The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-07-25

ton hear of my death let the cause be
consumption" A At of coughing
prevented further words. and saw
him DO more.
The next morning he left Cordo.
va. He slept at the plantation. But
he walked no more. A little phial
of poison lay beside him. He was
dead.
There was ring on his finger.
aud inside were the words, "from
Mary to John.
He was buried on the banks of the
Rio Seco. under the shade of the
broad-!eafed banana.
Two-thirds of the guests OF the
q" Confederate >" quit the house that
day, and the concern went to pieces
month after.
Some time after the clouds had
begun hanging about the hills aud
the air had cooled from the raids Of
the Northers from the coast. a deli
gence from the railway terminus
brought well dressed lady TO the
quaint old city. She was an Amer
ican. and. ordering room at the
$ Diligencia. asked if any of her
countrymeu resided in this city.
An uncouth specimen was pointed
out. and she forthwith piled him
with questions, while he answered
with candor and bluntBess.
Do you know" she began. f" q
gentleman named McKay-a civil
engineer?'
s. stYes ma' m. did know him.
Eagerly she followed. . Aud where
is he now?''
He took poison and is dead; he's
buried on the Rio Seeo."
Before his answer was fairly out
the lady fell upon the floor in a
swoop.
Plying strangers lifted her up and
laid her upon a couch. Some time
elapsed before she returned to con-
seiousness. and when she opened her
eyes she was changed woman She
was beautiful. graceful and queenIy.
put the face had undergone mark.
ed change. An American lady, three
years resident OF Mexico. called
upon her, and TO this lady she poured
out the depths of her sorrow and
the salient point of her sad story.
She was McKay's affianced, and
in moment OF levity, let slip re-
mark which cut him so deeply that
he went from her door without Il
word. That night he boarded
steamer and left his country forever.
1t was by reading the Herald that
she caught sight OF his name IS hav-
ing ascended the volcanic peak of
Orizaba. And the first mail carried
a letter Of inquiry to the railway Of
ice at the Mexican capital. The re-
ply told the story OF McKay's sick
ness. and that he was at Cordova.
The next day she went to New
York and took possage in the first
steamer to Mexico. She had a quick
passage on the Manhattan, but ar
rived at Vera Cruz month after the
singular drama at Petrero. She
came to Cordova with the hope
Of meeting Mckay, being united in
marriage. and taking him with her
to Boston.
Then she visited the spot where
he was laid.
Let the scene be unwritten. When
she turned away, tears were in her
eyes and unutterable woe was writ
Ten in every line of her face. BY
ler direction stone wall was built
around the spot and a rude slab was
placed at the head OF the grave with
he name Of the dead upon it.
The natives looked with a sort of
1--WE upon the graceful woman super
Intending the work, and seemed i'm
pressed with the grief of the stricken
ady.
Mug bonita! mag trister' they
whispered to one another.
Some memento that had drifted |
nto her hands she had sent forward |
o o gulf steamer from whence she
vas to embark for her native land.
When she was done she turned |
Lway.
To go home was all that remained;
md what a change had come to her
n a week. The past was bitter
'nough-the future appeared far less
Miss Mary Montfort, for
hat was her name, secured a seat in
m eastern bound diligence.
The road was dusty with much
ravel, the vehicle crowded. Two
french officers were among the pas
engers. An escort of six troopers.
.rmed with carbines. galloped beside
he diligence, but never passed be-
'ond. The escort were Mexican inn
'erialists. Lines of packmules, la
en with cotton bales and nerchan-
Use, stretched along the wide road.
ialf-clad Indians. bearing crockery,
ruits and vegetables, were hurrying
Oward Pass del Macho.
The Attaic is rapid stream. dash
1g from the snow mountain toward
he sea. It boils through the Chi
mountain, and roars on its
'ay through the gorges like vast
yer over a rocky descent.
The diligence had hardly reached
le east side of a bridge spanning
ne stream, when four mounted men
ashed from the chaparal aud faced
!. The robbers fired as they ad-
anced, and sweeping by as. charged
lie escort, who turned about without
ring gun. and scampered away.
The assailant wheeled and opened
e upon the passengers. the French
Ulcers being the special objects of
tack, these two, with q Mexican
ld Miss Montford. were killed.
bullet ploughed along the lady's
IN, then glanced off and struck her
east. producing q mortal wound.
ne lived only ten minutes.
!" And this is the end of it ALL"
le said, and with an earnest request
a