The Opelousas courier., 1891-09-19
JARAMILLO'S GIRL.

49,
a country residence called Robin Wood,
about a mile from the town, with
no n but servants about her. It was
said that she had a son tor whom she had
planned a great career, but that she had
disowned him.
What had been his fault was not GER
tainly known, but it was reported that
he had led a life of foolish pleasure, and
at last married a rope-dancer.
One day two events stirred the drowsy
atmosphere Of Savoy.
The first was deeply tragic. A new
turnpike was building, and the sChinese
graders were at work on the mountain
side about a third of a mile from the
town. During a heavy blast in the
morning one of the Chinese, named All
Cow, had been killed.
The Chinaman's body was badly mu-
tilated, and, dreadful to relate, his head
could not be found.
Poor All Cows body, lacking the
head, received temporary burial on
the mountain. | say temporary, because,
after a time, the bones of all Chinese
who die in foreign lands are, if possible,
exhumed and sent back to China, to re-
ceive final interment in their native soil.
The second event wa simply light
comedy. A circus came to town, and
pitched its tent on the plaza. A grace
full little girl, who danced on the slack
wire, was greatly admired; but the ap-
plause and laughter were loudest when
yer Jaramillo, the clown, appeared.
When the circus departed from Savoy,
it left behind it JaramilIo, the clown.
Many of those who had heard his hollow
and painful cough in the circus ring,
followed by a side-shaking jest, had
laughed and thought the muekery ex-
c~ellent; but, alas the cough was a
reality, and Jaramillo was dying!
He remained at the Woodman's Hotel,
kept By the rude and energetic Mrs.
Driscoll. His little daughter, Mercedsrs
whom he called Mercy, was with him.
She was the graceful child who had
danced on the slack wire.
Jaramillo fingered several weeks, al
ways hopeful OF recovery. Nevertheless,
he wrote a letter n day, sealed and
stamped it. Then, giving it to Mercy,
he said.
keep that, Mercy, and if anything
happens to me, put It in the postoffice.n
Mercy wondered what he meant, but
she put the letter away carefully in a
deep pocket of her dress.
JaramiIlo's money gave out. The
thrifty but kind hearted Mrs. Driscoll
complained loudly to her family and
friends, but never to the clown o. to
Mercy. Jaramillo cheerfully asserted that
he would soon be on his feet again, and
would pay up everything.
One sad day he asked Mercy to bring
his makeup box and the looking glass.
She had never seen his eyes so bright,
and thought with JOY that he was much
better. She held the glass while he
| painted his face. At last hessaid.
aThat's good. I'm ready to 60 on
now
he fell back on his pillow, dead.
Mercy was overwhelmed BIZ her great
loss.
When she had seen her father laid to
rest in the little cemetery on the ridge,
she knew no kindred nor friend in the
wide world.
She went back to the Woodman's
Hotel, and was expected to help with thu
homework, but as she knew rothing Of
that kind of work, she often aroused the
wrath OF the severely practical Mrs.
Driscoll.
The landlady had a daughter named
Beatrice, but the name had degenerated
in ommon usage to aBeat.p She was
red-cheeked. Ioud-voiced romp, and
when any mischief was done, which fire.
quently happened. she did not scruple te
lay the blame upon Mercy. So Mrs
Driscoll's sceptre Of power, in the shape
OF d broad black strap, often descended
unjustly on Mercy's shoulders.
But soon the iandlady learned to dis
finguish sometimes between the occa.
sions when Mercy was innocent and
when she was really to blame. When
the fault was hers she would tearfully
acknowledge it, and await with folded
hands and downcast eyes any punish
merit that Mrs. Driscoll saw fit to infiict,
but when falsely accused by the whining
Beat, she always preserved 4 Watchful
silence, neither explaining nor denying,
until she saw the strap taken down from
its awful place UPON the kitchen door.
Then, if possible, she would fly out o
the house, through door d window, lik.
d gazelle, Gee to q huge oaktree which
stood on the ridge above the hotel. and
ascend Into is breezy top with marvel
Gus agility.
One day Mercy found ii her poke
the letter that her father had given ia
her; she had forgotten it. Ii was adj
dressed
Mrs FLORENCE DuPERU,
No. - Van Ness avenue,
SAN FRANCIsco.
She mailed the letter. Mrs. Duperu
had been ia San Francisco for some
weeks, but soon after Jararaillos letter
was despatched, she arrived suddenly at
Savoy.
Mercy saw her ride past, the hotel.
The pale, naughty Old lay looked keenly
at her. After that time she passed the
hotel il her carriage nearly every day,
ostensiblF to visit the p~ostofiee.
Sometimes she saw Mercy at the door
or window, gazing At her with sad, visit
full eyes. Again she saw her dancing
Ike a fairy, or perched On the boughs
Of i neighboring tree. This seemed to
excite her anger, and slle would stamp
her sound foot ard mutter 10 herself, ssA
clowns daughterls