The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-09-11
ROSE OF MEXICO
ANONYMOUS.

uOuse' Oecilla felt tho IL
tug at her heartstrings since Al.
come to Texas.
-Four years ago it W. nm
had been eighteen then D.,
brother, had been running haoS.,
haH for three years, while HE
sisters stayed back home in " n
as Bob said, wasting their TIM
their one and only brother ninos
lack Of gentle company down - ~
wllds. So Cts, as he called bo,
been the one who felt the can
duty.
And she amt never been ~
Bob told Senior Baeza that frs, ~
as they stood together out ON
adobe porch smoking in fr.,.s
fashion. I've got more Cattle ..
Ill even count The beef trust ~
hits me, and It'll all go to Cis WIN
l cash in Don't want to buv
horses. do your"
Ramon shook his head.
i am not North for buyin,
travel to Corpus Christi to h., -
my Dolores from the convent ,h..sE
When we return this way, will sboI
you the rose of Mexico, senior"
Bob forgot the promise, but AZ
after day as Cts sat out on the ,o.l
stone porch, she watched the ~
that wound eastward through n.
wash where the sluggish river aovS
She wished with all her heart N.
senior would come back that WA
Almost she believed from the looL
his eyes as he had said good.by Al
most she believed that he wouA
surely come.
Then came a still twilight hon,
with slip OF a new moon shown, L
family in the amber and Jade sl
and two horses coming up the roas
with the senior and his girl eis,.,
Cts ran down to meet them and tooL
Dolores in her arms. Bob stood
watching them both. his keen nav
eyes half closed.
Such a child, senor," Cts cried 4,
her brisk, hopeful way. why is aha
SO sad!"
We have lost our father in ths
war, back in Chihuahua" he told hsr
resting one booted foot on the stem.
Our mother lived a month afterward
80 we two are alone. You must bs
very sweet to her, my senorita."
Cts flushed at the caressing tous
and the look in his eyes.
i love her even now" she an,
swered. Il wish you both could stsy
here awhile"
Bob would not listen to them goins
for a week at least. Big, long.legged
Bob. Twenty-Five years old, with the Y
hber Of rock-ribbed Vermont In his ny
being. would flush to the roots Of bis
curly. straw-colored hair every time Y
the senior spoke Of leaving.
One day In the garden, while Cs
worked among her rose bushes and
sparse pansy beds. Dolores followed
her around.
1T is glorious to have a brother, d
t not?" she sighed. I'VE must DO
very loyal to them. for they need u
greatly. II / were to marry-certain-
y l will never marry-but il were to
marry, Ramon would almost die"
Cecilia's hands went faster.
They're fearfuliy dependent crss- :
ures." she answered. Bob wouldn't
NOW his head from his heels II
wasn't right there to tell him which
vas which. Ill have to stay right
lere and take care Of him."
But II he should love, senoritai 1t
would be very hard for your"
No, 1t wouldn't. I'd 60 back home
md teach school again"
And you would not mind at AM"
Something in the eager, Joyous tone
made Cts look up. 1t had not occurred
o her that Bob might be interested
q this slender. dark-eyed girl from
yer the border. And her own face
rev tender as she smiled up at her.
why, guess l shouldn't mind;
ot II she was mighty sweet"
Down the road there came the
ound Of horses galloping up from
he south below the roll Of land that
heltered the ranch. The girls rose
rom their knees and watched tho
iders stop over near the corral where
lob and Baeza were. But Bob went
D meet them without fear or worry
q his good-natured face.
Curly Barton was the leader. Al
9 talked to Bob. he looked over
here Cts stood and waved his hat
, her, but she stood silent, chin up.
'aiting.
There had been a fight along the
order, Curly said. Rustlers had
.olen over and cut out over hun
red horses. His cowboys had pur-
led them and there had been a rufr
Ing fight. Five men lay dead down
le wash, their faces upturned to the =
might. 1t had been decided best
II the community at large to drive
Tery last Mexican back over the line. :
nd they had heard that Bob had a
,uple there.
Yes, | have" Bob said calmly.
rhe young lady am going to marry
Id her brother. What you got to
y to that, Curly?" ~
Dolores heard, and her hand
ached out for Cts.
You got all the horses back"
ked Bob. Curly grinned reminis-
ntly.
Yep. And some of theirs, too"
Then drop it. These are my
ests." He stood watching the boys