Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

cards and the puque were taking much of his
time and money; nor because nights when he to
play the mandolin for the fandango he stayed to eat
with Luz the jolly cook at Don Patncios at the
little restaurant where fat Concha sold chilli
and tamales to the Americans forever travelling and
eating.
Francisco, the blacksmith echoed the belief of many
he talked with Robusto Patino the overseer of San
Margarta, tarrying to have horse shod "Diablo!"
wheezed Francisco, husky his own bellows ITO
have girls, only girls in family they to Toba
htothis brings bad luck to house. Girls make only
watching and working for a father
You speak truth, assented RobuSto leaning against
the wall and blowing smoke in many rings 1.-The grave
is not the worst resting place man does well not to
have too many about him. woman IS word and
cells tail-who holds these, holds nothing says the
proverb'
And Marta the strong armed lauemdara at the Amer
lean hotel, more bitter and personal Marta, it
whispered had once hoped to be herself mistress of
Tobatos geranium hedged house. and she had her
tongue in her cheek when she spoke of Carmela. Rims
ing the towels in the running brook she paused to speak
with old Eulalia-muffled in black reboSo and out
seeking stray hen.
1T is not of nature said Marta with decision, that
the children of young strong parents like Tobalito and
this Carmela from Sonora should die young Such
parents were not meant to be together The little souls
do not want to to them. They 60 at any excuse
And Tobalito unused in self pity of Pablo and Pedro,
his fellow herdsmen each with their three boys
not to mention grs-a plenty of children soon to take
the toll from the shoulders of their parents who might
then sit in the There Tobalitos brother Jose
with six children, his brother Juan with eight and In
nocencio his cousin, with five. Caramba! it was hard
that should have to endure wife unlucy this
Carmela.
So it pass by and by that of all who had been
her friends only old wrnked Angela of Pala the Indian
cnrandera. came now to see Carrnela. Angela among
the hills at Paa had grown old and wise in all the Indian
lore of herbs and cures adding nge of Aztec traditions
to the traditions of the native California Indians Hav
ing been the playmate of Tobaltos mother when both
neophye children together in the last days of the
mission rule, Angela had always felt close to Tobato.
She had been with Carela at the birth and death of
each of the ninas Long talks the two often had to-
gether grinding at the door, sitting at the
of the little sisters Carmela embroiderng her
nen Angela weaving baskets of willow twigs her long
grown thumbnail her only knife and chisel.
NEARLY two years after Pepita, the fifth little sister,
had been taken to the Campo Santo another little
girl baby to the adobe home under the sycamore
The child christened Gracioza, the happy mother
taking it to the old baptismal fount of the mission
swathed in the yellowing white robe adorned with
drawnwor that had folded all the other little sisters in
turn.
AS with each baby at her breast, there was an
ecstatic four or five months,
Carmela patient and eager .r