The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1907-12-05
CHAPTER XIV.

was extremely pleased for he desired to
delay as long ~ possible an explAI-aticn
! which, In spite of the wound ~ % com
placently displayed, be feared would turn
out to his disadvantage; especially when
ouestioned by = man like tAe general,
whose piercing glance would descend to
the bottom Of his heart to discover the
truth, however cleverly hidden II might
be behind 4 network Of falsehocds-
| As only a few hours had still to slapss
before the explosion Of the conspiracy,
arranged with such care and mystery, ths
general was compelled for while to sus-
pend his schemes for the aatisfaction Of
his love and hatred, and only attend to
those in which his ambition was engaged.
The principal conspirators had been sum
moned to Colonel Lupo's, and there the
final arrangements had been made for the
morrow, and the watchword given.
Although the government appeared
plunged In the most profound ignorance
of what was preparing against it, and
evinced complete security, still the Presi-
dent bad made certain arrangements for
the morrows ceremonies which did not
fail greatly to trouble the men interested
In knowing everything, and to whom the
apparently most futile thing naturally
created umbrage
The general, with the curiosity that
distinguished him, was anxious to know
exactly the extent Of the danger he had
to meet, and proceeded to the palace,
merely accompanied by his two aides-de-
camp. He was too calm to let his feel
ings be seen. He pretended to be delight
| ed, remained for some time with the
President. who appeared to treat him
with a friendly familiarity, complained
of the rarity of his visits, and his OBJ
stinacy in not asking for command.
Still the general remarked that all the
courts were stuffed with soldiers, who
were bivouacking in the open air; that
several guns had been placed. accident
ally. perhaps, so as to sweep complete
ly the chief entrance gate, and, more seri- |
GUS still, that the troops quartered In |
the palace were commanded by officers |
who were strangers to him, and who had, |
moreover, the reputation of being devoted |
to the President of the Republic.
After this daring visit, the general |
mounted his horse, and under the pre-
text of going for a walk, went all over
the city. Everywhere the preparations
for the coming festival were being car
ried on with the greatest activity. Nj
merous wooden erections, raised for the
occasion, filed the space usually devoted
to tauromachy and formed an immense
hall of verdure, with pleasant clumps Of
trees, mysterious walks and charming re-
treats, prepared with the greatest care,
where everybody would go on the morrow
to eat the atrocious productions of the
Mexican art of cookery.
Exactly in the center of the square a
Necatitlan tree about twenty feet in
height was planted, with its branches
and leaves entirely covered with colored
pocket handkerchiefs that foated in the
breeze. This tree was the Monte Par
nasso, intended to serve as a may pole for
the leperos at the moment when the bull {
fights begin, and trial bull, emballado-
that is to say, with its horns terminating '
In balls, is let into the ring.
All the pulquerias near the square were t
filed with hideous, ragged mob, who 1
lowled, sang, shouted and whistled their t
oudest. I
In all the streets the procession would c
pass through the houses were decorated; [
Mexican flags were hoisted in profusion 9
1t every spot where they could be dis 0
played; and yet, by the side of all these {
Holiday preparations, there was, we re- a
,eat, something gloomy and menacing
hat struck chill to the heart. Through v
IL the gates fresh troops continually en- :
cred the city, and occupied admirably g
hosen strategic points. v
When a serious event Is preparing. 4
in tho t,,,nc L., a; / d
,hich never deceive the fosterers of rev. b
buttons; vague and apparently cause f'
,ss anxiety seizes on the masses, and un-
converts their joy into a spe- Of
les of feverish excitement, at which they II
re themselves startled, as they know not e1
} what to attribute this change in their 81
umor. az
Hence the population of Mexico, mad,
Jerry and joyous, as usual when a fes- -
val is preparing, in the eyes of short .
GIFTED persons, were In reality sternly :,
ID and suffering from great anxiety. The =
neral did not fail to observe these prog -
1stics; gloomy presentiments occupied -
IS mind, for he understood that ter -
bic tempest was hidden beneath this ic- -
tious calmness. Valentines gloomy pre- ~
ctions required to him. He trembled s.
see the hunters menaces realized and, -
ough unable to discover when the dan -,
r would come, he foresaw that great
ril was hanging over his head /; and that -,
5 ambitious projects would soon, per- y,
ps, be drowned in floods of blood. -, ,-i'
it was too late to desist ~. y,
must, whatever might happen, go on ~
the end, for he had not the time to ie-
We counter orders, and urge the con- AA'
traitors to defer the explosion OF the
1t till a more favorable moment. Hence, as
ter ripe reflection, the general resolved ito
push on, and trust to accident Am ny
ious men, by the way, reckon far more VIC
IN is supposed on hazard and those 1t
!gniicent combinations which are ad-
red when success has crowned them, In
, most frequently merely the unfore- ces
n results of fortuitous circumstances, swi
npletely beyond the will of the man ing
ON they have profted. to
The general returned to his house at the
,ut @ in the evening, despairing, and bra
eady seeing his plans annihilated. The OF
'ort of his capataz added TO his dis lin
for it was the drop of the
which makes the brimful cup air.
l.