Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-04-16

permeated the Chilombian atmosphere.
The wedding day arrived. Caballero
and his best man set out for the cathe-
dral. AS they turned corner the per.
fume of an invisible cigarro drifted to
the dictator's nOstrils. He paled and
became silent 1t was La Paz! The
tide was turning. The revolutionary
pendulum had begun its counter swing.
But he determined, at any rate, to
make sure Of Esmerelda. He waited
ut the church for half an hour. Then
came a messenger posthaste from the
D'Estes household to say that the
wedding must be indefinitely post
poned. Esmerelda had fed that morn.
ing to the mountains with Lochinvar.
Caballero was furious. He urged
immediate pursuit. Papa D'Estes and
his Sous procrastinated. They spoke
casually Of Lochinvar's well known
skill with pistol and rifle. Finally the
dictator started on the trail Of the low
ers. The father and the seven breth-
rem followed. but without enthusiasm.
In the middle Of the afternoon they
came in sight of Lochinvar and Es-
merelda fastening along a narrow
road cut in the rocky wall Of a deep
canyon. Just ahead swinging bridge
Of ropes and wooden crosspieces SPAN
ned the river sullenly murmuring 5000
feet below. On the other side Of the
gorge the road ran north to Bogota,
south to La Paz. Once across, II the
fugitives could destroy the bridge they
would be safe.
Caballero shouted triumphantly and
spurred his jaded horse forward. Loch-
invar hastened across the span with
Esmerelda. Ere they reached the mid
die the dictator had dismounted and
set foot upon the swaying structure.
Lochinvar looked back and took In
the situation. He drew his machete.
One quick slash, and the left cable
sprang asunder. The bridge hung
quivering. Needless Of the cry Of hor-
ror behind, he dropped his knife, gath
cred the fainting Esmerelda in his
arms and staggered across to safety.
The dictator was SO far advanced
that it was as safe for him to keep OIL
as to return. Just as the last strands
parted he g0lned the solid rock not
fifty feet behind the fugitives who
were hurrying toward La Paz. With
a cry of triumph he started In pursuit.
A shout from the other side made
him halt He looked across the gorge.
There stood the D'Estes family In line.
eight Mausers swung carelessly In their
left hands. eight monltory right fore
fingers pointing toward Bogota. The
dictator was on the wrong side Of the
river. For hundred miles either way
there was no other bridge. 1t would
be days before he could get back to
the capital Of Chilombia. Meanwhile
the new revolution would have made
his presence unnecessary.
Caballero took IL step toward In Paz.
Seven Mausers went up to seven right
shoulders. all but little brother Cristo-
feros. who was left handed. His went
up to his left. Eight forefingsrs touch
ed eight triggers.
Caballero stopped. He was too good
q mark against the rock. He faced
about and maledicted the entire male
branch Of the house Of D'Estes, living
and dead, born and unborn. Papa
D'Estes smiled grimly. lowered his
Mauser and lit la Paz cignrro. Dit
to Brother Alfonso. Ditto all the 9th
ers. II was as good rs a comic opera.
After Caballero grew weary Of ours
ing he turned his steps toward Bogota.
The D'Estes family camped In the
road that night to make sure he would
not try to repass I'm the darkness Then
they returned to Chilombia and engi-
neered the revolution that put them In
control Of the state and fulfilled the
parents most ambitious dreams for
their seven sons.
When Lochinvar and his bride came
back after their honeymoon. they were
received with open arms. Everybody
In town was smoking La Paz, and they
were still drinking aguardlente.