The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-17
CHAPTER XII.

AI1<At AL.
Chonita. clad in black gown, walked
slowly up and down the corridor of Casa
Grande. The rain should have dripped
from the caves, beaten with heavy mo-
notony upon the hard clay of the court
yard TO accompany her mood, but it did
not. The sky was blue without fleck of
cloud, the sun like the open mouth of n
furnace of boiling gold, the air as warm
and sweet and drowsy as if it never had
come in shock with human care. Pru-
dencia sat on the green bench drawing
threads in fine linen smock, her small
face rosy with contentment.
"Why dost thou wear that black gown
this beautiful morning." she demanded
suddenly. "And why dost thou walk
when thou canst sit down.
II had a dream last night. Dost thou
believe in dreams?" She had as much
regard for her cousins opinion as for the
twittering of bird, but she felt the ne
cessity of speech at times, and at least
this child never remembered what she
said.
''Sure, my Chonita. Did not / dream
that the good captain would bring pink
silk stockings? And are they not my own
this minute?" And she thrust diminu-
tive foot from beneath the hem of her
gown, regarding it with admiration.
"And did not dream that Tomaso and
Liseta would marry? What was thy
dream, my Chonita?"
Il do not know what the first part
was-something very sad All remem-
Der is the roar Of the ocean and another
roar like the wind through high trees:
then movement that shook and fright.
ened me, but sweeter than anything
know of, so / cannot define it: then
swift, awful tragedy cannot recall
the details of that either The whole
dream was like black mass of clouds.
cut now and then by scythe of light
ming. But then, like a vision within a
dream, seemed to stand there and see
myself, clad in black gown. walking
up and down this corridor or one like it,
up and down, up and down, never rest
ing. never daring TO rest. lest hear the
ceaseless clatter of lonely fugitive's
horse. When | awoke was as cold as
if had received the first shock of the
surf. | cannot say why | put on this
black gown today. make no haste to
feel as l did when l wore it in that
dream-the desolation, the endlessness--
but did"
THAT was strange dream, my Cho-
nita," said Prudencia, threading her
needle. Thou must have eaten too
many dulces for supper. Didst thou?'
NO" said Chonita shortly. IL did
not"
She continued her aimless walk, won.
dering at her depression of spirits. All
her life she had felt a certain mental
loneliness, but perfect health had gwen
wings to her spirit, and she had only to
spring on a horse and gallop over the
hills to feel as happy as a young animal.
Moreover. the world-all the world she
knew-was at her feet: nor had she ever
known the novelty of an ungratified
wish Once IN awhile her father arose
In an obdurate mood. but she had only
TO coax, or threaten tears-never had
she been seen to shed one--or stamp her
foot, TO bring that doting parent to
terms. Ii is true that she had had her
morbid moments-an abrupt impatient
desire for something that was not all
light and pleasure and gold and adula-
tion-but being girl of will and sense
and healthy instincts she had turned
resolutely from the STRINGS of her deep
er soul, regarding them as Goals fallen
from mind that burned too hotly at
times.
This morning, however, she let the
blue waters rise. not so much because
they were stronger than her will as be-
cause she wished TO understand what
was the matter with her. She was filled
with dull dislike of every one she had
ever known. OF every condition which |
had surrounded her from birth. She |
felt a deep disgust of placid content |
ment, OF the mere enjoyment Of sunshine /
and air. She recalled drearily the clock
like revolutions Of the year which |
brought bull fights. races. rodeos. church /
celebrations, her mothsrs anecdotes Of
the Indians. her fathers manifold inter
ests. ever the theme Of his tongue. Rel /
naldo's grandiloquent accounts of his ex- /
ploits and intentions, Prudencia's infinite
nothings She hated the balls Of which !
she was In favorita, the everlasting
serenades, the whole life Of pleasure .
which made that period of California /
the most perfected Arcadia the modern
world has known. Some time during |
the past few weeks the girl had crossed .
her hands over her breast and lain down /
IN her eternal tomb. The woman had |
arisen and come forth. blinded as yet by
the light, her hands thrust out gropingly |
1T is that man" she told herself with /
angry frankness. II had not talked I
with him ten minutes before felt NJ ]