Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-02-08
awful and mysterious spasms Of ma.
ture had hurled 1t from the heavens.
Il clapped Kearny on the shoulder.


ture had hurled 1t from the heavens.
Il clapped Kearny on the shoulder.
"'Little man. said I, let this clear
the way for you. 1t appears that as
trology has failed to subdue you. Your
horoscope must be cast anew with
pluck and loyalty for controlling stars.
I play you to win. Now, get to your
tent and sleep. Daybreak is the word
"At 8 o'clock on the morning of the
18th Of July rode into Aguas Frias
with Kearny at my side. In his clean
linen suit and with his military poiss
and keen eye he was q model of
fighting adventurer. I had visions Of
him riding as commander Of President
Yaldevia's bodyguard when the plums
of the new republic should begin to fall.
Carlos followed with the troops and
supplies. He was to halt in a wood
outside the town and remain concealed
there until he received the word to ad.
vance.
'Kearny and I rode down the Gale
Ancha toward the residencia Of Don
Rafael at the other side Of the town.
As we passed the superb white build
ings Of the University Of Esperanto
saw at an open window the cleaning
spectacles and bald head Of Herr Ber.
gowitz, professor Of the natural SCI
ences and friend Of Don Rafael and Of
me and Of the cause. He waved his
hand to me with his broad. bland
smile.
There was no excitement apparent
In Aguas Frias. The people went about
leisurely as at all times. The market
was thronged with bareheaded women
buying fruit and carne. We heard the
twasg and tinkle Of string bands In
the patios of the cantinas. We could
see that 1t was waiting game that
Don Rafael was playing.
"His residencia was large but low
building around great courtyard In
grounds crowded with ornamental
trees and tropic shrubs. At his door
an old woman who came informed rs
that Don Rafael had not yet arisen.
"'Tell him. said I, that Captain Ma
lone and a friend wish to see him at
once Perhaps he has oversight
"She came back looking frightened.
~ have called she said, and fun0
his bell many times, but he does not
answer
II knew where his sleeping room
was. Kearny and pushed by her and
went to 1t. l put my shoulder against
the thin door and forced 1t open.
I'm an armchair by great table GOV.
cred with maps and books sat Don Ra'
fael with his eyes closed. touched
his hand. He. had been dead many
hours. On his head above one ear was
a wound caused by heavy blow. II
had ceased to bleed long before.
Il made the old woman call m0zo
and dispatched him in haste to fetch
Herr Bergowitz.
"He came, and we stood about as II
We were half stunned by the awful
shock. Thus can the letting Of few
drops Of blood from one mans veins
drain the life Of a nation.
Presently Herr Bergowitz stopped
and picked up darkish stone the size
Of an orange which he saw under the
table. He examined 1t closely through
his great glasses with the eye Of SCI
ence.
"'A fragment said he, of detonat
ing meteor. The most remarkable one
In twenty years exploded above this
city a little after midnight this morn.
Ing
"The professor looked quickly up at
the ceiling. We saw the blue sky
through hole the size Of an orange
nearly above Don Rafael's chair.
II heard familiar sound and turned
Kearny had thrown himself on the
floor and was babbling his compendium
Of bitter. blood freezing curses against
the star Of his evil luck.
Undoubtedly Phoebe had been femi.
nine. Even when hurtling on her way
to fiery dissolution and everlasting
doom the last word had been hers"
Captain Malone was not unskilled In
narrative. He knew the point where a
story should end. sat reveling In his
effective conclusion when he aroused
me by continuing:
"Of course" said he, "our schemes
were at an end. There was no one to
take Don Rafaers place. Our little
army melted away like dew before the
sun.
"One day after I had returned to
New Orleans I related this story to a
friend who holds a professorship in
Tulane university.
"When I had finished he laughed and
asked whether I had any knowledge
of Kearny's luck afterward. l told
him no; that had seen him no more,
but that when he left me he had ex.
pressed confidence that his future
would be successful now that his un.
lucky star had been overthrown.
"'No doubt said the professor. he
is happier not to know one fact II
he derives his bad luck from Phoebe.
the ninth satellite of Saturn, that ma,
licious lady is still engaged in over.
looking his career. The star close to
Saturn that he. imagined to be her was
near that planet simply by the chance
of its orbit. Probably at different
times he has regarded many other
stars that happened to be In Satun's
as his evil one. The real
Phoebe is visible only through very
good telescope
about q year afterward," continued
Captain Malone. II was walking down
a street that crossed the Poydras mar
ket An immensely stout, pink faced
lady in black satin crowded me from
the narrow sidewalk with q frown.
Behind her trailed a little man laden
to the gunwales with bundles and bags
of goods and vegetables.
1T was Kearny-but changed
stopped and shook one Of his hands,
which still clung to a bag Of garlic
and red peppers.
"'How Is the luck, old companeror
asked him. l had not the heart to
tell him the truth about his star.
"'Well,' said he, I am married. -