The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-06-04
A Tragedy of Pride.


izen of Mexico. claimed descent from
that Alvarado. who made the famous
leap across the break in the causeway
, when Cortez's army retreated from
the capitol. Don Rafaels ancestors
had acquired a large tract Of land in
ancient Tlascala, one of the Mexican
provinces, and one of them at one time
owned gold mine. In Don Rafaers
youth the family wealth had been very
great, and wealth and ancestry are the
father and mother of pride. The young
man was brought up to consider no one
in Mexico his equal. that Mexico was
made especially for the Alvarados and
that an Alvarado could not accept a
favor or withhold one.
Don Rafael lived on his hacienda, a
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
progenftors in splendor of living and
| Isabel, who was an especially attrac-
| tive feature in his home. She attempt
ed to check her brother in his eXtrav-
| agance. pointing out to him that those
| he was entertaining We're bleeding him
ana 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 were 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. young American of
considerable means and a graduate of
school of mining engineering He
had gone to Mexico to examine a mine
for some New York capitalists, with a
view to keeping a lookout for other
mines in which to make investments
himself. He found 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
| err He pressed her for it, and she at
! 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 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-
| fael should thereaft er listen to the adj
vice of his sister. dismiss the yamnires
| who We're prcying upon him and en-
deavor to straighten his affairs.
Wallace did not doubt that the man
| he had offered to help would thank.
fully accede to his terms. Tie WIS dis
appointed. Don Rafael showed n
thorough appreciation of tho Lin,,,,,
interest that PROMPTED the offer hmt
pride. the trait that dominated tho A.
varados. prevented his accounting tho
loan.