The Press., 1916-06-28
.BereaVed
 A Drama of Mexico
By E. A. MITCHEL

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 Ever since the revolution in Mexico
 that deposed Porfirio Diaz that 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 I, 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 southward, 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.
 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 a dance was to be given in the dining room of the tavern
 where I put up, was curious to see I their country was in state of anarchy When the dancing began I took a chair on the veranda where I 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- CTS 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- gling 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.
 I was much interested in watching these people. Among the better grade I noticed a young couple who, it was evident, were lovers. The man was a handsome fellow dressed in the cos tune of hacendado, composed of tight trousers with a row of buttons on each leg, where a soldiers stripe is usually placed; a fancy waistcOat and short jacket, also having profusion of buttons. The girl wore the Mexi- 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 I felt that he was looking over my shoulder. I moved aside not to obstruct his view and at the same time turned my head to have 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 I nev- CT 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 ve- randa to be refreshed by the cooler air outside. During one of these inter vals sharp report suddenly sounded at the other end of the veranda. l 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 I saw lying on the floor the young man I 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 I could and waited for the house to be- come quiet that might go to bed.
 I 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 a part of which I 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. 1 believed that the murderer coveted the girl who had given her heart to the farmer.
 I lounged at the tavern during the day, uncertain us to just when I would move on southward. During the after noon, while strolling among the houses that composed the place, met the man who had looked fin at the window at the dancers. I knew him to be the murderer and was surprised to see him still near the scene of his coward ly act. Eut l was destined to still further surp.i'c. saw him approach house an walk up and down under a window.
 They have n custom in Mexico called playing the bear" When man wishes to court il girl he takes posi- tion under her window and walks back and forth till citlt he gets sign from her or gives up his attempt to win her. If he receives encouragement he pro- ,eeds step by step till he forms her acquaintance and makes formal appli- cation for her hand.
 I had read of this custom, but had never seen an instance of it. I sur missed that the man might be wooing according to the Mexican custom. | could see him from the tavern veran- da, and, going there, took seat in | order to observe what would follow. While doing so the landlord came out on to the veranda, and, pointing to the walking man, I asked him what he was doing.
 tfHe is the man whn shot tho haoon