The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez
page 50 of 502 (09%)
page 50 of 502 (09%)
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The mother went away tranquilly, seeing the youngster's future assured, because this man so lavish in violence was equally so in generosity. In time there would be a bit of land and a good flock of sheep for the urchin. These adoptions at first aroused in Misia Petrona a little rebellion--the only ones of her life; but the centaur soon reduced her to terrified silence. "And you dare to complain of me, you weak cow! . . . A woman who has only given me daughters. You ought to be ashamed of yourself." The same hand that negligently extracted from his pocket a wad of bills rolled into a ball, giving them away capriciously without knowing just how much, also wore a lash hanging from the wrist. It was supposed to be for his horse, but it was used with equal facility when any of his peons incurred his wrath. "I strike because I can," he would say to pacify himself. One day, the man receiving the blow, took a step backward, hunting for the knife in his belt. "You are not going to beat me, Patron. I was not born in these parts. . . . I come from Corrientes." The Patron remained with upraised thong. "Is it true that you were not born here? . . . Then you are right; I cannot beat you. Here are five dollars for you." |
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