The Washington times., 1906-05-20

BY no means. Five hundred pesos-
And in silver; not gold.
Your offer insults my government
SAID Senor Ortiz. rising Indignantly.
Then cried Dir. Franzoni. in q
warning voice. we VIII change ftt''
The offer was never changed Mr..
FraRzoni must have meant something
else.
So. when the fifteenth day OF May
arrived the signs were that the presf-
dental advent would not be celebrated
by unlimited rejoicing.
Although the rainy season was long
over. the DAY seemed TO hark back to
reeking February. A fine drizzle Of
rain fell during the forenoon. A mar
row gauge railroad runs from Puerto
Itey 10 within ten miles OF San Mateo.
The train conveying the executive
party rolled into the summer capital
al a speed Of fifteen miles an hour
at four in the afternoon Colonel Ro-
cas-. with a regiment or the regular
army, and Captain Cruz, with his ia
nous troop OF one hundred light horse
Il Ciento HuilandO." the Presidents
personal escort. had marched down by
easy stages from san Mateo, arriving
the previous afternoon.
President Zarilla w1s a little, elder
y man. grizzly bearded with a con-
siderable ratio OF Indian blood re-
vealed In his cinnamon complexion as
he was assisted into his carriage. his
sharp, beady eyes glanced around for
the expected demonstration OF wei
come. but he faced a stOlid, unenthus-
ed array OF curious citizens Sight
seers the Costaraguans are by birth
and habit. and they turned out 10
the last able-bodied unit 70 witness
the scene, but they maintained an ac-
cUsive silence They crowded the
streets 10 the very wheel ruts, they
covered the red tile roofs 10 the caves,
but there was never "VivaV' among
them No wreaths OF palm and lemon
branches or gorgeous strings OF pa
per roses hung from the windows and
balconies as was the custom. There
was an apathy. a dull. dissenting. dis
appreciation that was the more omirf-
Gus because Il puzzled. No one feared
an outburst, a revolt Of the discon-
tents, for they had no leader. The
president and those loyal 10 him had
never even heard whispered a name
among them capable Of crystalizing
- o..
there could be no danger. The people
always procured a new idol before they
destroyed an old one.
At length. after a prodigious galIop.
ing and curvetting OF red-sashed ma
jors. gold-Iaced colonies, and epauIet-
ted generals. the procession formed for
its annual formal progress down the
principal street.-the Canine ReaI-to
the government building at its end.
The Swiss band led the line OF march.
Alter IL pranced the local comandaute.
mounted, and a detachment Of hls
troops. Next came a carriage with
four members Of the cabinet. conspic
uOus among them the minister OF war,
old General Pillar, with his white
mustache and his soIdierly bearing.
Then the presidents vehicle, contain
ing also the alcalde and the ministers
Of finance and state: and surrounded
by Captain Cruz's light horse formed
In a close double file OF fours Fol-
lowing them the rest OF the officials Of
state. the judges and distinguished
military and social ornaments OF pub
lie and private life.
As the band struck I'D. and the
movement began. Ike a bird OF III
omen the s J. Pizzoni r., the swiftest
steamship OF the Vesuvius line. glided
Into the harbor IN plain view OF the
president and his train. or course,
there was nothing menacinE about It's
ARRIVAL business firm does not 20 70
war with a nation-but II reminded
Seuor Ortiz and others IN those car
riages that the VesuvIus Fruit Com
pany was undoubtedly carrying some
thing up It's sleeve for them
sion had reached the government build
Ing. Captain Cronin, OF the S. J. Piz-
zoni, jr., and Mr. Vincent. member
OF the VesUvius Company, had landed
and were pushing their way. bluf.
hearty and nonchalant. through the
crowd on the narrow sidewalk Clad
IN white linen, big, debOnair. with an
air OF good-humored authority. they
made conspicuous figures among the
dark mass OF unImposIng Costara-
guans. They penetrated TO within a
few yards Of the steps Of the brown
stone building Casa Moreno. the brown
white house Of Costaragua Looking
easily above the heads OF the crowd,
they perceived another that lowered
above the Undersized natives II was
the fiery poll Of DIcky MaIoney against
the wall close BY the lower step. and
his broad, seductive grin showed that
he recognized their presence.
Dicky had attired himself becom-
insly for the festive occasion IN a
well-htting black suit. Pasa vas close
by his side, her head covered with The
ubiquitous black manuIls-
Mr.. Vincent looked at her atten-
lively.
BOtticellTs Madonna he remark
ed. gravely. I wonder when she got
into the game. 1 don't like his getting
tangled with the woman. hoped he
would keep away from them"
captain Cronin's laugh almost drew
attention from the parade
With that head of HART Keep
away from the women, And a Ma
loneyi Hasn't he got a license? But.
nonsense aside, what do you think os
the prospects? It's A species Of fIi-
clustering out OF my line"
Fineeni glanced again at Diclxv..
head and smiled
Rouge ct noir." he said. ..Tbe-s
you have IL. Make your rla, ,o-.r.