The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-02
THE EVENING STOR Y
a Revolution in Chilombia.
(By George Kennett.)

<By George Kenneth
The D'Estes family was of the
haughtiest in Chilombia. Papa D'Estes
was a retired dictator, not yet entered
into that permanent rest which the
cemetery affords to most Spanish
American patriots at or before the end
of their official careers. His best en-
ergieS were now engrossed in cremat-
ing malodorous cigarros, and in irri-
eating certain arid tracts of his inter-
for with aguardinete- Mamma D'Estes
does not count in this story, save as
the parent of seven sons and one
daughter enumerated below.
There were Brother Alfonso. who
was destined for the presidency: and
Brother Juan, for the generalship of
the army; and Brother Leon, for the
archbishopric; and SO on through the
list to little Brother Cristofero, who
was to fill some older brothers place,
should any one elect foreign minis
tership instead of service at home. But
the flower and darling of the house
hold was Sister Esmerelda; she was
to wed the highest official in the re-
public outside her own family. unless
indeed some foreign potentate should
seek her hand.
Two gallants wooed the rose of the
D'Estes, both the Chilombian aristoc-
racy, and both of the stuff from which
dictators and presidents are made
Senior Caballero and Senior Lochinvar.
OF these two E.smerelda appeared to
favor the latter, to his rivals great dis
comfiture.
The situation irked Caballero's soul.
True, he might pistol or knife his en-
envy, returning some pleasant night
from serenading his inamorata. But
he knew that suspicion would at once
be directed toward him, and his
chances of winning Esmerelda forever
destroyed. He might challenge his foe
shot than he. Decidedly, things could
not be worse. What was the remedy?
Like homing pigeon he turned to the
refuge of his race-a revolution.
Caba1lero sat himself down to think,
thing he did only on special occa-
sions. The lines of revolutionary
cleavage must be such that he and
Papa D'Estes should find themselves
on one side. and Lochinvar on the
other. The smoke of his cigarro furn-
ished Inspiration.
Only two kinds of tobacco are
smoked in Chilombia-Bogota and La
Paz. Cabailero and Papa D'Estes
were of the cremators of Bogota, while
Lochinvar clave to those who calcined
La Paz. There was 60 per cent. duty
on Bogota, only 40 on La Paz. Here
was revolutionary timber with a VEN
geance.
Caballero quietly kindled the flame.
Soon the populace were boiling like a
superheated chocolate pot. The hot
blood of the descendants of the Incas
must be let. sts -
Then came the explosion. There
were bells. bullets bayonets, brick
bats and bluff ad libitum. BY day they
slew one another at the barricades. BY
night they fraternized in the cafes
over trimming flagons of aguardiente.
A delicate mutual courtesy prevented
any smoking.
The adherents of Bogota won. Loeb
invar fled to the mountains to remain
in retirement until the next revolu-
ton. In fever of patriotic excite
ment the duty on Bogota was abo1-
ished, and the importation of La Paz
utterly forbidden. Behold at last a just
and stable government! There would
never be any more revolutions. Every
body was putting Bogota. La Paz was
synonymous with high treason. But
they still irrigated with aguardiente;
nothing could prevent that.
Caballero's comet was at it's zenith.
The dictatorship lay within his grasp.
He called Papa D'Estes into consulta-
ton, and formally requested the hand
of Senorita Esmerelda; he promised
his future brothers-in-law the highest
positions in the Chilom bian state.
His daughter the wife of the dicta-
tor! His sons leading members of the
government! Papa D'Estess feelings
overcame him. The seven young bloods
of his house raked their sombreros a
trifle lower than ever. But Esmerelda
remained tearfully true to her absent
lover, and despite parental urging
steadfastly repealed the advances of
Meanwhile Lochinvar was wasting
no time. He pawned an ancestral gold
mine, and purchased a hundred thou |
sand La Paz cigarros and ten thousand |
TASKS, of aguardiente. These were |
brought over the passes on llamas, !
and cached in a convenient cave.
A month passed, and still Esmerelda |
held out against Caballareo. Popu- |
law enthusiasm for the new govern |
ment had begun to cool.
One day messenger brought note I
to Papa D'Estes; he read 1t frowning. |
but returned a reply. That night a
long, black Golfer was Struggled into /
the rear of his mansion. A score of
similar boxes had been secretly con-
veyed to the abodes of other promt-
nent families.
At midnight in a double-barred and
boIted chamber the black Golfer was
placed on trestles. Papa D'Estes stood
at its head, and little Brother Cristo-
Zero at it's foot, while the six other
brethren were ranged three on either
side The box was opened. 1t was
Allied to the brim with cigarros of La (
Paz; among them nestled a goodiy
number of peculiarly-shaped bottles.
At last a date was set for the we'd
ding of Caballero and the unwilling
Esmerelda. But. as the dictator.s ar
dor increased, that of Papa D'Estes
and the seven brothers perceptibly
cooled For six weeks not a roll of
la Paz had been smoked openly In
But now the people began
% tire of Bogota.S The daily journals
voiced vague hints of tyranny. Steal
Inv whiffs, elusive scents of La Paz
oermeated the Chilombian atmos-
ohere. |
The wedding day arrived. Cabal-
ero and his best man set out FOR. the
cathedral. AS they turned a corner,
he perfume of an invisible cigarro
lrifted to the dictator's nostrils. He
oaled, and became silent It was La
pazr The tide was turning. The revo-
utfonary pendulum had begun It's
Rut he determined at any rate to
- ,,,,a re p-sro eraIda He waited