Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-08-01

weight of dreamlike languor.
The mules were Altering by, the bells |
tinkling like faint fairy voices. Afar in
long lines stretched the lighted bonfires,
for it was market night, and men, women
and boys sat guarding their stacks of fruit
and fish.
81 did not speak to him that night, but
followed them. Next day | went to see
him. 1t was good to see his face again, to
feel his hand. sank into a chair and ask
ed him of himself.
"'Same old story he said dismally;
dead broke, bad health-it was the swamps
that did it, He got up and paced the floor;
then suddenly he stopped in front OF me.
The oldtime smile was on his face.
"'I am the man who stands alone he
said. 1t had been favorite phrase of his
in days of old Death was written on his
face.
1.-THE room was Uttered with writing
paraphernalia; the tiled floor rugged pro
fusely; pen and ink sketches were pinned
against the walls. From the window we
could look down into the valley. We were
both looking out at the sky that stretched
away, dense, live blue, skirted with
wreathing riffs of cloud, each tinted like a
shell.
"A
opened, and the dusky senorita stepped
across the threshold with golden fruit in
her arms. Jack did not move his eyes, but
went on smoking. She stepped across the
room and laid the fruit upon the table. and
then gathering the blue serape from the
chair she passed beyond into a little bal
cony
"'Let us go out and take walk, l sug
gested. He arose dreamily.
"Amorita,' he said, 50 low it seemed i'm
possible she should have heard him, but
she came in an instant, questioning in
Spanish. He nodded his head to her in
quiry.
''She ran lightly away, and soon re-
turned with his hat and cane.
"Adios, cara mia,' he muttered tender
" and kissed her. She opened the door
and we passed out.
"'Adios, Amorita'
81 fingered in Patzcuaro for many days,
feeling that he could not live long, even in
that soft air.
Sometimes spoke to him of the games
of roulette we had played, but his only re-
Spouse was a gentle, half tired smile.
az will never play any more he said; 4
am just waiting for'-he did not say death,
but looked it 1t will come soon, and Am
Orlta Will De alone.
"a look of heaven came into his face
whenever he said that name, and during
my many ramblings with him | learned
that she had some little money. 1t was
enough for them both, she had told him in
| Spanish, and so it happened that the little
/ blue serape laid across the chair, and
| Amorita sang him Spanish lullabys to the
stringed lutte, or held him on her warm,
warm heart when he was i'll and fearful.
"Word came that | must leave New Mex
leo and return to the States. went to bid
farewell to Jack and Amorita, for ! had
learned to know her very well, and loved
to see her dark eyes brighten when came,
for she told me the senior was always glad
to see me-
Il tapped at the door, and then opened it
softly.
Jack was lying on the couch propped
up with pillows, the blue serape was
thrown lightly over him, falling against
the transparent whiteness of his face. He
was gasping for breath. The windows
were all open. Amorita, kneeling at his
side, was moving n large fan slowly,
evenly.
"'Cara mia he murmered in a gentle
gasp.
"'Si,' she whispered.
$50 kind, SO true he murmered-
wine, water, for Gods
| "She lifted a wineglass to his lips and
lovingly supported him as he drank. His
blue eyes fell softly upon her. | crossed to
the other side of the couch. He saw me.
Dick
ayes, old man.
"'The Witch of the Swamps, you re
member
eyes, yes
"'She is coming; the silk is wavina- n,
blasted hopes loom like a swamp, but tn
moonlight the starlight, is this face.
And he turned his eyes to his Spanish
love.
1.-The moonlight, the sunlight wor
ship the sun, the warmth, the love, tn
! life, Amorita-
with gentle yehemence she flung he
arms about him and held her lips close Z
, his face
"'Your last BREATH she murmN-. il
|, Spanish; Il will die with its fragrance upol
my lips. You will not journey alone I
the land of souls, my life
|, with immortal move he drew himsel
into her arms, momentary struggle,
sound of choking, and slowly-rigidly-h
. fell into the pose of death.
"Amorita removed the pillows from hi
, head till he lay quite at ease. She al
ranged his hair with gentle touch, an
placed a prayer rug by the couch; the
moved across the room, and before
mirror draped lace mantilla about he
sea storm hair, and taking a vial from he
pocket, she poured the colorless content
, into tiny glass.
: "She came back to the couch and knel
by'his side a moment, then rising she lai
her hand in mine, her eyes fixed first upo
, his face, then turning into mire, Gent
she pointed to the door, her head droopet
the glass held high above her head.
obeyed the silent command.
THE Spanish guardsman found theI
late that night. A wreath of flowers wa
lying on their breasts. The fragments {
I a shattered glass lay glimmering on tn
floor, as it had fallen from her lips an
hand. Through the open window sweI
the tinkling of many bells, and the nigh
air stirred the music to the room from th
distant plaza, and so left Jack Lane, Iii
, terateur. Nellie Corinne Bergen
. Washington Post.