San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-06-21


driven about. She had no reason to sus-
pect anybody; had not her former letters,
and this one too, lain there week in and
week out undisturbed? At any rate, hers
was gone. Don Walter had it. he had
been near her. she was treasured as to his
safety, and in tOlerable peace of mind
she could AWAIT the clearing up of the
rest. ;one w., 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 III 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
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
rumOrs of revolution came from the
north.
The pilgrimage church of FL Jasmin
had a few arches remaining of what had
once been a beautiful sculp tuTed gateway
1t had perhaps been established where it
was us a COmteracting influence to pes
tilent local superstitions, and especially
TO the worship Of a serpent idol in large
cave near there.
1t 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 Oh the brick floor. The long
rooms had scarce any other furniture,
save very dark old paintings which it
had not been thought worth anybody's
while to take away.
The glimpse Of 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 w&s, there was need of all its
stTangeness to make it a distraction
Sometimes She looked OH at Inc pilgrims
in their drvo'ioNs, sometimes rode with
Don Angel shoI distances round about
her fancy ga.lIIg f&>J"r than the
,teel toward the uH2ttuiudbIe BIrrmca
Of CmaTrOn-%nI sometimes strollrd
with Bratriz d 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 We're taking part in
it themselves.
Don Walter took up a lodging in a
waited hut, furnished only with few
large eartnen jars and charcoal fire
like any peasant. For some reason, the
religious observances We're much better
attended this year than usual. Delesa
tons Of Indians, in their distinctive To-
cal dress, Were resent from a number of
remote points Walter prowled among
them, looking from a distance at his
nearest friends and connections, like one
from II" dead. He came inadvertently
upon Amy and Beatriz face to face, as
they We're issuing together from behind
the scuirtured arches. Changed though
he was by long exposure in the canyon
and by his disguise, bona Beatriz recog-
nized him at once.
Don Waitrr!" she exclaimed, with an
impulsive cry. Don Walter, it is you:"
Il call myself IEnacio Gomez There
is some mistake here. am in search of
cattle that have struyed in these parts,
he responded, endeavoring to retreat
No, no, You are Don Walter; can
not be mistaken. You have not gone to
the north; you are here and in hiding.
Perhaps you are in trouble and danger.
Oh, can | not help YOU"
"DO you not see that this good man is
mere peasant: What singular idea
you have got in your head" said Amy
to her, severely. DO not be offended
with us, good friend; my companion
here sometimes likes to talk at random.
And she took her gently by the arm to
draw her away.
She checked her own feelings with
wonderful calmness. in order to protect
him.