The Lamar register., 1905-08-02
Copyright. 1905. by Daily story Pub Coz

Jose stood at the window of the bell
ringers loft of the great cathedral and
looked down into the city to the adobe
building that marked the spot where
lived the one he loved, His thoughts
were not altogether pleasant as he
viewed the magnificent panorama that
was spread out before him. He re-
mcmbercd the incidents of the pre-
vious night at his meeting with Anita
on the Alameda. How vividly he re-
called the conversation that set his
brain afirc with the possibility of los
ing her. Could she have meant 1t
when she told him that he was not
brave? Did she love Enrique. the
Commandant of the Rurales? II not,
why had she tainted him last night
when he urged her to marry him? Had
she not told him that it is only the
brave who are deserving of the fair.
and when he mad charged her with
being in love with soldier. had she
not confessed that Captain Enrique
Bosalcz had played bear under her
window for many nights?
DO you love him?" Jose had asked.
The only answer was a shrug of the
pretty shoulders of his adorcd one.
The hot Latin blood surGed through
the veins of Jose. Dark thoughts
filled his mind. Then came calm
ness. He remembered that he was
connected with the clergy. TO be sure
he did not wear the vestmcnts and
say the prayers of the good padres
whom he served, but he regarded him.
self as belonging to their class. Was
l.. l.-.rI i.
cathedral? Had not his father and
his fathers father been bell-r!ngers
before him? lie would not bring dis
grace upon his sacred calling by com.
hitting n rash deed. He would give
up Anita TO the brave commandant
Did she love the capitan? That was
the question that Jose wished he
could answer to his own satisfaction.
He could hardly believe that Anita
would trine with any ones affections.
She was doubtless honest in her be-
lief that her love was for Captain En-.
rique and not for poor Jose, the bell
ringer
Jose had left her the night previous
with doubt in his mind as to her love
for him. II was now early morning
and the chimes of the bells were still
cchoinE in the distance when Jose
leaned ont of the window of the bell
ringers loft and breathed deep
drauEhts of the fresh morning air that
blew in from the mountains. Did he
long 10 be brave that he might come
up to the standard OF Anita's thoughts
nt Captain Enrique? No such thought
was in Ioses mind He did not belong
10 the recognized class of the brave,
That was left to the soldiers. He
looked down into the street below and
watched the women rs they left their
homes and hurried silently along and
entered the worship room of the great
cdihcc 10 attend early mass. He
know that Anita would be among
them, Many, many mornings had he
stood ut this same window and
watched his loved one as she left her
home and wended her way to the
cathedral to ofrcr up her daily prayer
Perhaps it was not altogether right
and proper. but many love signs had
passed between them as she passed
along the street below. On this morn
ing there was such a soreness in his
heart that he thought only to get a
glimpse OF her and then he would go
hacl, To his task OF sounding the
chimes over the city. The first rays
Of the rising sun were Just beginning
to CLINT over the mountains and reflect
themselves upon the scattered clouds
that hung above their tops when Jose
saw Anita leave her home and walk