Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-12-15

trouble. We would have to march
around Texas, I presume"
around Texas?"
Eyes. You see, Texas is a bad coun-
try; it Is full of--barbarians who know
how to fight. If 1t were not for Texas,
we would have the United States at
our mercy" After some consideration,
he ventured this opinion: ave could
afford to pay the Texans for allowing
us to ride through their country, pro-
vided we stole nothing and paid for
the cattle we ate. Well, Longorio Is
great one for schemes; he is talking
over the telegraph with somebody at
this moment. Perhaps it is the presi-
dent of Texas"
"You are poor man, are you not?"
Alaire inquired.
"Miserably poor"
"Would you like to make great deal
of money!"
"Diosl That is why I'm a soldier"
II win pay you well to get me two
horses"
But old Pancho shook his head Wig
orously. Impossible General Lon
gorio is going to marry you. We all
got drunk last night to celebrate the
wedding. Yes, and the priest Is wait
ing"
II will make you rich"
"Ho! wouldn't live to spend single
peso. Felipe disobeyed orders, and
the general shot him before he could
cross himself. Boom! The poor fell
low was passed in minute. No. We
will all be rich after we win a few
battles and capture some American
cities. l am an old man; shall leave
the drinking and the women to the
young fellows, and prepare for my old
age"
Seeing that she could not enlist Pan
cho's aid, Alaire begged him to fetch
the priest.
'You wish spiritual comfort, Sc
nora?" as.,
Perhaps" -.
"Well, he doesn't look like much Of
a priest, but probably he will do. AS
for me, / don't believe in such things.
Churches are all very well for ignorant
people, but we Mexicans are too intel
ligent; we are making an end Of them"
The priest was a small, whlte-haired
man with gentle, almost timid face,
and at the moment when he appeared
before Alaire he was In anything but
happy frame of mind. He had under
gone, he told her, terrible experience.
His name was O'Malley. He had come
from Monclava, whence the rebels had
banished him under threat Of death.
He had seen his church despoiled of Its
valuables, his school closed; he him
self had managed to escape only by
miracle. During his flight toward the
border he had suffered every indignity,
and finally Longorio had intercepted
him and brought him here, practically
in chains.
"What a situationl What chaos"
he lamented. "The land is overrun
with bandits; there Is no law. no au-
thority, no faith religion is made
mockery. The men are becoming inf
dels and atheists, and in many places
they will not allow us to give comfort
even to their women"
SIS 1t as bad as that?"
Father O'Malley shook his head sad
ly, "You've no idea. What do you
think of a people who forbid the men
ton Of Gods name in their schools?
That is what the revolutionists are
doing. Candeleria claims that the
churches are the property of the state.
He confiscates them, and he charges
admission. He has banished all ex-
cept few of us priests, and has
shamefully prosecuted our Sisters of
Mercy. Oh, the outragesl Mexico Is,
today, the blacklist spot on the map
of Christendom." His voice broke.
"That Is the freedom, the liberty, the,
democracy, for which they are fight
ing. That is the new Mexico. And
the federals are not bit better. This
Longorlo, for instance, this--wolf---he
brings me here, as his prisoner, to SOL
emnize an unholy marriagel He treats
me like dog. Last night slept In
filthy howell"
"Ohl I'm sorry" Alaire exclaimed.
"But Tn half crazed with my own
troubles. You must come into the
house; the best have is yours. You
shall be as much my guest as I can
make you, and-perhaps you will help
me to escape"
"Escape?" The little man smiled
mournfully. "You are watched and
guarded, and so am l.. Even Ii you
got away from here what then? You
can't imagine the condition, of the
country"
IT won't marry himw Alaire cried,
with a shudder.' IT won'tp
HE can't very well force you to do
so. But remember, these are war
times; the man Is flend, and he puts
no restraint upon his desires. If he
Is madly bent on having you, how can
you prevent It'll In normal times he
would not dare injure one so. promi-
nent as you, but now" Father
O'Malley lifted up his hands. 81 only
wonder that he suggests lawful mar