Middletown transcript., 1892-05-19
A LEGEND OF SONORA.

ny HILDEGARDE HAWTHORNE.
Two persons, man and a woman,
faced each other under clump OF
live-oaks. Hard by were visible the
walls Of an adobe house crumbling
with age. The sun was setting q
slight breeze stirred in the dark
branches of the trees, which all
through the hot Mexican day had
! been motionless. The woman was
dark and small, with large eyes and
a graceful body; the man, . swarthy
vaquero, in serape and sombrero.
4" And you heard him say-that =
said she.
aYes, senorita. He said, Il love
you'll love you 7 twice, like that.
And then he kissed her"
All! he kissed her. Anything
else?"
aThis r He handed her a clip Of
folded paper. 1t contained wOman's
name, q few words of passion, and
signature. AS the senorita's eyes
perused it, they contracted. and she
drew in long breath. The vaquero
watched her keenly. 81 found it in
the arbor after they had gone" said
be.
She looked away dreamily. "Thank
you, thanks, Mazeppa," she muttered.
cit is late. I must 60 in now. Adios,
Mazeppal" She turned, and, moving
slowly, vanished behind . corner of
the adobe house.
The vaquero remained motiouless
until she was out of sight. Then ne
pressed his hands to his lips. and
flung them out towards her with q
passionate gesture. Thenext mom-
ent he had mounted his horse and
was gone.
An hour passed. Again the sound
Of hodfs. A handsome young senior.
iauntily attired, galloped up to the
door Of the house, and springing from
the saddle, hitched his rein over q
large hook projecting from the wall.
"Hola! Maria, little onel' he called
out, in rich, joyous voice. " Where
is my little Maria ?"
The senorita appeared, smiling. She
was in white, with q reboso drawn
around her delicate face. She bore a
two.handled silver cup, curiously
chased. "See," she said, i have
brought you some wine. Such long
ride, just to see me!' She was holding
out The cup towards him but, as he
was about to receive it, she drew it
back suddenly. She was pale; her
eyes glittered. II too am thirsty"
she said. She lifted the cup to her
lips and took a deep draught. Nov,
YOU shall finish it, she added, hand
ing it to him.
He nodded to her laughingly. 80
our love r. be said, and drained it.
q But how strangely you look at me,
little oner he exclaimed, as he set
the cup down and caught his breath.
Is anything wrongi"
aAIl is well, she answered. Il
am happy. Are you happy ?
81? I am with you, am not 2"
She put her hand in his. Let US
never be parted any more" she said.
z Come; we'll walk to the hilltop
and see the moon rise"
Hand in hand, they sauntered along
the path up the bare hillside. On
and on they walked, slowly, slowly.
Maria gave little gasp, and glanced
with dilated eyes at her lover. He
smiled family, and tried to draw her
towards him, but, somehow, did not;
and still they moved slowly on their
way. The hilltop seemed strangely I
a
far off. Maria pressed forward, grasp
ing her lovers hand. What made
the distance seem SO long ? Surely it /
was but stroll Of ten minutes; yet :
it was as they had been walking an
hour-a year-many years!
Down the hillside path came a
horse man, riding quietly and hum
ming love song. He was close upon
The two figures before be appeared to
be aware of them. They half stopped, !.
Is ifto speak to him. The horse /;
and plunged. The rider
Itared at the couple but an instant,
hen, driving home his spurs, sprang
past them.
Smother of Godi" he faltered, cross I
% himself as he threw backward n
lance up the path. on which nothing .
Eas now visible, "the- ghosts The il
title girl who, they say down below, Z
,oisoned herself and her lover fifty : :
vears ago. T. I