The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-07

would join him. After glancing back over
his shoulders several times, thinking to
see her coming around the turn of the
street, but in vain, Maleno went back to
see what had detained his sonora. At first
he could not believe what his own eyes
saw With an unearthly grimace upon her
features, there stood Geronimo, hereto
fore the most modest of women stark max
ed, watching her reflection in the basin of
water.
Child, child, what is the matter?" he
cried. Have you gone mad?"
Geronimo looked at him with a wild
look in her once mild dove-like eyes, but
made no ansewr. When he would have
caught her by the arm, she slipped out
of his way, and, snatching up her cloth
ing from the ground, fled from him like
a deer. Daughter, daughter" he called
in the pretty Mexican term of endear-
ment. "Geronimita, Geronimita mai, wait
for me. Do you not know me, your Juan?
Are you, indeed out of your mind2" he
added, as he ran after her. But the al
fiicted woman paid no further attention to
his cries than to increase her speed. Ma
leno, in spite of his utmost exertions,
could do no more than keep her in sight.
After a time he gave up the chase, and
went for help. Gathering together his
friends, the distracted husband returned
in search of his wife. Presently they
found her wandering aimlessly up the
managed to effect her capture. She Meth
er struggled nor cried out, but stood
stupidity looking at them while they put
on her clothing. Then they led her home.
On the threshold of their house stood
Geronima's mother, lamenting, and call
ing on the Virgin and all the saints to aid
her daughter.
''Nuestra Sonora de Guadalupe, prom
Use thee two candles of dollar each if
Chou wilt cure my poor child. Our Lord
of Sancito, l promise thee Votive tablet
worth Z reals if thou wilt remember my
poor girl" exclaimed the old woman as
she caught sight of Geronimo, with dis
heveled hair and her clothing disar-
ranged, walking between two men, who
held her tightly by either arm. From
begging aid from heavenly power she fell
to berating her son-in-law.
"Begotten of the evil one, it Is thy fault
that my daughter is thus. Thy mistress
has bewitched her." screamed the angry
woman go and bring the cudandera
(doctress), Mercedes Hernandez, and let
us see If she can relieve my poor child.
Run, thou son of a burro, run; and may
the Senior of Sancito hear my vow of
tablet to and cure my daughter"
Just then fresh paroxysm seized poor
Geronimo Breaking away from the grasp
of her guards, she leaped high in the air.
and, Selling hold of the beam supporting
the rafters of the cement roof, she hung
by both hands, laughing wildly as her
friends attempted to loosen her grip.
.'Madre Satissima de los ciclos, she is
hoo-dooded for a truth" gasped one of
the spectators.
Donna Juanna says rightly" remarked
another. "Eugenia has done this mis-
chief"
"Sh-h," said another, warningly, lit is
best to say nothing of Eugenia. What has
befallen poor Geronimo may happen one
Of US if we are not careful"
Thanks to God. she has let go Of the
BEAM" calculated Donna Juanna, the
mother of the crazy woman, as the poor
thing dropped heavily to the ground. tx
hausted, Geronimo lay where she had fall
en- The plying neighbor women raised
her up and seated her on the floor, with
her back toward the wall. She was still
sitting there when the curandera came
After listening 10 a confused account of
how her patient became i'll, the doctress
gave her opinion.
yes she is bewitched" and said. grave
~. but by the favor OF God l will cure
her Go, Don Juan, and beg of tho priest
a little of the sacred salt, and bring me
also bottle of holy water and a three
cent tallow CANDLE" Maleno fastened off
on his errand.
During his absence Geronimo began TO
throw her arms about wildly and inflated
the growing OF cock, the barking of
dog and the braying Of q burro.
Upon the return Of Don Juan, the curan-
dera drove out the crowd of neighbors
who had gathered in, and closed the wood
en- window shutters. and barred the door.
Next she kneaded the sacred salt into the
candle
If this candle burns out without sput-
tering 1 can cure Donna Geronlmita," she
said, but II 1t sputters, then those who
are against me have more power than 7,
and can do nothing"
sprinkllng the room with holy water.
the voodoo doctress began to pater over
the creed and "Our Father, who art IN
Heaven" Then she made the sign of the
cross In holy water on various parts OF
the person OF her patient. Finally she
lighted the candle.
pray friends, pray" she urged the hus-
band and mother Of Geronimo. And pray
they did. while the taper burned with a
clear steady light until the talow was
consumed and the fame hickered out
blessing he 10 God. ] can cure her"
exclaimed Donna Mercedes. but 1 shall
have to charge you So, and I want g Of il