Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-07-12
BOSOM
FRIENDS
An Episode OF the Mexican
Revolution
BY RYLAND BELL


On the outskirts OF the City OF Mex
leo lived two friends. Manuel Cusio
and Enrique Coral.
Both Cusio and Coral were acquaint-
ed with Pepita Reyes and were max
Ing love 10 her ut the same time Gu
sio. who had no idea that his friend
was favorably disposed TO the girl,
coniided his own feelings with respect
to her. but Coral did not reciprocate
the confidence. The latter had an idea
that he could by perseverance win
Pepita from Manuel and proposed TO
her after he knew that she had engag
ed herself to his friend
While Pepita was n girl OF very deep
feeling. she possessed n good under
standing and plenty of solid SENSE
that Is to say. she had both brains and
tact
"Why do you set so much store by
your friend Enrique Coralf" she would
say. you are his superior in every
way You have in you the markings OF
more prominent citizen. You are
more trustworthy"
"You women replied Manuel. ARE
I influenced by your feelings Men
/ Judge by facts Enrique will one day
4 be one Of the most influential men in
/ Mexico"
/ Pepita knew that Enrique was aware
I OF his friends love for her and that
she had promised 10 be his wife. but
so great was Enrique's influence over
Manuel that she dare not tell her lover
1 what Enrique had done. Should En-
rique deny Il Manuel would believe
that she had a personal grudgc against
his friend and had brought falls
accusation against him. Indeed. Man
uel had once said 10 her. "Why is II
4 that when woman gets a lover she
nj once tries 10 separate him from all
his old friends;'
On this account Pepita thought II
wiser TO keep the secret. realizing that
/ II Manucl's eyes were ever opened 10
his friends true character he must
find IL out through some one else than
herself Possibly after marriage she
might venture warming. but not now.
4 Enrique, she believed. had IL In his
I power to separate her from Manuel.
whom she dearly loved
When Manuel and pepita We're mar.
ried Enrique was called away on bust
ness and was not present at the wed
I ding This east gloom on the festiv-
/ titles. for the groom was bitterly dis
appointed Indeed. Enrique was 10
have been his best man" His bride
was tempted TO tell him the reason OF
his friends absence. but shrank from
/ bringing the accusation at such n time
/ After the wedding she put of speak.
/ ing OF the matter. and when again she
met Enrique he expressed his appreci-
alton of her good sense In not having
told Manuel that he had been his RI
val and begged that she would never
break up their friendship by doing so.
Since he excused himself for his act
by his infatnation for her and seemed
to regret having spoken she yielded
TO u request that she would promise
I him to keep the secret always
Ten years passed While Cusio and
| Coral were naturally not thrown TO.
gcther as much as they had been when
they were 9TH bachelors. there seem
ed 10 he no change In their intimacy
I Coral had achieved prominence as an
aeitator II" was n fluent speaker and
was always ready 10 show the people
why they should pull down rather than
why they should patiently plod on In
building up Cusio was an unambi
! tinpa man up1 ttftnxVar.. % hts niauta
/ He had inherited n hacienda and was
content 10 cultivate It. spending any
time not required for the purpose In
his library.
Such was the status when the upris-
I ing against President Porfrio Diaz be.
gan to show itself Cusio was salts
He'd with the existing conditions and
remained quietly on his hacienda
1 Coral. while pretending TO support the
government. WAS secretly working
with the supporters Of Madero The
revolution vas a long while develop
ing. and during this period Cuslo and
Coral had frequent discussions upon
the political aspects OF national AT
fairs. and when they had parted after
one OF them Cusio would say 10 his
wife:
There's u man for you The presi
dent has no such stanch supporter rs
Enrique Coral When the revolution Is
ended he will occupy one Of the most
important positions in the cabinet"
Nevertheless. my dear" replied the
wife. remember that In politics friend
ship does not count When il becomes
necessary for the politician TO sacrifice
pcclally during these governmental
changes we have IN Central America
To keep your own counsel Is not TO dis
trust your friends You don't know
but that circumstances may arise
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