valley of the Pecos, ten miles
from Quadalcazar and then when the shin
ing steel rails were down there would come
from away up north where they had never
been a great black ugly monster sending
out thick smoke. with fire inside 1t and
burning sparks flying. This wicked monster
surely as they allowed 1t to run through
their peaceful beautiful valley death ard
disease would strike their crops and herds;
the church and the good saints would feel
that the people of Quadalcazar had ceased
to reverence what was good and holy and
great misfortune Of every kind might be
expected. Now. of course the bishop had
never sent any such a message or wished
the poor simple poems to believe any such
ridiculous thing. but they didn't know this
and thought they Ought at once to do all
they could to stop the iron monster COM
ing across their valley. You see they had
never seen either a railway or an engine
and really didn't know any better than to
think the engine was alive. Jose and eight
of his young friends promised Meguel they
would work as hard as they possibly could
and build high barricade Eight across the
railway line. They would cover 1t with
bright red cotton cloth, put Marcias moth
er's two big earthen vases full of Howers
It and Hight some of the big candles used
In the church. The whole thing should look
like altar and the evil spirit seeing 1t
would be afraid and turn back. For two
days they worked every minute between 4
and In the afternoon. after their days
their very last centavo for the cotton cloth
of scarlet and the brass candlestfck which
was to hold the largest candle of all dedi-
Gated to the patron saint Of Quadalcazar,
Santa Theresa. At last the fire monster
was reported ready to roll over the beauti-
full shining rails which they had been an
gritty watching the American workmen lay
ing for weeks. It was to be started from
San Luis On a Sunday morning early, and
on 1t was to be the president Of the road
and some friends besides the fireman and
engineer 1t seemed as II the whole popula-
ton Of Quadalcazar had turned out when
that Sunday morning came. Over the mar
row steep mountain trail they passed, strug-
Cling along In twos and threes. some of
them on foot and others on their tiny bur-
ros. Every one was dressed in their best
and many Of them sang the queer Spanish
songs which had been added to bit by bit
to suit various occasions until they were SO
comical sounding one felt like laughing
even IL one didn't understand word OF
them. BY o'clock the track on both sides
was lined with people for many feet and
as the time for the engine to como grew
near many anxious eyes watched the curve
to the northward around which they knew
1t would come.
CTo be concluded)