The Harlequin Opal, Vol. 1 (of 3)

hand, the pi

amp on Heaven'

retched, overb

ary bringing

, too kind for

doth thy bein

e lived in times

, and man ne'er

those peaceful

battle armies

mission of go

e war's standa

eaten, trumpets

ne thou canst

es all those wit

ead a single

lanet. From the Plaza de San Jago he had gone down to the sea gate of Tlatonac, where the meeting with Padre Ignatius took place, and from thence returned to the Palacio Nacional, at the he

otive force which kept the machine going. Now, the Governmental machine was out of order, and Padre Ignatius, as a moral engineer, was trying to put it right again. He advocated delicate handling of the suasive kind. Gomez, rough work, in the manner of blows, and brute strength. As to Xuarez-well, he was the wheel which had put the engine out of g

were above this drapery, the seat of power below; and therein sat President Gomez, with a fierce light in his eyes, and an ominous tightening of his lips. He was in a critical p

re and there the men whom he knew would be troublesome. To understand his difficulty, it is necessary to explain the exact position of politics in Cholacaca. Tim was doing this i

s. These, again, are sub-divided into smaller parties. On the Conservative side, there is the party now in power, the aristocratic par

y of Don Miguel a

e clericales, who would govern through the Church, and place the supreme power of the Republic in the hands of priests. Since the expulsion of the Jesuits, however, this

rvative party, if such a thing be possible. They believe in aristocratic government, with the consent of

iberals?" asked Phili

e, which would be nothing more or less than despotism, supported by a standing army under the thumbs of a few mart

party of D

zin, and are now regarded as rebels by the Government. They desire a kind of civil despotism as

e broth, too many political parties will certainly spoil Cholacaca. But they all se

ight. The others are all split up into small bodies, who

will all oppos

preme power of Cholacaca themselves, and won't let Xuarez have

here

up his eyes to heaven, as if seeking for strength to sustain him in his difficult task of reconciling the factions which threatened to involve Cholacaca in civil war. With his pale, refine

ilver bell on the desk before him. Instantly there was a dead silence, the mu

Xuarez, who was not then in arms against the Junta. I knew, however, that he was a restless spirit, and, observing signs of dissatisfaction in the town, dreaded lest he should fan these embers

ur ran throug

to a state of open rebellion. He convened a meeting in the market-place of Acauhtzin, he told the populace he was to be arrested as a traitor, and called on them to stand by him in his peril. What promises he made use of I can hardly tell you, they were many a

who still remain faithful to the Junta-I among the number. We were cast into prison, and, by a miracle, I escap

looked sadly at

d, gently. "They were in prison my son; but n

ping with rage. "The traitors! th

for the sake of formality, though his sy

e Assembly," replied Rafael, sitting down; "but my friends to b

n had resumed his seat, "all that you have said is the w

o him, Se?ores, and prayed him not to plunge the country into civil war. At first he r

r feet to speak. A Babel of voices ensued; but at length, by repeated ringing of his bell,

Regimiento de Huitzilopochtli, of the fleet, and, if

The Chalchu

my children. He is a heretic, an idolater! He told me plainly that he worshipped and believed in the opal of Hu

President was quite unable to quiet. Padre Ignatius lifted

make an offer to the Junta, which, if accepted, will suspend all hostility.

er! the

His Excellency, Don Francisco Gomez, has now held this honourable office for three years and a half. In six months it

hat! elect Xuarez for our President-place the supreme power in his hands? Give

Anna!" yelled the excited members.

ich Xuarez will return to his a

nd then, oh, my children, the vessel will go northward to bring desolation upon us. There will be war-red war; brother will be arrayed against brother; o

ng out some man in the

s red! the

ill bring ruin on yourselves, on your families, on your country. In the name of this sacred symbol," he thundered, holding up the cross, "I command you to put this evil from your hearts. T

the hand which upheld the symbol of Christianity. He was no longer Padre Ignatius, the gentle priest whom they knew. It was a priest, the representative of the awful

murmured Ph

usted in the devil stone, all were superstitious, and they quailed before that frail old man who faced t

inging to their feet. "No priests! n

ose to h

er my office and will you permit Don Hypolito Xuarez, traitor and scoundrel, to profane this chair? No, Se?ores; a thousand times no! We know the nature of this man who aspires to play the part of a tyrant. Place him in this seat of power, and he will break every law of our glorious constitution. Will

! Down wi

ve the army. We have money. We can buy a new fleet. Our soldiers shall break up his power. Let us hurl

The opal

cried the President, drawing his sword. "I swear, by my sword, by the Chalchuih Tlatonac, that I shall

d a myriad swords

er of the traitor X

o! War

was unanimous in proclaiming war. His cross fell fr

e mercy on thes

e the Palacio Nacional, a crowd of people were waiting to hear the decision of the Junta. Standing on the marble steps

free people of the great Republic of Cholaca

he mob, frantically. "The

he rabble dashed down to

im?" asked Philip, as they were b

I mistake not. Holy Virgin! what dev

Calle Otumba, passed into the Calle Mayor, and in a few minutes the city was v

conjunction with the white pennant of peace. The crowd held their breath, and throughout the vast assemblage there was n

o guns for 'no!'" mutt

its defiance to Xuarez. In another minute, before the echo of the first died away, a second gun fr

banner, foretelling war and disaster. The mob yelled with rage, the guns of The Pizarro sent forth an insolent defian

Cholacaca h