El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-19
THE PIGEONS
By CoeIho Netto.

y ~ JOduId dpPCdlSQ III lAiC
M doorway yaW ming, tired with
the long. sleepless night she
had passed at her sons bedside, I'll
burcio. who was sts8ding on the ter
race was looking at the pigeon house
awakening, while he was leaning on
his spade.
The sun was rising and shed its gold
en- rays upon the dewy leaves. The
turtle doves we're picking up food by
the roadside and the .starlings were
tYittering among the branches Of the
trees.
The indian caboclo did not turn his
eyes away from the pigeon house. The
frown on his forehead told of his men
that occupied his mind One pigeon
flew away, then another and still an
other, He turned his head and fol-
low ed them until he could see them no
longer and fell back into his melan-
choly thoughts.
The birds came and went, entered
and came out again, cooling loudly and
evidently greatly excited. Then they
flew around their home, sat down in
the trees, on the roof Of the house. or
landed on the ground. Some of them
were scouting. seemed to look for a
way and flew away.
The indian kept on looking at them.
He knew very well that his sons life
was in danger, and that his fate was
being decided by the birds. He we'll
knew the old proverb: when the
pigeons leave misfortune comes quich-
ly"
Joanna saw him and asked:
What is it?'
The caboclo scratched his head but
did not answer. and she repeated her
question
The pigeons are holding council.
joanna
And you have only just noticed that
I did not want to say anything. but I
understand very well what I see"
The caboclo threw the spade across
his shoulder and walked slowly toward
the plantation through the fragrant
newly mown hay. Hidden in the tall
grass. the hens were cackling and sill
very brook rushed on with its soft
babling sound.
Tiburcio was greatly disturbed by
the behavior of the pigeons 1t was
sign of death.
He had heard the owl screeching
night after night. but had though moth
ing of it, for everything went well.
the little one was in the best of health
and they we're both strong and robust.
But now this first bad omen had been
confirmed by the flight of the pigeons.
They left because they felt death ap-
preaching the house.
He turned around and raised his
eyes. The birds were circling about in
the air and Joanna was standing in the
doorway of the cabane resting against
the doorpost, her arms crossed, her
head bowed down. Surely the poor
thing was crying
He felt a sudden hatred against the
ungrateful birds. He had never had
courage to kill one Of them. His only
thought had been to enlarge the dove
cote. as their number grew And was
it not the sick child who had fed them
every day? Perhaps they were leaving
the house now because they missed
him.
He shrugged his shoulders and went
on into the plantation. always seeing
before him the image of his sick child,
burning with fever. Suddenly he saw
a pigeon passing, followed by another
and still another. They were flying
away, never TO return, flying away be-
cause they felt that death was coming
to the house.
When Joanna saw him returning, she
felt what was in his mind
1T was good for you to come back"
she said. 81 do not know what to do
when 1 am alone.T
He looked at the dove cote, now
silent and deserted. When evening
came, Tiburcio lay down in the door
way smoking his pipe, waiting for the
pigeons to return
Then both went out on the terrace.
Underneath the pigeon house they
stopped and whispered.
Suddenly Joanna trembled. With
aEery nerve tense, she turned towards
the cabane, the door of which was open.
A moment she stood motionless. then
she rushed inside.
Unable to understand his wife's be-
havior, Tiburcio stood waiting for her
to come out again, when he heard a
piercing cry. He ran towards the ca
bane and into the chamber where
small light was burning.
What is it Joanna?"
She threw herself over the lifeless
body Of the little boy.
at is all over now. lookw
She stretched out her arms toward
her husband and fell down on her
knees soobing and repeating over and
over again the name of her dead boy.
my LUZ! Ny Luizinnol Oh, it can
not be true that he has left me-"
Tiburcio turned away, and in the
living room he stopped at the table,
his eyes staring, his lips twitching and
the tears streaming down his thin face.
Suddenly he thought he heard cooling
of pigeons
He listened attentively. No, the COO
ing continued. He stood up and quick.
~ walked towards the pigeon house.
Had the pigeons come back, now
that death had passed! There was the
swish of wings in the air; the birds
were really returning He cursed them
and started back towards the cabane.
Joanna was sobbing aloud. He pick
ed up the candle. went into the kitchen
and found the Ratchet. Then he went
outside again, rolled up his shirt
sleeves. and raised the Ratchet.
At the first blow which struck the
pigeon house. the birds grew quiet.
Tiburcio struck blow after blow until
the pigeon house came down With a
crash.
Two pigeons flew away, greatly
scared, not knowing where to fly. Fin