Evening journal., 1891-07-29

a fountain, bordering the plaza; a glorious
eyed Mexican maid was by his side, a pale
blue serape thrown about her head.
"Her hair riyaled 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 q
Galatea.
"rhe 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 bonhres,
for it was market night, and men, women
and boys sat guarding their stacks Of fruit
and fish.
Il 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 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 pand 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.
"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, a dense, live blue, skirted with
wreathing riffs of cloud. each tinted like a
she'll
"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 20 out and take a 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 20 her in.
quiry.
'She ran lightly away, and soon re-
turned with his hat and cane.
'Adios, cara mia he muttered tender.
iy aud 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-
sponse was a gentle, half tired smile.
i will never play any more, he said; I
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 saio that name, and during
my many ramblings with him | learned
that she had some little money. It was
enough for them both, she had told him in
Spanish, and so il happened that the little
blue serape laid across the chair, and
Amorita sang him Spanish lullabys to the
lutte, or held him on her warm,
warm heart when he was III 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 we'll, 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 a 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 wineglass TO his lips and
lovingly supported him as he drank His
blue eyes fell softly upon her. l crossed to
the other side OF the couch. He saw me.
"'Dick.'
"'Yes, old man.
"'The Witch Of the swamps. you re-
member
ayes, yes
"'She is coming; the silk is waving, the
blasted hopes loom like a swamp, but the
moonlight, the starlight, is this face.
And he turned his eyes to his Spanish
lQNe; QNe;r,. .,,,,..,. -. -,,,,,,..,,. 49,.
ship the sun, the warmth, the love, the
life, Amorita'-
"With gentle vehemence she flung her
arms about him and held her lips close to
his face
"'Your last BREATH she murmured in
Spanish; 4 will die with its fragrance upon
my lips You will not journey alone &c
the land of souls, my life
with immortal move he drew himself
into her arms, momentary struggle, q
sound Of choking, and slowly-rigidly-h
fell into the pose of death.
"Amorita removed the pillows from his
head till he lay quite at ease. She ar
ranged his hair with gentle touch an6
placed a prayer rug by the couch; theT
moved across the room, and before 4
mirror draped lace mantilla about hei
sea storm hair, and taking vial from hei
pocket, she poured the colorless contents
into a 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 upor
his face, then turning into mine. Gently
she pointed 70 the door, her head drooped
the glass held high above her head.
obeyed the silent command.
"The Spanish guardsman found then
late that night. A wreath OF flowers wal
/ lying on their breasts The fragments o
a shattered glass lay glimmering on th'
| floor, as it had fallen from her lips anS
hand. Through the open window swep
/ the tinkling Of many bells, and the nigh
air stirred the music to the room from thu
distant plaza, and so left Jack Lane, lit