Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1897-07-31

1Neo~ IN carriages if they
had a block 70
GO. used 10 look upon her with amaze
ment as she tramped down their steep
streets with fine, swinging, heel
snd-toe gait.
She was picking her way one day
among the vendors in the plaza. stop
ping once in a while 10 give some
whining beggar or tattered monstrosity
n centavo. when she fels her skirt
pulled. Looking, she saw a tiny hand
held ont, and childish voice piped
the usual formula for aims. The little
creature was no taller than a child of
four. But the face, II was old and
withered. The eyes were sunkcn and
so old Miss Stanley pulled back the
rebozo-tho hair was gray,
a dwarf, she thought, with lit
tie feeling of repulsion. How old are
you?"
"Fifiy-four," piped mp the wee
thing. Then, true 10 her sex, The
priest will tell you iifty-eight. but l
am not; am only ifty-four." She said
her name was Rosita.
Rosita, it appeared, did nearly any
thing for living, begging preferably.
although that is somewhat over
crowded profession in Mexico. Some
times she sold chickens or vegetables
on commission She had another
source of income, being pensioner on
the bounty OF young mana centavo
week-but she confessed sadly he
made her jump for the coin, and if he
held his arm out straight she Nigh;
Jump in vain, she could not reach il.
The brute" said Miss Stanley.
Rosita did not know the meaning, bu,
she looked up. pleased. That was
good, the English lady was taking an
interest in her. for the expletivs
sounded profane, and profanity from d
feminine source indicated strong emo
ton, which she construed favorablv.
The poor in Mexico are always hun.
CRY. and Miss Stanley, knowing thi.
failing, took Rosita TO 4 little one
room restaurant The menu was con.
fined strictly 10 Mexican dishes.
Miss Stanley noticed that Rosita put
half her dinner to one side. wrapping
the carne and frijoles in tortillas
When she came To dulce of som,
tropic fruit, boiled IN syrup of cane
sugar, her little wrinkled eyes looked
wistful
How can take some 10 my littl,
brother?" she asked.
Miss Stanley asked another ques
ton: rs this food you have put ava,
for your brotherg'
Yes, answered Rosita, in he,
sqneaky voice. II take all the care o
him. We are alone, and | work TO
him. He is locked in the room now
see. and she held up the massive Ike,
peculiar TO Mexican doors.
why is be locked IMP" asked Mis-
Stanley, as she directed the mozo t,
put the dinner IN couple of ollas 70
Kosita 10 take to her brother.
He has combats with the childre,
an the street, and am afrsid some on
will get hurt" she answered.
Miss Stanley watched her trot away
laden with the dinner for her brother
So little and so old, unlike man,
dwarfs not bulky-indeed, pitifull'
thin. 1t was not until she reache,
her home that Miss Stanley remem
bered she had not asked how old tn
little brother" was.
She often met Rosita after that
sometimes in the Jarlin, where tn
roses nodded overhead, and violet
bloomed underfoot, and the ban,
played softly and sweetly, as Mexica,
bands do. Rosita would dart iron
the circling stream of pelado into tn
inner circle, where the quality walke
under the trees or sat on the iro,
benches. Miss Stanley could ssldor
resist the little, dirty, badly werke
square of drawn-work held out by til
tiny hand.
Constance Stanley had no father o
mother. and, living with brothe
who was endeavoring to effect til
drainage of ''the richest silver min
In the world" she wandered IN
checked through the crowded. narro'