The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-17

east.
"Years passed. It was in New Mexico
that next saw Jack Lane In the town
of Patzcudaro, namen Dy the oIKlngs Of
Tzintzunzan, and meaning place of pleas
ure. He was sitting on a stone bench near
a fountain, bordering the plaza; a glorious
eyed Mexican maid was by his side, a pale
blue serape thrown about her head.
"Her hair rivaled any night l ever saw
for blackness; it was like storm at sea,
alive in its fury of gloom and grandeur.
Her skin was of olive tint, her mouth was
the borrowed bow Of Cupid, her figure
Galatea.
"The expression of content upon Jacks
face was new to me- He was smoking, as
usual; the girl was speaking to him in
Spanish, her words chording softly, ryth-
mically with the night air that came
straight from the stars, with dewy golden
weight of dreamlike languor.
1.-The mules were pattering 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 1 went to see
him. 1t was good to see his face again, to
feel his hand. sank into 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.
sd 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 tiied floor rugged pro-
fusely: Den 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, a dense, live blue, skirted with
wreathing riffs of cloud each tinted ike
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 laid the fruit upon the table. and
then gathering the blue serape from the
chair she passed beyond into little bal
| cOny.
"'Let us go out and take walk sug-
| gested. He arose dreamily.
"'Amorita,' he said. so 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
| lv and kissed her She opened the door
and we passed out.
"'Adios. Amorita'
AZ 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.
81 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
orita will be alone
"a look of heaven came into his face
whenever he SAID that name, and during
my many ramblings with him l learned
that she had some little money 1t was
enough for them both, she had told him ia
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 l 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 II
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 hi:
side, was moving a large fan slowly
evenly.
Cara mia,' he murmered in gentle
gasp.
ISL she whispered.
$50 kind, so true he murmered-
wine, water, for Gods
''She lifted a wineglass to his lips anc
lovingly supported him as he drank. Hi:
blue eyes fell softly upon her. 1 crossed t
the other side of the couch. He saw me.
"Dick'
eyes, old man.
"'The Witch of the Swamps, you re
member
"'Yes, yes
"'Shei is coming; the silk is waving, tn,
blasted hopes loom like swamp, but th'
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 vehemence she flung he
arms about him and held her lips close Il
his face.
Your last BREATH she murmured il
Spanish; 7 will die with its fragrance upoI
my lips. You will not journey alone u
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 ar
ranged his hair with gentle touch, ant
placed prayer rug by the couch; thel
moved across the room, and before
mirror draped a 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 moment, then rising she lai'
her hand in mine. her eyes fixed first upol
his face, then turning into mine, Cent
she pointed 10 the door, her head dropped
the glass held high above her head.
obeyed the silent command.
The Spanish guardsman found then
late that night. A wreath of flowers wa
The -