The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1906-05-22
Counter Sacrifice


[Orisinal.l
Don Sancho Morenas was a rich
Mexican whose hacienda was located
but a dozen miles from the capital
Ills family consisted of a son. Pedro,
the issue OF his first Wife. and Concha.
tie daughter OF his second wife by her
first husband. After Concha's mother
died the girl lived on with her step
father. Indeed. she was his only com
fort, for his son was a wild fellow q
was little at home. No one knew where
he spent his time. and there were many
surmises that developed into state
ments, all more or less detrimental to
him. His father after one day receiv-
ing q letter from him, the contents OF
which he did not make known, gave out
that Concha should he HE sole heir. He
made a will in her favor and, calling
her into his Office III a wing Of the
house where he transacted the busi-
ness OF the hacienda, gave it to . to
read.
"But what is Pedro to dor she ask
ed, looking up with a pair OF dark
Spanish eyes full Of sympathy for her
stepbrother.
"What do 1 care for him?" exclaimed
the old man. showing plainly by his
tone that he cared a great deal. Does
he aver come here to stay with his
father? Besides. he will get killed In
some desperate fight before l die peace
ably In my bed. No. Concha. 1t Is to
you. who are taking care OF me / n my
declining days. that my estate shall
g0-to you who deserve it,"
Pedro is brave interposed the girl,
''and we know nothing against him."
"sOh, yes; most wild boys are brave,
but what recompensc Is that to me?
The girl turned away at these last
words and soon left the Office. but not
before seeing her stepfather put tae
will in a ~piSeonhole Of his desk.
Soon after this Concha was drawn
In two different directions. Her STEP
father fen III. and her mothers sister,
whom Concha loved al a mother, met
with an accident and lay at the point
Of death. The old man unselfshly babe
her 60 where she was most needed,
and she departed, promising to return
as soon as the necessity for her abb
sence was ended. She had not been
gone long when Pedro came home. 1t
was his twenty-irst birthday. and he
told his father that he had become SEN
sible of his neglect and had chosen the
day to begin a new life. His father a.
first doubted his sincerity; but. what
ever had been his sons faults. lying
had not been one Of them. The old
man took the boy to his heart and said
to him.
my son. by your former action you
have forced me to disinherit you. |
have made a will leaving everything to
Concha. | shall now make another
leaving all to you. who can alone trans.
NIT your fathers name"
but what viii Concha doy'
"Concha has been Il good girl. She
has devoted herself t, ne wh'.c you
have neglected ne. shall expect you
to see that she Is provided with what
she needs"
Dut, tdtuci. you uAC Suiciy hot 81
ing to trust her very living to one who
bears such a character as r.
The words were interrupted by the
old mans fainting. and when he re-
vived he knew that his end was near
Summoning his attorney. he made a
new will. directing the lawyer to place
1t In his desk where II could be brought
to him in Ease he should wish 1t. But
he never again saw the instrument. for
he was taken OF by heart failure that
very night. Concha was summoned,
and in Il few days the old man was