The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-03
susanna.

thelr shoulders; the newSboyS were shout
ing with discordant voices. What anima-
ton! How brilliant the electric light!
Everything denoted hurry and work, even
the hiss of escaping steam from the engine
about to move
How tediousl An intcrminable hour be-
fore the train would arrive. Tired of walk
ing l leaned against u post and by tho
blush rays of the electric light read, for the
twentieth time, this paragraph of letter:
shall arrive Thursday. Come to the station
to meet me. 1t is posi- GO that my cousin Su-
sana may come with inc TO spend tho 10th of
September. l am anxious TO sec Won Your
friend, MIGUEL.
Miguel! My friend, my confidant, nv
Drotherl All, the sweetness of friendship!
To pass away the time 1 walked away
from the station toward the fields. seated
myself OH pile of ties, and with my chin
resting on my hand pensively watched the
darkening landscape. The grove was a
blur. do not know what there was i'll the
outlines of the distant houses, in the watch
mans lantern, shining in the shadow like
red eye, or i'll the distant glimmer of a
lighted window almost lost to sight, that
should deprcss and sadden me- What
frightful shapes the clouds seemed to take,
heaped in their immenSity outlined in sim
lister forms by the lightning, advancing
sters of the tempest! Not one pale star!
The wind the cold, the darkness, memory,
perhaps presentiment, something inspired
me with an unspeakable, bitter sadness on
that cold, wintry night.
The past! My native land Behind those
silhouetted mountains, still beyond the
valley, far away were my people-that is
to say, childhood, youth, family, my heart,
susanna! On thinking of her the sad
thoughts flcd-the sadness, heavy, over
whclming, threatening as those storm
clouds, gave place to the rosy tints of hope.
Again seemed to see blue mountains
flooded with sunlight, their peaks encirclcd
by II violet haze, the morning mist floating
in the valley; the billowy maize field; the
grove thick and dark, beside the road; the
white cottages in the distant landscape
My people! My Susana! She, the only one
who ever distracted my attention during
mass; she who sang with me in the moon
light on the balcony; she who hung on my
arm during our walks; she who made me
love to think of the future
The pencil of memory was drawing with
indeliblc lines two pictures which I can
never forget-my first and my last inter
view with her alone
The first meeting was when the twilight
was fading, the country was asleep, the
milpas undulating like the sea, the pueblo
quiet, until the frogs i'll tho neighboring
marshes began to intone their monotonous
and melancholy scrcnade.
Trembling mt every sound, was waiting
behind Inaguey for the promised signal.
L started Mt the rustling of IL withered leaf
blown by the wind.
When saw light was to approach it,
initiate the whistle of II bird, wait till 1
heard II slight cough, and then The
NM .,f . Il
| was afraid. Of the solitude? OF tho
night? No; of the senorita's father. CThose
senors are always brutal and unfecling.)
Comforts y light shines, and approach
tremulous and cowardly My mouth is
dry and L can scarcely whistle.
"Juanm
susanna
Come up carefully"
My energies fail me. / have fallen twice;
but Mt last here am, with my pantaloons
torn and muddy, astride the adobe wall.
do not move"
mo; am coming down. Tie Corzo so
that he will not bite me-"
He knows you already. Take him,
Corzo! You see, he wags his tail'
My darling, here l am. Where are you
going?"
"Here-this way, to the arbor No one is
there-comc"
Moving softly on tiptoe, holding aside
her starched skirt of pcrcale, that it might
not rustic, she preceded me to the arbor,
and we sat down there side by side. She
shuddercd little and finally said:
II am afraid of the darkness"
Afraid with me, who loves you?"
Hist! DO not let them hear you; they
are i'll the kitchen. Listen" she added in
lower voice. Il have made you come solely
to tell you that it is worse than useless for
this to go Oh any further. am older than
you. When you are u man l shall be an old
woman"
How old? Not more than And TAX
ing her in my arms 1 added, "Old or
young, you will be my susanna; shall love
you always-ulways."
Yes, you say so now, but by and by"-
We were silent Under such circum-
stances little is spoken. At length she
sighed and said, do you swear that you
love me?'
YES; swear it to YOU"
NO, no. it is not fitting Forget me 1t
Is best. Are you angry"
NO" answered ironically.
"Are you angry" she cried passionately,
when adore your"
MY SUP
"Hark hear noisel Col"
Fear seized upon her and upon me also.
l felt my valor ooze from my finger tips.
They are not coming. The mozo is q
telltale, and IS capable of spying on us in
order TO tell papa"
| was cold; fancied 1 saw a man in
every shadow.
"Susana?' cried n voice from door open
ing into the courtyard.
Mammal she answered, and in hasty
undertone added: Quick, hide YOURSELF
There" she said, pushing me, "stay be-
hnd"-
What are you doing?"
~ am busy"