Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1912-04-05
A Tragedy Of the
Mexican Revolution
By F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

tel In Mexico when l saw young
Mexican and a girl pass in in each
others company. She was talking rap
idly to him, evidently trying to per-
suade him to do or not to do some
thing. Suddenly l heard a crack, and
the young fellow fell dead. He had
been shot by man standing on the
other side Of the street.
The girl was wild with grief and
horror at thus seeing one l believed to
be her lover shot down beside her.
She fell upon the body and called wild
ly for him to come back to her. A lit
tie knot of people collected. and pres
emily saw them bear the body away.
the girl following. supported by wo-
man, doubtless her mother. The party
disappeared In house short dis
lance up the street.
Presently a man came out of the
house into which the body was carried,
and, passing me, asked him in
mixture of Spanish and English to tell
me what caused the affair.
Nothing. senior. except that the muir
dered man is supporter of the Diaz
government We are all insurrectos
here"
With this brief summary of the story
he passed on. l learned from another.
however, that the murderer and the
murdered man both wanted the same
girl.
had caught glimpse of the muir
derer l did not see him fire the shot,
but saw him walking away moment
later He was villainOus looking
man in Mexican costume and with a
swagger. ! saw him pass several
times during the day and did not see
In his face or in his manner the slight
est conjunction for what he had done.
of his deed.
The second act of the drama was
more astonishing still. saw the muir
derer go to the house where the body
of his victim had been taken and
knock ut the door. The summons was
answered by the woman who had sup
ported the girl after the murder. The
villain said something to her. and she
disappeared. The man waited some
time on the step, and at last the girl
whose lover he had shot came to the
door. He talked to her for quite
awhile. after which she went back
into the house. and the man came on
down the street. He had lost some of
his swagger. and his face wore Il Sc
loon in the next block where pulque
was sold.
That evening after supper l lighted
q cigar and strolled beyond the out.
skirts of the town. l was on the
plateau where the climate Is temper
ate, and the air was very pleasant. A
full moon was rising as the sun was
setting. Hearing voices behind me,
turned and met with another surprise.
The murderer and the girl whose lover
he had murdered were coming toward
me. He was doing the talking, while
she walked in silence.
These are strange people," l said
to myself. 1.-The villain. having muir
dered his rival. is pursuading the CIR
to be reconciled to him and take hin
instead"
They passed me on the other side Of
the road without appearing to notice
me. too absorbed in their own grew
some affair to think Of any one be
sides themselves.
If self preservation. as has beer
said. Is the first law Of nature curiosi
ty is certainly the second. Indeed
there are instances where curiosit.
has been preeminent. | was interest
ed in this affair. and instead Of turn
ing away from the path the coupl
were taking l strolled on behind them
keeping them In sight. But presently
the road where they We're walking
made a turn, and lost them.
l stopped and, leaning against
fence. looked at the broad face of tn
moon rising over the distant extinc
volcano Iztaccihwatl or the Whit
Woman" from its resemblance TO
woman lying dead robed In Il shrou
Of snow, my thoughts divided betwee
the drama of the day and the monr
tains Of many ages. Realizing that
might get into trouble by being too oil
servant Of other peoples affairs, wa
thinking of going back when. turnin
my eyes for a last glance to the poir
where the couple had disappeared.
saw the girl coming alone She Wa
walking very fast seemingly fifth
along like spirit. stood perfect
still She passed me, walking in II
middle of the road and so wrapt in h,
own emotions that she did not see IN
! will not attempt to find a word to d
scribe the expression on her face.
never wish to see such an expressit
again.
] did not need to go on to discov
what she had done with her compa
ion. Her returning alone and tn
look on her face assured me that s.
had taken swift revenge for Z
death Of her lover went back
my hotel, threw my belongings In
my trunk. paid my bin, went to {
station. where ! waited two hours
train to take me out of the countr
did not draw a free breath till b
boarded 1t and was moving away frc
the town and the double tragedy,
supposed I could leave 1t behind
Mexico. but I have been dIsappoints