The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-31

-NazSsA.M-
Tall and stately and clad IN q aOhlte robe.
my stand7in such fashion that the moon.
light did not strike upon my face bowed
low in the courtly Spanish fashion, and
Disgusting my voice spoke as Spaniard
might in broken English, which spare
to write down:
Madam" said, ''have I the honor to
speak to one who in bygone years was
named the Sonora Lily Bozard?''
"That was my name" she answered.
"What is your errand with me, sir?"
Now I hembled afresh, but spoke on
boldly.
"Before I answer, madam, forgive me
If ask another question. Is this still
your name?''
"It is. still my name. am no married
woman she answered. and for moment
the sky seemed to reel above me and the
ground to heave beneath my feet like the
lava crust of Xaca. But as yet I did not
reveal myself, for wished to learn If she
still loved my memory
"Senora, % said, 81 am Spaniard who
served in the Indian wars Of Cortes, OF
which perhaps you have heard"
She bowed her head, and Iwent on: "1n
those wars met man who was named
Teule, but who had another name In for
mer days, so he told me on his deathbed
some two years ago.
''What name?' she asked in q low voice.
t'Thomas Wingfeld. -
Now Lily moaned aloud and in her turn
caught at the pales to save herself from
falling.
"Ideemed him dead these 1s years. !" she
gasped, drowned in the Indian seas,
where his vessel foundered.
81 have heard say that he was ship
wrecked in those seas, sonora, but he es-
capped death and fell among the Indians,
who made god of him and gave him the
daughter Of their king in marriage" And
paused.
She shivered, then said in a hard voice:
Continue, sir. listen to you.
''My friend Teule took the part Of the
| Indians in the wars, as being the husband
of one of their princesses nc must do in
honor, and fought bravely for them for
many years. At length the town that he
defended was captured, his one remaining
child was murdered, and his wife, the
| princess, slew herself for sorrow, and he
himself was taken into captivity, where
he 1anguished and died. -
"a sad tale, sir" she said, with little
laueh-a mouruful laugh that was half
choked with tears.
"a very sad tale, sonora, but one that
| is not finished. While he lay dying my
friend told me that in his early life Ec had
plighted troth with q certain English maid
| named''-
1T know the name. Continue. -
He told me that though he had been
welded and loved his wife, the princess,
who was very royal woman, that many
times had risked her life for his-aye, even
to lying at his upon the stone Of sac
riflce, and Of her own free will-yet the
memory Of this maiden to whom he was
once betrothed had companioned him
through life and was strong upon him now
at its close Therefore he prayed me for
our friendships sake to seek her out when
| returned to Europe, should she still live,
and to give her message from him and to
make prayer to her on his behalf
"What message and what prayer" Lily
| whispered.
.sThis: That he loved her at the end Of
his life as he had loved her at its begin
ming; that he humbly prayed her forgive
ness because he had broken the troth
which they two had sworn beneath the
beech at buckingham.
'sSir," she cried, what do you know
of that?''
'sOnly what my friend told me, sonora"
'Your friendship must have been close,
and your memory must be good" she
mur1nurcd.
(Which he had donc, went on, Gun
der strange circumstances-so strange in
deed that he dared to hope that his broken
troth might be renewed in some better
world than this. His last prayer was that
she should say to me, his messenger, that
she forgavc him and still loved him, as to
his death he loved her"
''And how can such forgiveness or such
an avowal advantage dead MANI" Lily
asked, watching me keenly through the
shadows Have the dead then eyes to
see and ears to hear:"
s'How can I know, sonora? do but
execute my mission" !"
And how can know that you are
true messenger? 1t chanced that had
sure tidings of the drowning of Thomas
Wingfeld many years ago, and this tale
of Indians and princcsses is wondrous
strange-morc like those that happen in
romances than in this plain world. Have
you no token Of your good faith, sir?''
Il have such token, sonora, but the
light is too faint for You to sec it.
Then follow me to the house. There
We will get light Stay And. once
more going to the stable gate, she called
John
An old man answered her, and knew
ia. T a4oet II G Govt RenOrt