Evening star., 1936-03-10

charcoal and roasting beef;
n men and women laughed and
5oked as they went about their ap-
pointed tasks; music and singing
eemerged over the general hubhub as
Joaquin stood outside the Sanchez
door and waited. He saw old Father
Gregorio leave Don Ricardo and his
guests and scuttle into the huge patio
at the rear end of which the rancho
chapel stood; few moments later
Joaquin saw the chimes in the little
belfry begin to swing and the mel
low, tinkling notes summoned him
and RoSita.
A man emerged fEom the house
and claSped him in his arms and
wept. I'm your brother. Jesus" he
said. Don Ricardo has been so very
kind. He has sent for me to be pres
ent at your wedding. And he sent,
also, his carriage for our mother.
Here she is"
Joaquin saw his old blind mother
standing in the doorway, her arms
out-thrust, as if she sought him. My
little lost Joaquin" she murmured.
Embrace your mother who has lived,
thank the Virgin Mother, to embrace
this sweet one you are about to marry"
They embraced, weeping with hap
plness. Too overcome, Joaquin could
only murmur endearing words and
hug his brother and his mother al
ternately.
The crowd started for the chapel;
when they had entered Rosita and
Joaquin would follow. Presently old
Sanchez, resplendent in a suit given
him by Joaquin, emerged with Rosita
on his arm; Joaquin with the matron
OF honor, old Tia Carmelita, Rositas
aunt, on his arm, fell in behind them
while Tomas Trujillo and the brides
maid, Encarnacion Sepulveda, followed
them. Musicians posted at the en-
trance to the patio struck up a we'd
ding march at the sight of the party
approaching; through the gates,
through the overflow crowd in the
patio, the little procession marched,
into the adobe chapel and up to
double predieuX before the altar, where
Father Gregorio married them quickly:
as they stood up, following the cere-
mony, old Felipe growled:
My son, it is now entirely proper
Tor you to kiss Rosita''
So for the first time these lovers
kissed and Joaquin, holding his bride
TO his heart, thought that heart would
burst with pride and happiness. AL
most he resented the kindly, friendly
hands that released him from her
embrace, that they might shake his
hand and in their turn, embrace him
also. He kissed Tia Carmelita and
Encarnacion and wished he did not
have to; he shook hands gravely with
Don Ricardo and Juanita and there
was the look of death in Juanita's
eyes and her voice was low and husky
as she briefly said she wished, with
all her heart, that God would bless
him and Rosita and keep them faith
xul to the grave.
They emerged from the chapel
into the patio and out the gate to
che scene of the fiesta the crowd was
coming out behind them when far
out on the plain horseman was
observed galloping in.
"Yonder, Murietta, comes a guest
late for your wedding" doomed Don
Ricardo. well, he is not too late for
the barbecue"
mo wedding guest is ne, Don Ri
CARGO. That rider is gringo and,
like all gTingos, he is in hurry, al
though no man purSues him"
The sound of galloping reached
them and the crowd paused waiting
idly, speculating on the mission of
this man who came in such headlorg
haste. Capt. Armstrong pushed Cut
beside Don Ricardo THAT man"
he announced, lis one of my sergeants.
] sent him month ago to Suffers
Fort to make inquiry as to the sound
ness of Suffers complaint that In
d1ans were stealing his horses and
cattle"
He stepped out in front as the
trooper pulled his sweating horse to
stop amid shower of gravel.
Whats happened, sergeant?" he de-
manded.
In his excitement the man forgot
his military etiquette and failed to
dismount before saluting his superior
and answering the latter's question.
"Gold!" he eroaked through parched
lips. Gold has been discovered in
the race at Suffers sawmill on the
American River Colama. Gold! Lots
OF gold! I have seen it-nuggets of
pure gold, big and little-fakes of
gold, fine gold. The stream is filled
with it,"
Great jumping Judas" Armstrong
cried sharply. you say you've seen
this gold?"
Eyes, sir. Everybody's left Suffers