The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-03-19

Afhlff liN hlNli1nfiHs
| almost stumbled DER n figure
crouched upon the stairway. Tho
iran form OF woman. shivering
In the dampneas OF the fog,
clothed IN somber garments and
with the black mantillR OF Mexi.
co wound tightly about her face.
Subconsciously. likened the
blackclad figure. brought into
strong relief against the white.
ness OF the marble stairs, 10 the
funeral border OF sheet OF
mourning paper.
such IL the psychology Of our
NTH sense.
The pathetic figure arose un.
steadily NJ my approach and 20
my surprise. for had surinised
II TO be an aged woman. | saw
that the early visitor was only a
girl, OF the blood of old CASTLE.
For the first time I noted that
she held tightly claapnd In her
arms. an infant
In the gray light OF dawn her
skin. ms fair as my own. looked
almost CHASTITY
The beautiful eyes we're hol.
low and haunted with terror. the
finely ehiselcd features drawn
and pinched with hunger and
suffering.
Even az | replied 10 her salute
she swayod. then crumpled in a
pitiful heap AZ my feet
bore the unconscious form
Into the hallway and deposited II
on a couch. while calling Justify
for the lnndlady. whom | heard
stirring IN her apartment.
Gently she took the whimper.
Ing bit OF humanity from the
mothers tightly eienched arms
and ministered 90 both.
After n time. revived and stim.
ulated by food aud hot coffee,
moved TO confidence BY tho un.
expected Kindness ~ strangers.
the giri.woman told VA. partly In
her own language and partly IN
ours. her story.
] give Il In my own words. for
the pathos OF her relation no
tongue can transcribe.
Kind Senior. but n little while
ago ! was. OH 40 happy My
father. Don Miguel Chavez. was
alcalde OF San Andreas: he was
wealthy. powerful. good. My
mother. alas seaor. she Ia with
the Virgin Mary.
The cruel war came on and
soldiers marched into Cuidad
San AndresB. | watched them.
rs they rode. through my latficed
windows Al their head ] saw
Jose. their captain. looking 40
proud and noble In his bright
uniform. and loved him. and
Senior. God was good. for he
loved mo in return.
He came 10 know my father
and myself. Our troth was plight.
ed. our wedding day was set. and
we were as happy a. tho birds
which mate In the springtime.
Then one day. without warn.
Ing. came Villas men. The sol
dlcrs fought and 1ose and his
men we're driven 10 tho hills
The insurrectos were com.
mandei by Col. Ramon AKuilar.
cruel and mercilesa soldier.
lie came 10 my fathers home
and In an evil hour saw me. and
he. too. wanted me. but. was
not my heart with Jose In the
mountainsg ! denied him.
Then began his prosecutions.
lie removed my father from OF.
flee. stripped him OF his wealth.
took his cattle. hts sheep. his
land. Our beautiful villa was
used TO stable his horses
Then. when we we're starv-
ing. he brought my good father
before mo and told me that II I
would not be his. he. my father.
would be shot at next dawn OF
day.
MY heart broke. Senior. but
what could I dor I loved my
father and ! became the wife Of
Col. Aguilar. the Holy Virgin
bear witness. In body only.
That was one year ago.
Last week my husbands com.
mand was ordered 10 Tia Juana.
We came by wagon. Senior.
Yesterday. think II was.
though Il seems ages ago. "a We
drew near Tia Junna. We we're
suddenly attacked. Don Ramon
fell at the first fire and ! fled I'm
terror 10 the bushes with my
baby In my arms. hiding in
fright until the firing ceased.
Then heard footsteps. my
mantilla was Jerked from about
my face. and behold Jose stood
before me.
we both cried out In wonder
and I'm moment ] was elasped
In his arms. But. Senior, Saint
Mary does not permit that
Il pushed him from me and
then he saw my baby
Il thought ! would die at the
horror In his eyes. Senior.
Anita. cara mia. whose child?
For the love OF God tell me7'
Senior. could lie TO my be-
loved7 told him. though my
soul was crucified.
"Oh. what brave soldier was
my lose, with not one word
did he reproach me. but before I
could prevent. turned his pistol
and fired one shot through his
noble heart. And as the light
went out OF the eyes ! so loved.
held his head TO my bosom.
Senior. know not what hap
pened then. ! wandered over
rocks and hills. through cactus
and chaparral for oh. so long a
time. How ! came here ] do not
know"
sob broke the stiffness. The