The herald., 1893-12-25

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"Meson de San Ignacio." 1t was dirty
howell, built of the unburnt brick or
"adobes" Of that country, and used for
every purpose pertaining to the occupation
OF mine host in that civilized land 1t had
but one room, long, narrow and without
light except from the door. and in one cor
ner was built little fire, where short fat
woman in white chemise and red flannel
petticoat was making tortillas, while we
were shown to the other end and told to
make ourselves at home on a long bench
covered with sheepskins
The major domo tumbled two of the raw
hides down at our feet, and with many
carrachos tramped the wrinkles out to
make them lie fat and then piled the rest
of them in the middle of the room. Coffee,
tortillas and dried mutton furnished our
repast, and soon afterward we wrapped our
''serapes' around us and betook ourselves
to the sheepskins, having previously made
arrangements for seats in the diligencia for
Merida on the following day.
About daybieak we were reused by tre-
mendous numbering at the door, and after
volley of quaint Spanish curses addressed
to several mules, each Of which he adj
dressed by the name of some saint, little
parchment faced fellow, with jingling spurs,
broad sombrero. o thick blanket and a
heavy whip, made his appearance, calling
for his breakfast
BY this time O'Farrell, my companion,
was dressed and out to inspect our convey
ance.
Como Sc llama esta, senor?" he asked of
the major domo in Spanish, which. as he
said, was reasonable, considering.
"Ef diligencia, senor," replied the host,
touching.his sombrero.
"Is that the Spanish for cartp" said Jer-
ry, turning to me.
I'm this case, certainly" I replied,
''though not usually, believe"
Further comments were prevented by an
imposing Summons from our host, and in
, 10 minutes we had disposed Of a reasonable
quantity of the goats flesh and tortillas,
washed it down with some strong coffee
and returned to the street. where by this
time were assembled several senores, with
their blankets covering half their faces and
their sombreros the other half, gravely in
specting whit Jerry irreverently insinuat-
ed should be called a cart.
''Tres reales, senor," said the don to my
question for his bill, and he received the
money with a lofty bow, which no doubt
was meant to impress upon us the height
from which he condescended to accommo-
date us at all.
Cheap enough" said I, handing him the
money.
And dear enough, too," said Jerry.
jumping into the cart"
"'Ista, mulas! Santa Marial Santa
Catarrhal Santa Ursular" etc.. screamed
the little courier. The crowd of senors
gravely raised their hats, the major domo
bowed like hidalgo and we were off. /
looked back and saw the crowd close eager
ly round "mine hostp to inquire about the
strangers, and the noble keeper Of the
'.meson" drew himself proudly up to give
an account of his "illustrious guests" A
turn in the road hid them from view, and
we were trotting merrily upon the road to
Merida.
Our journey to the capital afforded no
incident worthy of narration, unless indeed
two "breaisdowns" ard Antonio's dexterity
in patching up be deemed so. and about
half an hour after sunset we drove into the
deserted streets of "the city," All our
friend Antonio's "Ista. mulas." and San
tas" were not sufficient to raise trot
and in most musical, most melancholy"
walk we creaked through the wide oak
door of the "Meson Santiago" or "St
James hotel" Mother Pepa, whose lati
tude and longitude differed but little in
.nany abortive courtesies received the
guests, who in this country are always
"illustrous."
Jerry took her hand and saluted her fat
cheek, telling her he WIS "devilish glad to
see her." and followed the cordial pair
into the best room, where table was al
ready set with red beans. goats flesh, tor
tillas and coffee. Jerry stopped at the door
and held short colloquy with the "madre,"
while listened to the music-the "diligen-
cia" and the ''carrachos" being stilled at
last--I was enabled to hear from an upper
room on the other side of the court.
"Why, jerry said / as he entered sena
ing the old abbess off in quick wadd..
"you seem to know where you are"
Know where l am? Certainly | dor he
exclaimed. ''I've been here before-spent
two months here once. And, by the by,
we're just in town. Don't you hear the
music2n
Yes, but I'd know we were in town
without that" i answered.
Not SO deep in town. though" he re-
Joined, "for there is fandango' up there,
my boy. See, he continued, slapping me
on the back, ''see what thing it is to trav-
el in good company. We have the entree
already"
"Goodp' exclaimed, entering into the
spirit of the thing, for pleasure was what
we were after.
"Or," said Jerry. "as they say here 'Mu-
cho bueno. Speak Spanish, my boy, or
you will never get along here, for d the
word do any Of these people know of Eng
lish."
well, we'll, don't swear, Jerryl Pll rub
up my Spanish"
Eyes, and be little more Irish and i
tie less nice, )" he rejoined. That's quite
necessary as Spanish"
Jerry was an Irishman himself by bio
as his name indicates. So my readers
excuse him. At any rate, did, for in ]
than half an hour his energetic, thou
somewhat equivocal, Spanish had given
the entree into the room where was asser
bled the elite of the city of Merida.
Here, Tom," said he, dragging me across
the room; come this way, my boy, and let
me introduce you"
They were dancing some cross between
cotillon and a reel, as Jerry said, and as
we made our way round the figure we
passed group standing in one Of the win
'dows, which we're all embayed and grated
with iron, but contained no glass. AyounR
man with profusion of gold coins on
the outside seam of his slashed pantaloons
and very heavy ring on his forefinger step
ped out and WAS extremely glad to see
Jerry, rhalsing him by the hand and seem
ing inclined even to embrace him. Jerry
was Glad to sec him also ard introdr1ced