Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-09
DAILY SHORT STORY
COUNTER SACRIFICE.


Mexican whose hacienda was located
but a dozen miles from the capital.
His family consisted of a son, Pedro,
the issue of his first wife, and Concha,
the 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 IA wild fellow and
was little at home. No one knew where
he spent his time. and there We're many
surmises that developed into state
ments, all more or less detrimental to
him. His father after one day receiv-
ing a letter from him, the contents of
which he did not make known, gave out
that Concha should be his sole heir. He
made IL will in her favor and, calling
her into his office in n wing of the
house where he transacted the bust
ness OF the hacienda gave it TO her to
read.
"But what is Pedro to dog she ask
ed, looking up with a pair of dark
Spanish eyes full of sympathy for her
stepbrother.
what do care for him?" exclaimed
the old man, showing plainly by his
tone that he cared Il great deal. Does
he ever come here to stay with his
father? Besides, he will get killed in
some desperate fight before die peace
ably in my bed. No, Concha, ii is 10
you. who are taking care of me i'll my
declining days, that my estate shall
go-to you who deserve it,
Pedro is brave" interposed the girl,
~,
"Oh. yes; most wild boys are brave,
but. what recompense is that TO me?
The girl turned away At these last
words and soon left the Office, but not
before seeing her stcpfather put the
will in pigeonhole of his desk.
Soon after this Concha was drawn
in two different directions. Her step
father fell i'll. and her mothers sister,
whom COncha loved as mother, met
with an accident and lay at the point
of death. The old man mselfishly babe
her go where she was most needed,
and she departed, promising TO return
as soon as the necessity for her alb
sence was ended She had not been
gone long when Pedro came home. 1t
was his twenty-first birthday, and he
sible of his neglect and had chosen the
day to begin new life. His father ut
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, 10y your former action You
have forced me to disinherit you. I
have made will leaving everything to
COncha. 1 shall now make another
leaving all to You, who can alone trans
NIT your fathers name"
But what will Concha do?'
'C9pcha has been a good girl. She
has devoted herself to me while you
have neglected me. l shall expect you
to see that she is provided with what
she needs
But, father, you are surely not GO
ing to trust her very living to one who
bears such a character as IT,
The words were interrupted by tie
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
it in his desk where it could be brought
to him in case he should wish it, But
he never again saw the instrument, for
he was taken off by heart failure that
very night Concha was summoned.
and in Il few days the old man was
laid TO rest
1t was the night of the funeral. The
next day the disposition of the proper
ty would be looked into When all was
still Pedro emerged from his room and
went Stealthily to his fathers Office. \
full moon gave almost the light of day.
Just as he was about to enter from Il
passageway he paused. Some one was
in the Office. Looking through n partly
open door he saw Concha take u paper
from the desk and glide silently away.
At first he thought that she had taken
the will his father had made in his
favor, but he knew that it was in an
other part of the desk, and the shock |
he suffered from such an act on her |
part was relieved. Doubtless she had |
possessed herself of some paper of her |
own. He waited awhile. then, hearing
no sound, entered, went to the desk,
took out a paper and lighting match |
held corner over the flame.
Pedro, what are you dOingY"
Lie MOluS MciC Spohch III NOutiid =
soft voice as she came into the ROOM |
The two stood face to face in the moon
light streaming through a window. |
Pedro was silent
'If you are going to burn your ia |
TIERS will bequeathing your estate to |
me you may save yourself the trouble. !
1t is here" and she tore a paper she |
held to fragments.
Pedro stood mute. "COncha," he said |
at last, my father made a will while |
you were away leaving the estate to |
me. came here to burn it,
Scratching a match, Pedro lighted a |
candle, ana together both read the will |
leaving the estate to Pedro with an in
junction to him to provide for Concha
Then they examined the paper Concha
had torn, and II was the Will made |
T. t. xD, 60