The Portland daily press., 1873-10-04
-nfng to the hotel, worn out with fatigue, des-

l,
+ No trace of Gomara among the friends OF
Perez; in vain | questioned-no one recollec-
ted ever having .ard the icentate speak OF
his precious COPY, and they had talked with
him less than month before his ueath. Co
mara was destroyed [ repeated over aud over
again that must think no more INT, and l
thought of it all the time.
Knowing no one OF whom L could inquire
farther. i resolved to return TO Origaba
where my pa tents recalled me. went away
with sad spirit tiom the ancient capital of
the Aztec empire; l left there all nv hone,
At Pueba, lost four days more; | must
make an effort Of the will, more energetic vet
than the one which took me away from Mex
leo, to tear me way from the The city of the
Angels:l must, like Cortez burn my YES
sells Upon the imperial of the diliget ce. of
which L occupied the interior alone, three
Americans, armed with revolvers, guns. sa-
bers, tomahawks-offerel to defend me if we
were attacked. | learned later, that they car
ried collection of emeralds.
At Paebla | saw some of the servants of
Iomasl, who obstinately waited for their
mistress. Some doubts had arisen as to tie
identity of the body found near Amozoc: but
the singer had never given any signs OF life.
L endeavored to andeceive these unfortunate
| servants-but time alone could do that.
For two moaths ! had so often cursed the
poor Perez, that | experienced now remorse;
l would visit his tomb, excusing myself by
this step for all the imprecations caused by
disappoin 6ment. The grass was already high
on the grave of my poor friend. Requiescat
in pace-as the letter said. But the grass
grows quickly!
Anozoc was passed; the diligence moved
rapidly towards the place where thought
my last hour had struck-with closed ewes, l
passed in review all the incidents of my Jour
ney; reflected upon the strange character of
Tomasi-in turn, ardent, laLguishing, i'm
perious, active, indoent, fiery-a nervous
| temperament. Some balls whizzed past me,
| iuterruptinS my reflections. l opened my
eyes-the Americans answered the fire of
three BANDITS posted on the route. One of
| the cavaliers fell; second, struck in the
breast, tell back upon the Group of his horse
which bounded away into the woods; the
third escaped. The Americans continued to
fire, although the assail 'nts had disappeared
The first fire ofthe bandits had wounded our
| mules. and the coachman freed them from
their harness. My defenders, a little pale.
remained behind the diligence, with finger
upon the trigger, watching the outskirts of
the woods.
Jumped to the ground and ran to a man,
stretched upon the grass. He was dead.
tore away the black mask which covered his
face, and recognized one of my old patients
! at Orizaba. This unfortunate man had a
vie and children. took his watch and sill
yer to return them TO his neirs and widow.
| pnnerated fhe wood wishing to reioin the
man / bad seen ready to fall. The Ameri-
cans, surprised at my action, called me t, re-
| turn.
''You have done your duty, sirs, allow me
| to do mine as physician" said l, and raising
my arm, in order to prove to those towards
| whom ] went that my intentions were friend
| ly, | continued my way.
| Soon the horse of the dead man DaSspd nv
me. The animal stopped from time to time
| to Craze. | followed him, listening-calling.
Suddenly thought heard at my left an ex.
clamation, o groan. | turned in that direc-
ton, repeating in all tones the word ''Ami-
! CO." Near tree | saw woman upon her
| knees. who turned as [ approached. l was
stupetied to recognize Tomasi.
She came towards me, watching me intent
| ly. She was dressed in blue embroidered in
| gold-beautiul as ever. ''You! your' she
cried, rushing into my arms.
| Sutfocated by ner tears, she endeavored in
vain to speak. Suddenly she rushed into the
woods, motoning me to follow. When
found her she supported on her knees the
head of an Indian stretched Oh the ground
the head of Lobo
Save him." she cried, raising her cIasped
| hands.
leaned over the unfortunate man, who
breatifed with great effort. 1.-The emeralds-
for her. he murmured. He drew ne to him
by convulsive movement-breathed sigh
and expired.
'sSave him p repeated the singer.
Knowing her horror Of the dead, bowed
my head sadly to apprise her of the truth. l
expected to hear her cry-tO see her rise re-
coil with alright. But, as if she had not I'M
derstood, ne encirced the Indian with her
arms-song her hands with the blood from
the gaping wound in bis breast.
10 s I.,aA< oil 10 ha.
| Sne arose, looked me iull in the face, and
repeated twice the word ''deadp' as if she
sought to divine its meaning, and fell back
| iainting.
Iplaced myself in position to conceal the
body from her, when she shruid come to her.
self. Slowly she opened her eyes, and looked
at me with the fixed stare of insanity.
sCome! l said again.
raised her; she leaned upon my arm, and
followed mechanically. l was very much sur
prised at the state in which / found the I'M
| fortunate young lacy, but did not dare 10
| que tiun her. Coming out OF the woods, she
| perceived the body of the bandit who had
been kiled-ran and knelt near him, and
tainted again.
Aided by the coachman and Zagal, placrd
her in the diligence. The Americans ovee-
whemed me with questions; 1 had neither
the wish or the power to reply; one of them
passed me his gourd and the carriage moved
away.
We reached the relay station. The sonora
| seemed to sleep. She opened her eyes an in
slant. laid her head upon my knees and slept.
We started again. She appeared insensible
to the shocks of the carriage; her sleep was
heavy, restless.
Evidently the unfortunate young lady had
been held captive by the bandits, Ct whom
nothing had been heard since her disappear
ance, Who knows to what suffering she had
been exposed? l was in haste to see her
awake, to hear her speak. feared for her
reagon, for nothing proved to me that she
recognized me- Just before we reached San
Agustin, she opened her eyes.
Good day, Doctor. she said, after exam
lining me curiously. What am doing upon
your knees, if you please? Why am l in
this carriage? Where am l going?'
1 repeated faithfully the scenes which had
passed, and which had resulted in her del "
erance. She listened attentiveIy, aud burst
into tears, which / considered a favorable
omen. We entered San Agustin. | asked
her if she would remain there or returl to
Puebla, offering to conduct her there. She
did lot reply-only shook her head.
Garry me'-she said then was silent At
| San Agustin, made her alight and walk
| little. They knew very soon from the coach
man, who had recognized her, thai was car
| rying away Tomasi, whose disappearance had
occasioned SO much noise. Everybody ran,
filled with curiosity The Americans, proud
of their resistance, showed their weapons.
One of them boastei of having struck Lobo.
Tomasi with dilated nostriIs, mouth contract
ed, angry eyes, listened to him. She drew
me suddenly away, as he made motion to
| approach her.
The diligence left again Tomasi. resting
upon the cushions, refused to reply; the
sound OF her stiied sobs withheld me from
| questioning her.
When we arrived a. Orzaba, / could scarce
| ~ awaken her. She was burning with fever.
To leave her at the hotel appeared to me
cruel. carried her home, and, during four
| days, despaired of her life.
Thanks to my care, and that of woman
who came to her from Puebla, l had the
| pleasure Of seeing her out of danger Sic
bowed her head, cried, smiled, cltsped my
| hand when l spoke of her captlvity-a subject
1 avoided-only incidentally, As soon as she
| could walk she wished to return to Europe.
The sea air would finish her cure; l placed
her on litter under escort OF four men de-
voted to me. She reached Vera Cruz with
| out accident.
The evening of her departure, resumed,
in some sort, possession OF myself; and for