The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-01-23

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shade of the trees and read our favor
ite authors; he, Victor Hugo; ], Mau
passant. As the day wore on VIZ
would retreat, from this innocent di
version, before the heat, and nap un
til the cooler afternoon. Upon awak
ening we would bathe, and then for al
hour we would play; he, upon the
flute; !, upon the plano; we were botl
fair musicians In an amateur way
AS the sun sank and night came on
he would take his leave, after arrang
ing for the nights amusement.
Sometimes it was a visit to one Of
our aristocratic neighbors. Upon suor
occasions we were always called upo1
to provide the entertainment with oul
music. And our efforts were rewarded
with iced drinks and perfumed cigar
ettes served by the black-eyed senior
itas.
Sometimes it was party at the op
era, after which we would visit one OF
the gorgeous, gilded and enameled
cafes, and sit down to luncheon of in
describable, spicy dishes, and eat to
the strains Of a native band Mexico
is indeed the land of music, women
and flowers. All is beautiful and de-
lightful in that Paradise.
"Then, sometimes our recreations
would be less harmless. We would par.
TALLY disguise and enter the lower
quarters Of the city. Entering some
obscure retreat, we would sit at one
of the tables and watch the masses
amuse themselves, while slipping our
drinks and listening to the song of
some much berouged maiden singing
to the twanging Of a few mandolins
and guitars played by musicians fam
ingly dressed in reds, greens and yel-
lows. The songs would be loudly ap-
plauded by the patrons. Now and
then some halfdrunken youth would
climb upon the raised platform, upon
which the singer stood, and attempt
to kiss her. only to be rewarded with
box on the ears for his staggering
endeavors. This always pleased the
crowd, who would jeer the escaping
malefactor and shout 'bravas' to the
girl.
Upon one of the occasions Of such
an exploit we were seated at a table
listening to the songs of the singer
she was more beautiful than any we
had yet seen-when a drunken miner
leaped upon the stage in the midst of
a song, and, before the girl escaped
him, he seized her in his powerful
arms and kissed her. AS was custom
ary, the crowd was pleased by this
added attraction, and lent voice to
its approval. But the girl must have
thought otherwise, for she became
as rigid as ice, her lips trembled, and
her eyes burned like living Goals.
Turn me loose, senor,' she said, tremu-
lously. He kissed her again and held
her at arms length. Again she COM
manded him to release her, but he
only laughed at her anger. A silence
of expectancy had fallen upon the
crowd, for this gave promise of some
thing out of the ordinary. The musi-
clans had stopped playing and
watched the pair as intently as the
rest of the audience. Her eyes were
darting CLEANS of deadliest hatred at
him, which he was too drunk to ap-
preciate. Suddenly she spat full in his
face. Hardly had she done so, when
he crushed her to him and sank his
dirty yellow teeth into her bare shoul-
der. AS he tossed back his head and
laughed at her agony, a stream of
blood flowed down her chest and dyed
the covering of her bosom dark
color.
The crowd gasped; not so my
were Mexicans, he was
American. In few bounds he was at
the foot of the stage. He leaped upon
it and dealt the brute blow on the
side of the head that sent him spin
ming half way across the stage. The
girl, almost in a faint, sank to the
floor. With a smothered curse, the
Mexican recovered himself, and, draw
ing a cleaning machete, lunged at the
intruder, who met him with his bare
hands.
I'm trice they were locked in a
deadly embrace. With opened mouths
the crowd surged forward and looked
on. The girl, her eyes filled with ter
ror, sat where she had fallen and
watched them, fascinated by the death |
1t was the hand Of the Mexi- |
can which held the knife, which was
bad: but it was the hand of the Amer
lean which held the wrist Of that hand,
which was good. For few moments
they seemed ages-the point of the |
murderers weapon was within an inch |
Of the Americans throat If his al
ready perspiring hand should slip and
give but fraction, it would mean the
end. Gradually, though, the hand
which held the knife was turned.
Now it was turned completely
around, and its point was nearing
he others throat Fear of the
most frightful sort, instead of hatred,
was now stamped upon the face of the
Mexican. The tables were turned; he
was no longer the aggressor. Now he
was fighting to save his own life, not
o take anothers. He made superhu-
nan effort to break the iron grip that
leld him. The knife blade receded
but it was dying effort
His strength had fed with that last
attempt. His resistance gave way.
With a scream, that was cut short, he
sank to the floor. The blade had
passed through his throat For a mo-
nent no one stirred; then pandemo-
lium broke loose. In the confusion
hat followed we escaped from the
,rowd with the girl, who hurriedly
guided us through a dark gangway
which opened out upon back street.