The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1909-05-14
The A|nQIeuT ReVO|UIIODSt


II you should see bronzed men or
men with soldierly bearing frequenting
a certain office in small street in
San Francisco, and If you knew who
the men were or what they represent
ed, you could predict to a nicely the
next Central American revolution, its
leaders, and its outcome. That Is be-
cause San Francisco Is the place where
everything commences, and many have
their end in the way Of troubles in the
"sister republics"
Three years ago the present govern
ment Of Guatemala missed overthrow
by just hair. AS the man who had
been financing the insurrection said
bitterly when the bottom fell out "If
1t weren't for women there'd be no
revolutions, and If it weren't for
woman every revolution would be sue
cessful." He said this to the man who
knows more about troubles political
where there's money and fighting than
any other man In the world. This
man nodded his head with a smile not
often seen on his spare face. The
financier didn't like the look and he
growled some more: "They might at
least have let me hold the government
up for my expenses before calling the
whole business off. | could have got
everything back and interest on my
venture"
The other man kept on smiling
''Fhat's the way you fellows look at It,
If you can't win, sell out at good
price. But that don't win In the long
run. One woman can spoil the
scheme"
Two years before this young wom-
an landed from the Pacific Mail steam
or City Of Para, and registered at the
Palace as from Mazatlan. She had Il
little maid who giggled and talked
Mexican, some luggage with Vienna
md Paris hotel labels over 1t, and the
manner Of deposed queen. She sign
ed herself as "Srta Maria Rivas."
In due time Senorita Rlvas left the
hotel for quiet lodgings on Vallejo
street But before she disappeared
from the court. gentle-mannered old
man with knotty hands, called and In
troduced companion. "This is the
young man | spoke to your eXcelcncy
about. present Senor Thomas Vim
cent" Then the gray-hnlred man slip
ped away, and Thomas Vincent was
left looking down into the dark face
Of Maria Rivas. lie did not know why
lie was there, nor who she was, nor
oven the name of the man who had In
troduced him. But he was not sorry.
She let him stand while she glanced
him over. Vincent drew himself up at
her somewhat insOlent manner, and
was rewarded by smile
"Will you accept an invitation to
supper tonight If press you very
hard?" she asked him in smooth En-
gllsh.
Vincent turned his eyes about the
court Then he looked down at her
again, and nodded curtly. Certainly,
madam" He flushed and went on,
"But failed to catch your name.
am awfully embarrassed
She got to her feet. and held out a
slender hand II am Miss Mary Ri
vas" she said, quietly. MY father
was formerly the president of Hon
duras | went to school at Bryn Mawr,
and met your sister there. That's
why, when | found you were In San
Francisco, asked to have you brought
and introduced"
Vincent looked at her very soberly,
almost pltyingly. Then he offered her
his arm, and they went into the sup
per-room, where everybody turned to
watch their progress, knowing neither
of them.
When she removed to the Hat ON
Vallejo street, Miss Mary Rivas told
Vincent to come and take the first din
ner with her. Wen christen the new
pace" she said, gayly, "and, besides.
l hope you'll find that I'm really Amer
lean and can cook
That night at 0 o'clock when the
Mexican maid had departed giggling
70 the kitchen. vincent's hostess leaned
forward over the table at which they
sat- and rested her elbows on 1t, Her
bare arms framed her face In sudden
way that took Nincent's heart out of
its regular beat He leaped to his feet