The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-05-21

ger backward IN the little oratOry OF
the chapel, and on the paving we're
the fragments of long black bottle
that had contained some black
liquid, The old fellow looked very
much frightened and deprecating,
and fastened to explain that at his
age he found drop now and then
necessary. We made his feelings
all right on the point by offering TO
drink some more with him, If he had
any. 1t appeared that there were
number of bottles in the cellar The
old priest, nd even his wife, the old
woman who seemed unable to speak
proved very hospitable in the end,
and we went on our way early the
next morning.
| AT last the mountains were passed
and before US stretched a broad,
level grassy plain, and twenty miles
away, though the distance seemed
much less, lay city half the size of
Boston, but whose site was on no
map in existence and whose name
probably not ten educated men in
this country had ever heard. But
that was forty years ago. OF course
things have changed since then.
Here my guides said they must
leave me, and though l entreated
their company to the city, they
utterly refused. | therefore set out
alone.
You can imagine my DISSOLUTION at
being left, even by the desperate
black hued men who had been my
companions so far. Even they had
had some sympathy for my
loneliness, though it was moody,
silent sympathy. But now was
alone, strange city that did not
know was before me, the Andes
behind me. If was ever homesick
in my life was that morning. If
ever wished | was home with a wife
and children about me, that was the
time. AS tramped on | dreamed
OF these things. l carefully recalled
all the ladies of my acquaintance, to
see il any OF them would do for
wife. Some were more or less attrac-
tive, but there were many difficulties
in the way of really marrying one OF
them. After time turned from a
consideration of the money question.
That seemed less doubtful for | had
begun to know my own powers and
to trust them. | then and there
resolved that | would work no
longer for another master, but 60
into business for myself when | re-
turned to San Francisco. | had
little capital laid by, and, Of course,
there were many schemes for using
it proftably already formed in my
mind. may be pardoned for say
ing that my resolve was carried out,
though perhaps not as | had hoped.
1t was evening when l reached the
city, with its narrow streets and low,
leaf thatched houses, rudely and
weakly built, but having some show
of neatness on the inside. All the
buildings seemed alike, and there
were no stores or big signs Of hotels
or restaurants. The dusky, hall
savage people started coldly at me
and made me feel more alone than
ever. | wandered along, hoping to
see familiar sign OF some sort, at
least some show of a decent nights
lodging and good square meal.
The tough looking guides of the
other side of the mountains had |
robbed me Of most of my money,
but | had a little left. Yet it was
growing dusk and l did not speak
the ordinary patois of the people to
make any inquiries.
At last, however, my happy eyes
saw the Spanish word Restaurant"
printed on a slip of white paper with
lead pencil and stuck in glass win
dow. Without ceremony | entered.
There was large room Of rough,
plain boards, and in the middle Of it |
one long table covered with a white
cloth. At first l thought there was
no one present. But as l grew used
to the faint light made out the
form OF girl sitting at the farther
end ofthe table, with her head buried
in her arms. gave loud grunt to
attract her attention, and she quick
ly raised her head. As we'll as
could see | thought she was good
looking and young woman.
vaguely felt happy and wondered
what language she spoke. As |
/ resolved in my mind the possible
methods of finding this out was
about to begin with English and try
ali l knew,I picked up an earthen
plate, and as | toyed with in on the
table in my youthful embarrassment
| accidentally let it fall to the floor
where it broke in several pieces,
much to my astonishment. At this
the girl started quickly to her feet in
a little fright, exclaiming very dis
tinctly:
Gracious!
So she was English. In my
delight at the discovery forgot all
about the plate, but stepped quickly
forward and took her hand, not
quite without embarrassment, and
explained, as briefly as could, who
l was and what | wanted. You may
be sure she was as delighted to see
me as | to see her. For a whole
year the only kindred face she had
seen was her fathers and that, she
/ ranarLyed was covered .uitb q