Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1906-05-29
The House He Built Her.
BY Z. L. DIrHRIDGE.

but only after you lave complied with
a certain condition"
The other leaned forward eagerly,
hoping the condition would be within
his powers to perform. His eyes
glowed his lips parted; his hands
clasped. and bis fingers twisted anx-
iously. during the pause that ensued.
Then the condition came. short. forci-
BILE and abrupt:
First build her a housel"
Well. II was a hard requirement at
best. and almost an impossible one.
Yet he made up his mind az once that
be would comply with the condition.
James Burton was a young engineer
trying 10 make his fortune In the
mines Of Mexico. He had no money.
with which to start independently. so
he had engaged as an assistant In the
employ OF a large company operating
near Mexico City. He had now been
In the country six months. and during
that period had grown TO love the
daughter OF a wealthy ranch owner.
The "ranchero" had practically no
English education himself. but had
provided a way for the education OF
his children in both English and Span
lsh. His eldest daughter. Aurora. had
attended boarding school in Phila-
delphia.
Aurora was as sensible as she was
bright None OF the tickle. fiirty
character OF the Spanish race seemed
10 belong 20 her. Her daIk eyes had
plenty OF fire In them. but there was
never any duplicity back Of Il.
Burton loved her. not merely be-
cause she was captivating. but be-
cause she combined those sterling
qualities admired by every man OF Sc
rious nature.
When he met her he knew at once
II was a case OF settle down and
grow up with the country" for here
was not only his professional work.
but his hearts ideal also.
He had not yet proposed 10 Aurora.
He had a theory that Il should not be
necessary. except as a matter Of form
and that any man who was refused
was fool and ought 10 be- He
claimed that lovers should learn 20 un.
derstand each other in the language
Of love before attempting to make use
Of any other language.
He knew Aurora loved him. aud all
he wanted was the parental sanction.
Now he had obtained II. but with a
difficult condition imposed.
How could he build her a house? He /
was drawing only 1920 per month.
Enough. you say? Remember that /
this Is the debased currency Of Mex. |
leo: and that the things that must be /
purchased with II are all marked away /
up 10 the standard OF the United \
States currency A man who Is worth |
two dollars a day In the United States
gets only two dollars in Mexico; but
pair Of shoes worth two doll,.s. in
the United States costs eight Sfen |
dollars in Mexico.
How. then. you say. can the native
Mexicans live on from fifty cents TO
dollar a day In Mexican money!
They wear a shirt, a pair OF overalls.
a blanket and pair OF sandals-no
more: and they eat pancakes and
beans. pancakes and beans. pancakes
and beans. and beans.
So how was James Burton TO sup
port himself on $3.50 a month and
build a house besldes2 You don't
know. and neither did he; but he de-
termined TO do Il Just the same
Finally he got an idea: He waited
or good opportunity. and then
preached the subject 70 the manager
Of the company. a Mr.. Langdon.
Mr.. Langdon." he said. ~ you'll
build me a little three-room adobe
house. I'll stand half the cost"
You been getting married."
Not yet. no. But want to as soon
as ! can get a house"
Sorry. my boy; sorry; but the com.
pany won't allow me to make such an
expenditure at this time Later on.
when our drifting reaches those rich
veins that show on the surface OF the
hill. and we get TO running that rich
eANh AAiNANA Ahf AhAtl AfANs NAtlt may I
be a different story 10 tell: but Just
now. cannot do II"
He went back TO his work in the as.
say room. He thought about II all
day. Night came. and he crawled into
his bunk. What could he do? There
must be some way OF solving this
problem! He had solved other prob
lens, mining problems. many Of them:
why couldn't he solve this?
BY means OF many inquiries he had
satisfied himself that $3.50 Mexican
vas a safe estimate OF the cost OF a
hree-room adobe house built so as to
be barely comfortable ridiculously
ow figure. 10 be sure! But Il would
axe him a long time 20 save that
much. and II the adobes weren't made
turing March. April and May. he'd ,
lave TO wait another year. Il still
acked two weeks 10 the first OF
enough 20 build the {
oundation-and the company had
,lenty OF lime and stone on hand. May
BE- Mr.. Langdon would let him have !
inie and stone enough for the foun. s
.ation II he assumed the responsible.
- Of paying the wages There was /