Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-05

Both SuSlO ana SOr3I were dCQual0I-
ed with Pepita Reyes and were max
ing love to her at the same time. Gu
sio. who had no idea that his friend
was fagorably disposed to the girl,
confded 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 girl of very deep
feeling, she possessed a 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 Coral?" she would
say. "You are his superior in every
way. You have in you the malSings of
a more prominent citizen. You are
more trustworthy"
"You women" replied Manuel, ARE
Influenced by your feelings. Men
Judge by facts. Enrique will one day
be one of the most influential men in
Mexico"
Pepita knew that Enrique was aware
of his friends love for her and that
she had promised to be his wife, but
so great was Enrique's influence over
Manuel that she dare not tell her lover
what Enrique had done. Should En-
ridue deny it Manuel would believe
that she had personal grudge against
his friend and had brought false
accusation against him. Indeed, Man
uel had once said to her, "Why is it
that when a woman gets a lover she
at once tries to separate him from all
his old friends?"
On this account Pepita thought 1t
wiser to keep the secret, realizing that
If Manuers eyes were ever opened to
his friends true character he must
find 1t out through some one else than
herself. Possibly after marriage she
might venture warning, but not now.
Enrique, she believed, had 1t in his
power to separate her from Manuel,
whom she dearly loved.
When Manuel and Pepita were mar
ried Enrique was called away on bust
ness and was not present at the we'd
ding. This cast gloom on the festiv-
tiles, for the groom was bitterly dis
appointed. Indeed, Enrique was to
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 time
After the wedding she put off 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 infatuation for her and seemed
to regret having spoken, She yielded
to a request that she would promise
him to keep the secret always.
Ten years passed. While Cusio and
Coral were naturally not thrown to-
gether as much as they had been when
they were both bachelors, there seem
ed to be no change in their intimacy.
Coral had achieved prominence as an
agitator. He was a fluent speaker and
was always ready to show the people
why they should pull down rather than
why they should patiently plod on in
building up. Cusio was an unambi-
tious man and unaware of his talents.
He had inherited hacienda and was
content to cultivate it, spending any
time not required for the purpose in
his library.
Such was the status when the upris-
ing against President Porfirio Diaz be-
gan TO show itself. Cusio was salts
fed with the existing conditions and
remained quietly on his hacienda.
Coral, while pretending to support the
/ government, was secretly working
with the supporters of Madero. The
revolution was long while develop
ing, and during this period Cusio and
Coral had frequent discussions upon
/ the political aspects of national af-
! fairs, and when they had parted after
one of them Cusio would say to his
wife:
There's a man for you. The presi-
dent has no such stanch supporter as
| 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 it becomes
necessary for the politician to sacrifice
| his friend he has no alternative, es.
! pecially 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
which will compel him to sacrifice
you"
when Enrique sacrifices me-" re
piled the infatuated man, II shall con
slider the world too dishonorable fol
me to live in"
Pepita turned away, with a sigh, say
ing to herself: 1.-THE world is too con
temptible for him to live in. He is 81
honorable himself that he can't realizs
the dishonor of others"
When the uprising was completed
and President Diaz was leaving Mexi
co. Coral went over publicly to the sid,
he had been secretly fostering and be
| came one of the chief beneficfaries q