The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-29
THE END OF THE SONG

huJaccnG tO tho Clty.
loft Granada, and by u difficult and
winding road arrived Mt my destination.
Having walked about half M hour In n
burning sun, found sort of semicirclo,
where men, women and children wcru
smoking, working and playing AS I
spoke II little Spanish, ! tried to become
acquainted with them. i approached au
old woman, on whose knees u biz baby
was sleeping.
"My good woman" said, cam far
from Granadaf" TWAS simply an opening
speech and Il stepping Stone TO CONVERSE.
ton.
about half un hours walk" she re-.
piled.
Can you give ME drink of watorp"
continued.
Enter thoro," shs said, pointing to hcr
hut. You will find pitcher full of
fresh water"
In Spain tho water Is excellent. did
rs requested, and then offered the woman
pecctto for her hospitality, and, think
Ing l had thus purchased tho right to
question hor, resumed tho conversation.
ut must be very damp in your hut"
continued
"Oh, no. Not too much; look" sho
added, eat that cabin yonder, beside the
door of which n woman Is seated. Sho Is
richer than any of us. Her namo Is Man
uela, she said with contenpt.
"Msnueln!"
'Eiavo you never heard Of herp' sho said,
with q look OF surprise. "Then you must
be u stranger"
II am IL stranger, replied, land have
never heard of tho woman. Whence comcs
her fortune9'
cit is n long story"
"Can you not toll NOR" inquired.
mo, am too busy. Ask that young
man standing alone to the right of u.s."
approached tho man sho had Indicated
DO you belong to this part of tho coun-
try?" 1 inquired.
"Yes, monsieur"
What is your omploymentf"
II have mono mt present." he responded
~ was position. May L ask, - ho added,
from what country you Gomez"
France" l replied. AS pronounced
tho word he started
"a Frcnchmanf" ho said quickly.
"Then perhaps you know NJ BenjainlneY"
"No."
II am sorry" he continued "The per-
son alludc to is n doctor, but since you
do not know him, must wait
You seem to havo some trouble, 4" l
said.
Yes, great trouble
Can l do anything for you?"
"Nothing-nothing. 1t is u woman
She has gone away"
But you know where she resides.
Writo to her, and on luy return to Paris I
VIII call upon her and give her your let
ter"
Il do not know how to write"
well, then, If you desire me to do so,
m fol h.r hnt ha,
you and write you all that she tells me"
Mould you really do that kind service
for u stranger?'' ho said, with u look Of
pleasure.
Most willingly" / responded.
Then como little way off, and will
tell you my story. Do you see the woman
sitting ut yonder doorway9'
replied ailirmatiycly 1t was the Same
ono alluded to by tho old grandnme I had
first addressed
She is her mother
Whose mother?" inquired
"Pasita'a Tho girl l SO passionatoly
loved, so worshiped. Her mother allowed
her To leave us, because she was well pnid
Pasta Is tho daughter of yonder WON.
al and is rs beautiful as the Virgin. was
only position. Positions rarely live
longer than 20 years, and l. like the 9th
Wis, Mouii baNS ulCu Duu continued.
Well, loved and was to have married Pa
sta. Her mother and herself wore poor
and her father had been killed in one of
the wars. The mother was IA complete
bohemian, doing nothing but eating,
sleeping and dancing. What l gained
gave for their support. Ono day, as ap.
proachcd Pasta, saw her gazing far
away, rapt III revoric. Like the swallows,
she dreamed, possibly, OF ether 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
hor to become my wife, For few mo.
mcnts she gazed at mo silently, and then
replied:
~ know you love mo, but 1 can only
love tho one who can sing tho conclusion
OF that air which haunts inc day and
| night
Her words filled mo with despair, for
saw that her reason was affected. About
The beginning of last August started for
Madrid, according to custom. When re-
turned, was particularly dejeotod, having
been for some timo troubled by promo
milton Of OWL and the approach of some
sorrow. AS was leaving Granada, Juan,
my friend. approached, and, taking my
hand within his own. said:
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