The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-26

/ 10 such effect that on several occasions
DC was perilously near to overcoming
a colossal bashfulness aud saying Nia;
she being a twentieth century Eve,
knew that he wanted to say
But now Bud was utterly and ahject.
" dlsheartened, Cerves, the local dis.
| penser OF liquid refreshments, at last
had discovered why his week day sales
had become so rldiculously small. and
SO one Sunday evening bud was una
BILE to recruit his gang of laborrs In
the usual manner. Instead OF sleeping
on the effects of their potations In the
rear OF the hotel. according TO the cs-
tablshed custom OF the place. they
were all securely disposed In Cerves'
cellar under lock and key, where the
Americana could not get them Bud
threatened, he demanded, he even OF.
fered bribes Of money, but II was in
vain. Cerves was not quick TO get an
Idea, buA when once he had one lodged
firmly In his head nothing could dis,
place It. II must be left TO die of old
age. So Bud went TO see Maria and
poured the whole tale of his woes into
her sympathetic ears,
All Monday forenoon he sat gloomlly
In his tent and wondered how he should
word his resignation. It was all up
another tlunka job lost and girl
with It. But shortly after noon there
came diversion. A group Of very
much excited men arrived from Rigas
and demanded that he put them TO
work Immediately. He complied at
once and did not insult kind fortune
by asking the reason for this sudden
enthusiasm for work. But in the even.
ing he received an answer to the UNI
asked question, and II plunged him into
the depths of despair once more. Maria
had announced that at last she was
ready to make a choice from among
her many suffers. When the road was
completed she would marry the one
who had worked the most faithfully.
Day after day the work continued
with unabated ardor, and at last 1t was
finished. The first train had run over II
and had brought to Bud letter from
the superintendent OF construction In
which many complimentary things
were said. Little cared Bud for high
flown phrases. 1t was all over, and to-
morrow some greaser would be made
happy by the prettiest girl In Mexico.
From force Of habit however, he wan.
dered toward Tomasso's little garden.
us the SIgnor Bud so lost In rev.
erie
"0h, beg your pardon, Maria. Yes,
was pretty busy thinking"
"Aud will the Sgnor Bud barter his
thoughts for n penny?"
Barter them for a penny! Good
Lord, guess you know what they are.
I'm wondering which one Of those Gu
er-f fellows worked hard enough TO
please you"
She disregarded the implied question.
Are not the Americans wonderful
people? They do 50 many marvellous
thingsw
He looked at her stupidity and said
nothing.
Their industry makes me quite
ashamed of our poor Mexicans."
Yes, yes, that's all true. I'm proud
OF my people aud all of that, but,
Maria, I'm naturally anxious to know
whom
but, SlGnor Bud, they're such an
awfully stupid people" And her pretty
eyes filed with the tears Of vexation.
In an instant comprehension broke
over him. MARIA, dearest girl, you
mean
II mean that love you and that l
shall surely die If you go away and
leave me-"
Mr.. Maxwell, present superintendent
Of construction Of the y. and Y. road,
occasionally amuses his friends by tell
ing how half hundred ferociOus chal-
lenges were answered by as many wed.
ding invitations.