Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-03-16

rAsAANts AtAAlNN MIN hS calmly StolfHl
and Indifferent as a cigarstore Indian.
He flimbled In his coat pocket for a
gold cigarette case. selected a ciga-
rette. lighted Il and blew smoke az
Ricardo. The Sig was up; he knew
Il: and with admirable nOnchalance
he declined TO lower his presidential
dignity by discussing or considering IL.
He realized Il would delight his cap
tor 10 know he dreaded o face the
issue. and n was not a SGrros practice
20 give aid and coRsscrt 10 the enemy.
"Spunky dewitt" Ricardo reflected.
forced 20 admiration despite himself.
Aloud he said: "You know the code
OF our people. Sarros. An eve for
an eye and a tooth for a tooth"
SarrOs bowed. Il am at your serv-
ice" he replied carelessly.
Then at daylight tomorrow morn
Ing shall make settlement" Ricardo
beckoned his men to approach. Take
this man and confine him under a
double guard In the arsenal" he or
dered. Present my compliments 20
the officer I'm charge there and tell
him Il is my wish that a priest be
provided for the prisoner tonight. and
that tomorrow morning. at six o'clock.
n detail OF six men and n sergeant
escort this man 20 the cemetery In
the rear Of the Cathedral de Ia Cruz.
I win meet the detail there and take
command OF g."
Two OF Ricardo's imported fighting
men stepped 90 the prisoners side.
seized him. one by each arm. and lift
ed him 20 his feet; supported be-
tween them. he llmped away TO his
doom. while his youthful conqueror
remained seated on the dead horse,
his gaze bent upon the ground. his
mind dwelling. not upon his triumph
over Sarros but upon the prOdigiOus
proportions Of the task before him;
| the rehabilitation OF a nation. After
n while he rose and strolled over to-
ward the gate. where he paused 10
note the grim evidences OF the final
stand OF Webster and Don Juan Cafe
tero before passing through the por-
tai.
Ricardo had now. for the first time
an opportunity 20 look around him;
so he halted 20 realize his hOme-com-
Ing. 20 thrill with this. the first real
view OF the home OF his boyhood. The
spacious lawn surrounding the palace
had been plowed and Scared with
bursting shrapnel from the field guns
captured In the arsenal. although the
building itself had been little damaged.
not having sustained a direct hit be-
cause OF RicardO's stringent orders
not 10 use artillery on the palace I'M
less absolutely necessary TO smoke
Sarros out. Scattered ever the grounds
Ricardo counted some twenty-odd
government soldiers. all wearing that
pathetically fat. crumpled appearance
which seems inseparable from the
bodies Of men killed In action. The
first shrapnel had probably com
menced TO drop in the grounds just as
a portion Of the palace garrison had
been marching out 10 join the troops
| fighting at the environment barracks
Evidently tie men had scattered Ike
quail. only 70 be killed as they ran.
From this grim scene Ricardo raised
his eyes 10 the palace. the castellated
/ towers OF which. looming through the
/ tufted palms. were rejecting the set
/ ting sun. over the balustrade OF one
Of the upper balconies the limp body
/ OF n Sarros sharpshooter. picked on
from the street. dropped grOtesquely'
his arms hanging downward as II In
ironical welcome TO the son OF Ruey
the Beloved. The sight induced In
Ricardo n Sense Of profound sadness;
MS Irish Imagination awoke; TO him
/ that mute figure seemed 20 call upon
him FOR pity, for kindness. for for
beerance. for understanding and sym
patty. Those outflung arms Of the
martyred peon symbOlized 10 Ricardo
Ruey the spirit OF liberty. shackled
and helpless, calling upon him for de-
lIverance: they brought 10 his alert
mind n clearer realization Of the duty
that was his than he had ever had be-
fore. He had a great task 10 perform.
a task inaugurated by his father. and
which Ricardo could not hope TO fin
| iSh in HIS lifetime. He must solve
the agrarlan problem; he must de-
velop the rich natural resources OF his
country; he must provide free. CON-
pulsory education and evolve from
the ignorance OF the peon an fntelli-
geace that would build up that which
Sohrante. I'm common with her sister
renuhlics. so wickedly lacked-the
Great middle class that stands always
as a buffer between the aggression
and selfishness Of the upper class and
the helplessness and childlshness Of
the lower.
Ricardo bowed his head. Help me,
q Lord he prayed. Thou hast given
me IN Thy wisdom a mans task. Help
me that may not prove unworthy"
Mother jerks. grown impatient at the
lack OF news concerning Webster. left
Dolores 10 her grief n the room across
IN. han and sought the open air. for