The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1903-06-19

tnen, pressing MS ncel INTO II pony :
side, rode rapidly toward the hills be-
hind La Grangia.
There Ignacio worked for three
months herding carabao. and, watch
ing the black clouds over Malaspinas
BY day and the Southern Cross BY
night, mcditated over Maria. When
orders were received TO drive u parto of
the herd into La Carlota. lgnacio was
| placed in charge of the work over five
herdsmen. Shortly after dusk they
drove the last Of the herd into the
pen on the outskirts Of the town. I'm
mediaicly the five demanded permis-
| sion to 20 into town. lgnacio knew
that they would probably become
drunk on tuba Ian extremely intoxi-
| eating fermentation Of zap from the
cocoanut-trec) and paint the place
rcd" which seems to be a universal
! diversion Of cattlc-herdcrs of all
races. Therefore he deemed IT ad-
yisable TO accompany them.
The hcrder. trot,cd past the low
walls of masonry erected since they
left. The town va. silent. for the dis
tont murmur Of the people in the
market place a few hundred yards
away. and the tinklc Of a hidden gui-
tar. lgnacio's ear caught the sound
Of a woman's sobbing and refined MS
pony. The Others. noting the action,
drew up, also. and listened.
The sound came from under the
beethoven. and, dismounting. the
hcrdsmen hurried over TO il. In the
dim, uncertain light they saw three
men squattod on the grass in a group.
and a woman with her arms thrown
round a long. oblong shape beside her.
Her whole body was shaken by inter
mitten, burst. Of .obbing.
"Why i. this:' lgnacio whispered
TO one Of the men.
The man drew a cigarette from hi,
mouth long enough 10 reply in the
fcwcst possible words: "llcr husband
is in the coffin. She ha. not enough
10 pay for the passing bell"
lgnacio quickly thrust HE hand
into a poke, and drew forth pcscta.
all the money he possessed. lie held
il out to the man. Here i a peseta.
Give il TO her
The man made no motion to take
it. "lt now costs four pcscta. to have
even the small bell rung three or four
times. Did you not hear! She has al
ready two pcsctas. but the padre will
not permit the bell to be rung for
less than four"
lgnacio turned TO his brethren.
How much money have you!' he
asked, quickly. The mel searched
their pockets a%s,iduou.ly, but 1;
cents wa. all they possessed among
them.
"Seyenty-soycn cents muttered
Inacio, half to himself. "and Il soul
must wait for want Of three cents.
Pedro, run to the padre. DO not for
get TO remove your hat and to be very,
very respectful. Askifhc will permit
the little bell to be rung for 2; cents,
and tell him that We will pay the rest
Of the money in a few days"
Pedro handed the rcins Of his pony
to ono Of the othcrs. and his bare feet
clattcrcd across the road to the
padre. residence.
"Who is the woman" asked Iga-
| clio.
"Maria, wife Of Diego Mcnang,' re-
piled the man with the cigarette.
"Dio." gaspcd lgnacio. llcstrodc
quickly over to the half-crazcd wom-
an and touched her on the shoulder.
Maria he whispered. She moaned,
as though reused only TO a fuller re.
alization Of her grief.
maria, it j, lgnacio, your old
friend he murmurct. and his voice
shook with tenderness and pity.
"Will you not speak to me-
She turned TO him a hagmrd face,
and. pointing TO the coffin, burst into
a storm of sob,.
''Pobrc nina he said. soothingly.