The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-07-13
THE END OF THE SONG

winding road arrived at my destination.
Having walked about half an hour In
burning sun, found sort Of semicircle,
where men, women and children were
smoking, working and playing. AS
spoke a little Spanish, I tried to become
acquainted with them. ] approached an
old woman, on whose knees "a big baby
was sleeping.
my good woman" said, Fam I far
from Granada 1t was simply an opening
speech and stepping stone to converse
ton.
About half an hours walk" she re-
piled.
"Can you give me drink Of waters" I
continued.
ENTER there" she said, pointing to her
hut. You will find pitcher full of
fresh water"
In Spain the water Is excellent. l did
as requested, and then offered the woman
pecette for her hospitality, and, think
ing I had thus purchased the right TO
question her, resumed the conversation
at must DO very damp in your hut,
continued.
"Oh, no. Not too much; look, she
added, eat that cabin yonder, beside the
door of which woman Is seated. She is
richer than any of us. Her name is Man
uela," she said with contempt.
"Manuelal'
"Have you never heard of herr" she said,
with look of surprise. Then you must
be a stranger"
II am stranger, replied, land have
never heard of the woman. Whence comes
her fortune?''
sit is long story"
"No, am too busy. Ask that young
man standing alone to the right Of us.
approached the man she had indicated.
"Do you belong to this part of the coun-
tryY' / inquired.
"Yes, monsieur"
"What is your cmployment?"
81 have none at present" he responded
II was position. May ask, no added,
"from what country you conner"
France" replied AS pronounced
| the word no started.
"a Frenchman?' he said quickly
"Then perhaps you know NJ Benjaminei"
ono"
81 am sorry" he continued. THE per.
son alude to is doctor, but since you
| do not know him, must wait"
"You seem to have some trouble, l
said.
Eyes, a great trouble"
"Can do anything for your
"Nothing-nothing. 1t is woman
| she has gone away"
"But you know where she resides.
| Write to her, and on my return TO Paris
will call upon her and give her your let
| ter"
| 81 do not know how to write"
| "Well then, II you desire me To do so,
will go to her, tell her that have seen
you and write you all that she tells me. -
| Would you really do that kind service
| for a stranger" he said with look of
| pleasure.
"Most willingly" responded.
| "Then come a little way of, and will
| tell you my story. Do you see the woman
sitting at yondcr doorway
/ replied, allirmatively. 1t WAS the same
one alluded to by the old grandame had
| first addressed.
"She Is her mother"
| Whose motherY' inquired
| "Pasita's. The girl l so passionately
| loved so worshiped Her mother allowed
| her to leave us, because she was well paid.
| PASTA Is the daughter Of yonder WON
| an and is as beautiful as the Virgin. was
| only q position. Positions rarely live
longer than 20 years, and l, like the 9th
| ers, would have died had I continued.
| Well, loved and was to have married Pa.
sta. Her mother and herself were poor
| and her father had been killed In one of
| the wars The mother was q complete
bohemian, doing nothing but eating,
sleeping and dancing. What l gained I
gave for their support. One day, as ap.
preached Pasta, l saw her gazing far
away rapt in reverie. Like the swallows,
she dreamed possibly, Of other lands. She
wept and could not console her. Days
passed; soon her health became visibly
impaired and she grew weaker and weak.
er. At length l summoned courage to ask
her to become my wife. For few mo.
ments she gazed at me silently, and then
replied:
"'I know you love mo, but I can only
love the one who can sing the conclusion
Of that air which haunts me day and
night
| saw that her reason was affected. About
the beginning of last August started for
Madrid according to custom. When re-
turned, was particularly detected, having
been for some time troubled by promo.
milton of evil and the approach of some
/ eOTTOW As Il WIS AohNAh6 SsA"het"t ~ o"Hi
my friend, approached, and, taking my
hand within his own, said
"'Pepeilo, must beg you to be strong
and be patient
What has happcncdf inquired.
'Pasita'-
"'Is deadl
No, but she has gone
"The thought that the being SO loved
was no longer, with her people seemed i'm
possible.
4" Tell me all, responded.
I" The day after you departed, contin-
ned Juan, "a man came down the noun
tain. Ho was old, his hair gray and his
facs pale. The first person he saw was
Pasta, sitting mt her mothers door. He
approached and, regarded her attentively
She scarcely seemed aware Of his presence.
lis that YOUR daughter no said to
Manuela.
YES, she replied briefly.
:" She isill, continued tho stranger
"'How do you know thatS'
I" Il am a'physician.
I" What would you have me TO dos' ro-
piled the woman carelessly.
Take care Of her.
"'wcll, 80 I do. but she Is not like other
people,
"'You are right, resumed the old man.
she IL very unlike other people. My child,
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