Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-09-17

but followed them; next day l wen
to see him. 1t was good to see hi
face again, to feel his hand. Isanl
into q chair and asked him of him.
self.
Same old story he said dis.
mally; dead broke, bad health--ii
was the swamps that did it, He
got up and paced the floor; then
suddenly he stopped in front of me.
The old-time smile was on his face.
'Tam the man who stands alone, )
he said. It had been favorite
phrase Of his in days of old. Death
was written On his face.
The room was Uttered with writ
ing paraphernalia; the tiled floor
rugged profusely pen and ink
sketches we're pinned against the
walls. From the window we could
look down into the valley; We were
both looking out ut the sky that
stretched away, a dense, live blue,
skirted with wreathing riffs of
clouds, each tinted like a shell.
"A light step approached the door;
it 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 layed the fruit upon the
table, and then gathering the blue
serape from the chair she passed
beyond into little balcony.
Let us 60 out and take q walk
| suggested. He arose dreamily.
'Amorita,' he said, so low it SEEM
ed impossible she should have heard
him, but she came in an instant,
questioning in Spanish. He nod
ded his head to her inquiry.
She ran lightly away, and soon
returned with his hat and cane.
'Adios, cara mia,' he muttered
tenderly, and kissed her. She
opened the door and we passed out.
'Adios, Amorita,'
.
4 fingered in Patzcuaro for many
days, feeling that he could not live
long, even u thai soft cir.
! -, - him ~ f1,e
but his only response was a gentle,
half-tired smile.
4 never play any more,' he said;
4 am just waiting for-he did not
say death, but looked it; 'it will
come soon, and Amorita will be
alone
a look of heaven came into his
face whenever he said that name,
and during my many ramblings
with him I 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 Amorits sang him Span
ish lullabys to the stringed lutte or
held him on her warm, warm heart
when he was ill and fearful.
Word came that / must leave
New Mexico and return to the
States. I went to bid farewall to
Jack and Amorita, for l had learn
ed 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 mp with pillows, the blue
serape was thrown lightly over him,
falling against the transparent
whiteness of his face. He was gasp
ing for breath. The windows were
all open, Amorita, kneeling at his
side, was moving large fan slowly,
evenly.
Cara mia,' he murmered in q
gentle gasp.
'Si,' she whispered.
'Sokind, so true he murmured-
wine, water, for Gods
She lifted q wine glass 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 .
Yes, old man.
The Witch Of the Swamps, you
remember
Yes, yes
She is coming; the silk is waving,
the blasted hopes loom like a swamp,
but the moonlight, the starlight, is
this face Anc he turned his eyes
to his Spanish love.