The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-03-17
BereaVed
A Drama of Mexico
By F. A. mitchell

sh"1 uCPooeu TorurlO DlaZ tnaC COun-
try has been In state Of ferment and
has kept the people of the United States
In fever Of anxiety. During the rule
OF President Huerta l, being of an
inquiring disposition, concluded to go
down there and see for myself what
kind OF people the Mexicans are.
Passing over the border line of Tex
as, entered rural Mexico and moved
on southwark, intending to visit the
capital There were then the Huerta.
the Carranza and the Villa factions, all
struggling for the upper hand. The
frightful condition of the country did
not prevent the people from enjoying
such amusements as they could get. l
stopped one evening for the night in a
little cluster of houses-it could not
be dignified by the name of town-and,
hearing that dance was to be given
In the dining room of the tavern
where I put up, | was curious to see
how people could make merry while
their country was In state of anarchy.
When the dancing began 1 took a
chair on the veranda where l could
look through an open window upon the
dancers. The effect was heightened by
the picturesque costumes Of both the
men and the women. The merrymak-
ers came from the country round about.
being made up Of all sorts of persons,
from the hacendado, or farmer, to the
soldier, who made his living by fight
ing for some one Of the factions strug-
Cling for the supremacy. Not only was
the soldier present. but his wife and
his daughters, for an army In Mexico
is accompanied by the families Of the
soldiers.
/ was much interested In watching
these people. Among the better grade
I noticed a young couple who, 1t was
evident, were lovers. The man was a
handsome fellow dressed in the cos
tune of a hacendado, composed of
tight trousers with a row of buttons
on each leg, where a soldiers stripe Is
usually placed; a fancy waistcoat and
a short Jacket also having a profusion
Of buttons. The girl wore the Next
can skirt Of many colors, the Mexican
bodice and the Jacket decorated with
gold braid.
I could not help contrasting the hap
piness beaming in the faces Of these
two young people with the cloud that
hung over their country. They danced
every dance together. While I was
watching them a man came up behind
me, and felt that he was looking
over my shoulder. moved aside not
to obstruct his view and at the same
time turned my head to have a look at
him.
I Judged that he was connected with
one Of the various armies or bands
which were sucking the lifeblood Of
Mexico. A more villainous face new
err saw on a man. His eyes were fol-
lowing the couple that interested me.
and as he watched his frown deep
ened. He stood only a few minutes
looking at them, then went away.
At the end Of each dance a number
Of the dancers came out on to the We
randa to be refreshed by the cooler air
outside. During one Of these inter
walls a sharp report suddenly sounded
at the other end Of the veranda. I saw
those who were inside start for the
exit nearest to the point from which
the sound came, and those on the
veranda turned and hurried In that
direction. I, too, arose and went to see
what had happened.
A crowd had gathered about some
thing or some one, but could not see
beyond the onlookers. When finally
succeeded in doing so saw lying on
the floor the young man 1 had been
observing within, while the girl with
whom he had danced was kneeling be-
side him moaning piteously. He had
been shot and was dying.
Within half an hour the dance had
been resumed, and, judging by the gay
ETY., one would not have suspected that
the life Of one Of the company had been
Just snuffed out. I turned away from
the scene went as far from 1t as /
could and waited for the house to be-
come quiet that might go to bed.
1 did not get away from the place
the next day. I had come to Mexico
from curiosity, and I did not like to
move on without learning more of the
tragedy part of which 1 had wit
messed. I inquired who had done the
shooting and was informed that a
man who belonged to Villa force In
the neighborhood was the culprit. The
young farmer who was killed was an
advocate of Huerta. This is all the
information I could elicit. but I in
ferred much more. / believed that the
murderer coveted the girl who had
given her heart to the farmer.
I lounged at the tavern during the
day, uncertain as to just when / would
move on southwark. During the after
noon, while strolling among the houses
that composed the place, met the man
who had looked in at the window at
the dancers. / knew him to be the
murderer and was surprised to see
MIN still near the scene Of his coward
~ act. But was destined to still
further surprise. saw him approach
a house and walk up and down under
a window.
They have q custom In Mexico called
"playing the bear" When man
wishes to court a girl he takes posi-