Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1894-01-20
TALES OFTEN TRAVELLERS.
The Don PROF FssSOR'S SPECIMEN.
BY EDGAR L wAKEMAN.

copyright, 1894. ALI rights reserved.l
'Ls psz de Dios sea en- esta cass!' (rhe
peacs of God be upon your houseD
"Y vepgs con voz!' Come you with
that blessingD
The little gray old mau who had uttered
the invocation and the little gray old dom
key beneath him were sorry looking OBJ
| jects in the wondrouB summe. night moon
light, which poured through the riffs of
the giant fores. trees there in the almost
| unknown mountain district of southern
| Cuba.
| The very radiance of the moonlight
| added years In appearance to the wosbe-
gone face of the rider, despite his deep
and almost sparkling black eyes. 1t sill
vered the white of his hair, the gray of
bis travel stained clothing and ponderous
patched psnniers; while what little of the
shaggy hair of his donkey, whose head
was already touching the ground with
slambsrous intent, could be seen. took on
the same weird aud spectral appearance.
Stranger still in the moonlight was the
figure confronting them. II was of bare
headed and barefooted man, clad In black
ened linen and the skins of wild beasts.
He was almost giant in height. huge of
frame, and his great round head, curious
ly begrimea, was nearly covered with q
wiry beard and shocky, glossy black hair.
Though his left hand was extended with
gesture of friendliness, In his right was
grasped q Cuban mschs.e at least three
feet In length, whose wo-edged blade was
The arm that held this savage weapon was
mighty and corded, and the timorous rider
suddenly reflected that, despite the mans
hearty welcome, this arm and blade could
in twinkling sever his own and his don.
keys heads at one swift stroke.
"Hsgams Ell favor de condo , refugiafi'
(Msy crave food and shelterD ssksd the
rider In qusvering tone of supplicstion.
"Desmontesen y tomen los dos ambosI!
(Dismount and receive bothD responded
the immovable figure with the msohste.
The little old man WAS not yet sure oi
his strange host. He looked anxiously
about him upon the blinking night fires OF
o weird and unscoountsble camp. Hs
seemed about to turn and plunge down the
torturous way he had come. Then with 9
glance at his jsded beast, he began, with
out dismounting and a. II completely dis
traught, Q stream of personal explanations
in q most lugubrious and disheartened
tone of voice.
"Good cir, am Don Eduardo Gonzales
I-Profeeeor Gonzales, of the Royal Uni
versity of Havana. / am sometimes
known among my fellows as IA natural
ist. More often I am known" he oonclu
ded as it recollecting his present forlorr
and helpless condition, and a. he saw the
man before him was grinning broadly, "by
the merry youth of Havana as Q foolisf
old ass. They are right, sir; they ar,
right. am completely lost, and without
your generous aid I shall never return
alive to dear Havana with these pricsles
speoimensp
The little old man here broke down oom
pletely, and after afectionately and whim
peringly patting the ragged panniers
wiped tear or two from his dusty eyes
} gave his donkey Vicious dig with hi
heel, as though that patient animal wer
the cause of all his misfortunes; an,
l turned to the huge forester With an air Q
supreme resignation, which plainly said
: Professor or ass, my race IL run. ar
q ready for food and shelter, or drawing an
Q quartsripg at once. Which ever 1t L. TO
Q make no delAyp
, "a sad historyl" sAid the forester sti
, smiling. 81 am also feared and hated b
J. some; called fool by others. But I al
o free and happy here In the mountains Wit