The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-09-17


she could await the clearing up of the
rest. She was no longer SO eager for the
expedition, but no pretext could now be
found for abandoning it. AS for Dona
Beatriz, she assured herself, singularly
moved:
"Where Amy is, he will not be far dis
tant.''
The procession moved slowly up the
mountain. Now and again there was
halt while the advance made some parts
of the way more practicable for ladies
than they had been. Walter hung on
the skirts of it, but the opportunity of
which he was In search did not present
itself before the village was reached.
He fell back, therefore, to await his
| chance. He mingled with other peasants
going up. In the course of talk with
them he became sensible that there was
an uneasy political feeling in the air;
people were dreading that something
was about to happen, they hardly knew
what or why. The government at Mex
leo was committing many unwarranted
and arbitrary acts, a sign of weakness
and by no means of strength, and vague
Va ACNO1uUAOu CCtIIO l1O1u UI1O
north.
The pilgrimage church of FL Jasmin
had a few arches remaining of what had
once been beautiful sculptured gateway.
It had perhaps been established where it
was as counteracting influence to pes
tilent local superstitions, and especially
to the worship of serpent idol in large
cave near there.
It stood on a gentle rise Of ground,
facing the plaza, and there was attached
to it chapter house. or kind of sacred
hostelry, for the accommodation of pill
grim guests. In this last few camp beds,
that had been brought for the more deli
cate travellers, were set up, while the
hardy were fain to be content with
spreading their blankets and some dis
used carpets on the brick floor. The long
rooms had scarce any other furniture,
save very dark old paintings which it
had not been thought worth anybody'a
while to take away.
The glimpse of a half medieval life
she had at this place would have charmed
Amy, if her anxiety had suffered her to
take her usual interest in such things.
AS it was, there was need of all its
strangeness to make it distraction.
Sometimes she looked on at the pilgrims
in their devOtiOns, sometimes rode with
Don Angel short distances round about
her fancy galloping faster than the
steed toward the unattainable Barranca
of Cimarron-and sometimes strolled
with Beatriz a little into the village
street. The men of the village were
highly respectful to all those who wore
the insignia of pilgrimage, and most Of
the women and girls were taking part in
it themselves.
Don Walter took up lodging in
wattled hut. furnished only with few
large earthen Jars and a charcoal fire
place in the center, and slept on mats
like any peasant. For some reason, the
religious observances were much better
attended this year than usual. Delega-
lions Of Indians, in their distinctive To-
cal dress, were present from a number of
remote points. Walter prowled among
them, looking from a distance at his
nearest friends and connections, like one
from the dead. He came Inadvertently
upon Amy and Beatriz face to face, as
they were issuing together from behind
the sculptured arches. Changed though
he was by long exposure in the canyon
and by his disguise. Dona Beatriz recog-
niZed him at once
"DOn Waltcr!' she exclaimed, with an