The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-11-19
A Tragedy Of Pride.
iOriginal.l

the capitol. Don Rafael's ancestors
had acquired large tract Of land in
ancient Tlascala, one of the Mexican
provinces, and one Of them at one time
owned a gold mine. In Don Rafael's
youth the family wealth had been very
great, and wealth and sscestry are the
father and mother of 1885, young
man was brought up to consider no one
in Mexico his equal, that Mexico YVES
made especially for the Alyarados ana
that an Alvarado could not accept q
| favor or withhold one.
Don Rafael lived Oh his hacienda. q
large estate that remained from the
original grant of the king of Spain.
From his walls the portraits of his
ancestors looked down on him. all
seeming to say the same words, Re
member that you are an Alvarado."
Covering one end of the banquet room
was painting of the original Alvara-
do making the wonderful leap.
| Don Rafael upon his accession to the
| property began to Guido any of his
progenitors in splendor of living and
hospitality. He had a sister, Dona
Isabel, who was an especially attrac-
tive feature iii his home. She attempt
ed to check her brother in his eXtrav-
| agance, pointing out to him that those
he was entertaining were bleeding him
and at the rate he was proceeding he
would soon have nothing left. But her
warning was of no avail Some of the
guests taught their host gambling
games, others borrowed money Both
methods We're employed to impoverish
him. Gradually his bank account melt
ed away, his revenues became mort
gagged, and at last ruin stared him in
the face.
About this time came a very diff
ferent sort of guest from the Others
George Wallace. a young American of
considerable means and a graduate of
a school of mining engineering. He
had gone to Mexico to examine a mine
for some New York capitalists. with Il
view to keeping lookout for other
mines in which to make investments
himself. He found a treasure of an
other kind, Dona Isabel. and straight
way proceeded to fall in love with her.
His love was returned. and Don Ra-
fael, though he considered no one
either in Mexico or the United States
good enough to marry his sister. con-
serted to the match
Something troubled the girl, which
did not escape the attention of her low
II q mr. 1lnr for e,I,>
last confessed that her brother was
financially in a desperate condition
After having tied up his resources he
had mortgage his hacienda. and the
mortgage was about to be foreclosed
Wallace, actuated by love and natural
noble impulses, went straight to Don
Rafael, told him that he had that day
received large remittance from New
York which he had drawn in gold
and had upstairs in his room. The
amount was sufficient to lift the mort
gage. and Wallace offered to loan it
to his host without security. The only
condition he made was that Don Ra-
fae1 should thereafter listen to the ad-
vice of his sister. dismiss the vampires
who We're preying upon him and en-
deavor to straighten his affairs.
Wallace did not doubt that the man
he had offered to help would thank
fully aecede to his terms. He was dis
appointed Don Rafael showed
thorough appreciation of the kindly
interest that prompted the offer. but
pride. the trait that dominated the AL
varados. prevented his accepting the
loan.
Il owe you world of thanks" he
said, but an Alyarado cannot accept
favor. What would these my ances-
tors. think of me if should accept
money from my sisters lover?"
Wallace argued with him. pointing
out to him the ruin that was about to |
fall upon him and its influence OH his |
future life, all to no purpose He
could not break the mans pride He |
was obliged to go to bona Isabel and |
tell her that he had made the offer. |
but had failed to effect its acceptance |
That night Wallace was suddenly |
awakened from sleep by hearing a |
noise in his room as if some one had |
stumbled against piece of furniture |
He listened, but all was quiet. Match |
es were on a stand beside his bed and |
he struck one It's light revealed Don |
Rafael standing near the chamber
door with bag in his hand. which |
Wallace recognized as his property.
1t contained the gold he had offered
his host-gold that pride had prevent
ed him from accepting as a loan. He
was now attempting to steal it.
BY the brief burning of match
Wallace saw the thief. and Don Rafael
knew that he had been detected The
match burned out. and before Wallace
could light another Don Rafael rushed
to the bed and plunged dagger into
his guest and benefactors breast.
Then Dona Isabel. bearing a light.
rushed into the ROOM followed by 9TH
ers Of the household Throwing her.
self on the body of her lover, she
cursed her brother. rs Il murderer am
a thief
Alvarado fed, thinking that he haH
n 4