The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-03-07

vi
the foot of an extinct volcano. ne mad
found there layers of the earth's sur
face that had seemed at first all gems.
Thousands, tens of thousands Of years
ago. that mountains molten fires had
poured over the jagged rocks, and from
that great alchemist's laboratory IN
the center of the globe had been cast
forth garnets, amethysts, tourmalines,
like gravel on the ses-shore; but Pedro
soon learned to choose only the large
stones and to dig deep for those OF
finer and rarer quality, and all the
patience and perseverance OF his ma
ture had been given to the task. For
time, he would trust no hand save
his own in this work; but he was soon
assured. of the indifferencesof the In
dians to these priceless gemss whose
uncut, dull luster bore no comparison
in their eyes to a few glittering col.
ored-glass beads. For handful OF
the latter they would bring him all the
gold and precious stones they could
dig out of the earth. All, who 80
happy then as Pedro Mendoza! He
could not then have dreamed that he
would yet count the hours till ne
could fee away from this enchanted
island!
"Anacaona, who had been watching
the nimble fingers. of her master till
she felt sure she could initiate them,
seized O needle and soon proved her
self an apt scholar. Folding corner
of her mantle, she was about to se.
crete one of the finest sand:, largest OF
the white stones, but Pedro quickly
snatched it from her; and pushing
toward her a pile of inferior gems
which he had reluctantly felt obliged
to discard, he bade her sew these
into her mantle and tunic.
"The Golden Flower smiled, for to
her the amethysts and garnets seemed
more beautiful than the gems chosen
by her husband; and as she sewed and
pricked her fingers and occasionally
cried out playfully or laughed like a
gleeful child, she suddenly looked up
to say:
"'Ah, beloved, while thou vert
away, ] did find some of these dark,
blood -colored stones thou lowest
larger and finer than any yet
'kubies! exclaimed Pedro, with
glittering eyes. He had but few of
these rare and valuable stones, and
not one that was extraordinary. And
had he not boasted to Raphael that he
would bring home rubies es red as
the blood-red mark upon his brow? A
thrill shot through him at the recollec-
ton. He would yet see Raphael, who
must be fine boy by this time, and
he would keep his promise, too. His
breath came hard and fast as he re-
peated the word:
"'Rubies! Hast thou found
rubies?'
"'Like these, answered the Golden
Flower,::pointing toithe gem Mendoza
was at that instant sewing into the
hem of their child's bodice.
"'Where?'
"'Far up-there, at the top of the
mountain and she pointed away
toward O great broken peak in the
distance-the dead mouth of o burned
out volcano. as the Spaniard had long
believed it. Something led me there
when thou wentest away. It is high,
and I could see afar off; and once
when T stumbled and nearly fell, I
found at my feet two great stones,
like these, but large as the egg of the
sea- bird
$50 blessed Star. Flower! What a
treasure thou art!' ~ rs.
"Anacaona became radiant with
Joy. Flower had ever been Men
doza's most tender name for her, and
used so rarely that it was more pre-
cious than any word of love that be
could speak to her. ..,. Ill.
Where is 1t, my star? Didst
thou say two of them-two, like the
sea-bird's egg? Where are they, sweet
treasurer ~.
"tOn the mountain, dearest. I
would not rob thee of the Joy of find
ing them
"Pedro's countenance was SO
quickly overcast that the Golden
Flower would have trembled to see it.;
but she had turned her gaze toward
the mountain while she spoke. He
had the strongest reasons not to anger
her or in any way awaken her suspie-
ions. So he cleared his brow; but
when he spoke his voice was tremu-
lous with the vehemence he was
obliged to subdue.
would thou hadst brought them,
my Golden Flower
They are safe,' she answered
gravely. The mountain seemed to
heave and shake, and loud bellowings
and smoke came from its mouth.
Perhaps I feared to take them. For
hast thou not said all these stonee
come from it, and those big, red
stones might have been its very
heart
"Pedro could have cursed this new
fancy of the poetic Indian woman,
but he knew it was more than ever
needful to conceal such feelings. He
only said:
"'When wilt thou lead me there,
sweetheart?'
"On the night we leave this
place, was the laconic answer, fol-
lowed by sullen silence that, to the
traitorous Spaniard, seemed omin-
Gus.
"Annacaona had so thoroughly
learned the Spanish language, and
could so freely express her thoughts
with all the fervor of a passionate and
axn4l,n:ant.a .,a4,,na &bnk anu lnnao