Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1917-10-04

I'm paScO louhgs StlAoAA IL A. ny
rain from the desert before evening |
and be much cooler coming home. |
Shall we gO-si-nO? Bueno! / shall
take you to an old ranch house far
from here. aud we may be delayed
In returning. II We are, maybe bad
hour will be passing for us somewhere,
as we say in California"
The sky. the earth, even the dry
grass by the roadway seemed to exude
heat. The dust clinging to Quiris
sides seemed like the blanket of an
old Indian. Dona Teresa said:
"Senora, I gathered tunas from my
hedge in the cool of this morning.
They are under the seat. They will
refresh us, and they are much more
hcalthful than too much water. The
Indians always carry them on a long
hot tourney. Now that we eat tunas,
| am reminded of one Indian, Apol-
lonia, who was made blind by the
cruelty of man. Did you know him
81? A tall fine figure, draped always
like the statues of saints in the nlches
of the church at San Gnbriel-in a
sheet. ALWAYS with tall willow staff
in his hand to feel his way around the
plaza and Gale de los Negroes. Fol-
lowed by the many boys who crled
out curses at him, he carried smut III
his hand, always, stone to deIehu
himself. Sonora, l cannot .vouch for
the story, but 1t was said by some that
his ewes were burned out with hot
irons by those who hated him, whether
Indians or paisanos, no one could re-
member. But in his daily walks, he
stopped always at a certain house on
Los Angeles street, and the stones ne
carried in a corner of his robe fell
thick, intermingled with curses for
| the occupants of the casa. This he
never forgot. Long after they had
been taken to their homes In the
cemetery, he, having outlived every
| thing but his bitterness, continued to
lombard the house in his daily rounds
| Ghostly, was it not, sonora? Drink.
now his only consolation, finished him
! nt the last. and he was found dead
with a stone clasped tightly in his
hand In the open space where the
house of his dreams had stood. May
the Buen' Dios forgive them and him J"
And Dona Teresa crossed herself as
che took the fallen reinS Into her
hands again and slapped Quiri into a
trot.
IT had grown very sultry as they APP
preached the mountain, and strange
white clouds with the inaccessible look
Of far-away cities of our dreams rose
from the desert side of the mountains,
In white towers built on battlements
Of opaque{bue
mira, sonora! The storm Is not FAR
away! But we can reach the old house
of the rancho before the rain comes.
Anda, Quiril Muy pronto! Do you
not hear the thunder?"
The fast-piling cloud towers were
hanging over the mountain tops into
she valley. The riders could see whlrl-
winds of dust ahead. Flashes Of light
ing darted from their centers, while
distant booms of artillery fell upon
their ears as they neared the house.
Great drops of rain charged with dust
spat upon them as they dashed through
che doorway leaving the patient mare
TO a shower bath. ut will be good for
Quiri, she needs it, and l shall be
saved the trouble of washing her to-
morrow" said Dona Teresa.
LET us go into one of the end
rooms! The rain is coming through
the opening in the roof-mira! Once
there was a skylight, but all has given
way to time"
Dragging an old tottering bench
from a dark corner, they seated them
selves near the door to watch the
storm.
t"There is q cloudburst somewhere on
the desert" remarked Dona Teresa
Like everything in this life, 1t will
soon pass, and tomorrow be forgotten
even as with this old house; no ono
remembers that there was once life In
4 other than that of lizards and pima
Gates"
La Sonora and Dona Teresa sat ano
looked out on the storm, too awed by
IT'S grandeur and beauty to care for
speech. A frightened rabbit looked In
Mt the door with surprise at the new
occupants of the old house, fleeing
AWAY into the brush again like gray
streak, his white tail appearing at IN
tervals among the old remaining vines
lntcrspersed with CHA and SALIVA. Al
last Dona Teresa spoke.
"The noise is ceasing and the rail-
Aouds are fleeing UP the valley. Sool
oil will be calm again. Let me tell YOU
before we leave here how my Ameri
can friend, Mistrc Keene, nearly los
his life in this house. 1t Is now Sixty
..,,.o -t,,oo bn ootna tO this house, very