Nostromo - A Tale of the Seaboard.pdf - Planet eBook

CHAPTER TWOAFTER another armed struggle, decided by Montero’svictory of Rio Seco, had been added to the tale of civilwars, the ‘honest men,’ as Don Jose called them, couldbreathe freely for the first time in half a century. The Five-Year-Mandate law became the basis of that regeneration,the passionate desire and hope for which had been like theelixir of everlasting youth for Don Jose Avellanos.And when it was suddenly—and not quite unexpectedly—endangeredby that ‘brute Montero,’ it was a passionateindignation that gave him a new lease of life, as it were. Already,at the time of the President-Dictator’s visit to Sulaco,Moraga had sounded a note of warning from Sta. Martaabout the War Minister. Montero and his brother made thesubject of an earnest talk between the Dictator-Presidentand the Nestor-inspirer of the party. But Don Vincente, adoctor of philosophy from the Cordova University, seemedto have an exaggerated respect for military ability, whosemysteriousness—since it appeared to be altogether independentof intellect—imposed upon his imagination. Thevictor of Rio Seco was a popular hero. His services were sorecent that the President-Dictator quailed before the obviouscharge of political ingratitude. Great regeneratingtransactions were being initiated—the fresh loan, a newrailway line, a vast colonization scheme. Anything that