The San Francisco call., 1905-05-07

the meeting point of two oppositely
electrified poles.
Senior Moreno. his wife on his arm.
walked from table to table. greeting
everybody sighting none; even the pa
bles were tossed in the air. he Jested.
joked and made pretense OF siyly steal
ing the food off his guests plates.
which never failed to bring down ne
house."
If a guest showed signs Of faltering
the old man was upon him or her In
stantly, the plate was refilled and pro-
testations were simply ignored
1t was not until two hours had
elapsed that the crowds deserted the
tables. to pass the remainder OF the
delightful day as fancy suggested
Black bottles passed back and forth;
dice and card games sprang up; heat
ed arguments arose in which gesticula-
tion played at least as important a
part as words. What If the fun grew
boisterous, uproarious, even? Eat.
drink, laugh to-day, for tomorrow
Quien sabe?
The afternoon was drawing to a
close when Pablo and Marcia made
the ascent of the pine covered hill
which stabbed into the valley just be-
yond the grove. Pablo had been al
ternating between heaven and hell all
the afternoon and was at present in
the abode of bliss. AS he looked at
the girl. glowing with the animation
of physical exercise. a mighty wave
Of passionate longing swept away his
timidity and he cried:
"Oh. Marcelat Marcelal'
Two pink spots appeared on Mar
cela's cheeks She said nervously:
See. the sun sets behind Santa
Lucia and bids farewell to Mexico
day"
But tell me, dearest. does my sun
set or is it to rise and shine while
life lasts?''
Il did not know that the Senior
Pablo owned a SUM-" and her voice
betrayed surprise.
Marcia you know what Il Is in
my mind and heart I wish to say"
How could I know except by magic
and the padre says magic is from the
Senior Devil"
Marcia. 1 pluck this bunch Of
Christmas berries; give them to you
If you pin them to your bosom / shall
know that the love offer is returned.
''Ah, you offer me your love2" quer-
led the maiden, with a great show OF
ingenuousness- Then her face became
grave and she added seriously: II
must think, Pablo. sthink. Leave me
now-leave. alone, and when have
decided 1 shall let you know"
But tell me first YOU are not in
doubt as between myself and that
gringo."
A say smile broke over her fea-
lures. What fools men are! Now
go''
AS Pablo slowly descended the hill
he heard the sounds of voices ahead OF
him and looking up saw Sam Barrett
and a companion approaching. Evil
IDENTIFY they had been down to the spot
where gringo from Salinas had been
coming money all day dealing stud
horse poker.
Pablo wanted no trouble at present.
as his fate might be decided at any
moment, and he did not wish to meet
Barrett without having trouble. so he
stepped behind bush. Then he heard
an exclamation from his rival:
BY jings, thar's my gal. atop that
ar hill You jest mosey on, Bill: III
see you later"
'sure it's your gal. Ell? I low Pablo
Estrada is pretty solid thar"
Now mark my words. Bill II that
'ar greaser tries to git in an spile
ny sport theren be enc good Injun in
these parts purity suddint."
well, s'long. Invite me to the we'd
DIM"
Amt goin' to be no weddin'," was
the reply. followed by wink. His
companion walked or and Barrett took
a few steps toward the hill. when
suddenly he was confronted by q devil
incarnate.
No more J'u one walk more make
TO thees lady an feex you
Decentralization. You sneal<in' In
jun! I'll settle you plenty right now"
The American aimed blow with his
fist. which was lodged. Then Pablo's
right arm swung out There was a
flash OF steel and the nexb-instant his
enemy was PROSTATE at his feet
For a moment he gazed at the supino
form with only an animal feeling OF
satisfaction over gratided revenge.
Then a sudden realization OF the
gravity OF his act struck him like .
blow. From the picnic grounds the
sounds of song and laughter reached
his ears. and he felt that those people.
so lately his brothers and sisters. were
so no longer. From this time on,
while life lasted. he would have no
fellowship with them. He was as one
apart, separated from his kind by a
sinister crimson gulf. And what II
they should lay hands upon him? He
would be hailed before gringo Judge
and jury. and what mercy would those
people show to a greaser slayer OF their
own countryman?
bush rustled. He looked I'D and
across the PROSTATE form. and saw
Marcela descending the mill. A proud
happy light was in her eyes. smile
was on her face, and upon her bosom
lay the cluster OF scarlet berries he
had given her.
For one brief, delirious moment his
soul sang and shouted: "She is mine
mine, She confesses her love for mel"
Made oblivious to all else by the splen-
dor of this supreme instant Of human
life he made q step toward her. His
foot struck an obstruction: he looked
down; and as he looked pitiless
destiny cropped an opaque curtain
between him and the splendor OF what
might have been. and catechised his
recoiling soul
Would not the gentle. humane Mar
celia with l0athing tear away these ber-
ries when she found that the hand
which had given them was red as
they? Red with a stain which would
cause this long-wished-for day to be
abhorred in the remembrance? Red
with bloodr-the life blood OF the sacred
guest Of a Moreno2
Then his soul cried IN fierce rebel
lion: "She is mineI Our love shall tri-
umphl All else is as nothing!" Again
he made as IL to advance. when again