The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-12-21
A Tragedy Of Pride.
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izen Of Mexico, claimed descent from
that Alynrado who made tho famous
leap across tho break In tho causeway
when Cortcz's army rctreated from
the capitol. Don Rafael's ancestors
had acquired large tract Of land In
ancient Tlnscaln. ono OF the Mexican
provinces. aud one OF them ut one time
owned n gold mine. In Don Rafnel's
youth tho family wealth had been very
great, and wealth and ancestry are tho
father and mother Of pride. The young
man was brought np TO consider no ono
In Mexico his equal. that Mexico was
made especially for tho Alvarados aud
that an Alvarado could not accept
favor or withhold one.
Don Rafael lived on his hacienda, O
large estate that remained from tho
original grant OF tho king Of Spain.
From his walls the portraits OF his
ancestors looked down on him. oil
seeming TO say tho same words, IRE.
member that you are an Alvarado."
Covering ono end Of the banquet room
was n painting Of the original Aivara'
do making the wonderful leap.
| Don Rafael upon his accession to tho
property began TO Guido any Of his
progenitors In splendor Of living and
hospitality. lie had n sister. Dona
Isabel, who was an especially attrac.
two feature In his home. She attempt.
ed to check her brother In his extrav.
agance. pointing out to him that those
hc was entertaining were bleeding him
and ut the rate no was proceeding no
would soon have nothing left. But her
warning was OF no avail. Some Of tho
guests taught their host gambling
games. others borrowed money. Both
methods were employed to impoverish
him. Gradually his bank account melt.
Cd away, his revenues became mort
gagged. and at last ruin stared him In
tho face.
I About this time came a very dif.
fcrcnt sort OF guest from tho others.
George Wallace young American OF
h considerable means and graduate OF
school Of mining engineering. He
had gone TO Mexico 10 examine mine
for some New York capitalists. with
view 10 keeping lookout for other
mines In which TO make investments
himself. He found q 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 no considered no one
either In Mexico or the United States
good enough to marry his sister, con.
sented TO the match.
Something troubled the girl, which
did not escape the attention OF her low
or. He pressed her for 1t. and she al
last confessed that her brother was
financially In desperate condition.
After having tied up his resources he
had mortgaged 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 be 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 II
to his host without security. The only
condition he made was that Don Ra-
fael should thereafter listen to the ad.
vice Of his sister, dismiss the vampires
4 who were preylng upon him and en-.
deayor to straighten his affairs.
/ Wallace did not doubt that the man
he had offered to help would thank.
fully accede 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.
I varados. prevented his accepting the
loan.
II owe you world Of thanks" he
said, "but an Alvarado cannot accept
favor What would these, my ances-
tors, think of me II 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 on his
future life. all to no purpose. He
could not break the mans pride. He
was obliged TO 90 to Dona 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 II 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. Its light revealed Don
Rafael standing near the chamber
door with bag In his hand, which
Wallace recognized as his property.
It contained the gold he had offered
his host-gold that pride had prevent
ed him from accepting as loan. He
was now attempting to steal II.
BY the brief burning of a 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 benefactor's breast.
Then Dona Isabel, bearing light,