Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-11-28

THE HAUNTED DIuGEi.CE !
A Tale Of the Camiro Real
In the Interior of Mexico
= BY FREDERIC p. GUERNSEY. ,
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We Were two hours out OF piedras
Grandes and fully three hours from
Etlac. where Ne were 10 pass the night
a mere collection OF nuts. II wa said.
with w',tched meson where passcn.
gers were eaten up alive by nocturnal
and creeping things. Surely a fine
prospect; but most OF the peoplp In
the rumbling, jOiting Stagecuach. built
years ago In Massachusetts. were,
young and full of the gladness OF life.
There was bulky canon from the
cathedral in MOrelia OH his way 10 the
Pacific coast to see n dying brother.
and there was a venerable woman who
was called Nenturita by everybody.
Tor In Spanish the diminutive Is as
often sisn OF respect as Of familiar
ity. She was going To take the sulphur
baths at Ajijic. four hours distant from
Etlac. She was portly and a widow OF
many years standing. rather Jolly and
broad spoken In the naif Latin WAY.
Then there was a young. Just married
couple from the hacienda OF la Es-
meTalda, accompanied by two Of the
young woman's sisters. who were max
ing the trip merely out OF compliment
10 the bride and not wholly To her in
Innate satisfaction. The other two
passengers besides myself were stu
dents going home from the city OF
Mexico 10 pass the summer vacation.
The tenth passenger. who sat on the
box with Marcelino. the driver. was ii
tall. absorbed looking man. who had
given his name as Van Huyten. a wear
er OF gold spectacles and q reader 80 in
veterate that he availed himself OF
every level and joltless stretch OF road
10 peruse volume that he carried In
his hand
The top OF the stage was covered
with small luggage. and behind were
dashed on motley collection on little
wooden boxes painted various colors
and one or two civilized and heavy
trunks. II is we'll TO bear this fact In
mind.
The rainy season had got fairly well
under way. and the road was heavy.
The mules toiled on Stumhlmgly. some
times divcrsifying the matter 10y slip
ping and apdihly GroaRiua. but nobody
gave heed To their misery. although
one of them had n long established sore
on his right flank which gave nourish-
ment To the flies and agony To himself.
An Indian lad ran along by the side OF
the mules. alternately laShing OF Ston-
ing them, the latter operation being
performed when comparatively mud
less spot allowed him y nIqk up am
n,r,nsfinn Tha Snaiafv It,p tho De..
vention OF Cruelty TO Animals had not
been heard of In these rural parts OF
interior Mexico.
| mentioned the misery OF the mule
TO the fat canon from Morelia as we
stopped to water the animals. but he
simply looked at me with wonder aud
said. "Who has enjoined II on us to
care for the brute beasts?" | had read
the Bible from cover to cover and yet
could not cite him any Scriptural au-
thority.
"At any rate. Buddha told his disci-
pies 10 be kind TO the dumb creatures
OF the EARTH" remarked. perhaps in
the tone OF retort.
"Buddha! Yes; the false prophetw
said the fat canon. who looked on me
thereafter as being quite as incompre-
hensible and dangerous hereto as the
abstracted Dutchman on the box fum-
bling over his doubtful book. perhaps
containing rank pantheism or intidel-
ity.
We started on. but I'm half en- hour.
Etlac still over two hours away. a
wheel came off and we sank suddenly
down to the muddy road and were
somewhat jumbled UP, the canon most
undignifiedly plumping into Ventura
ta's lap. The bride screamed. and the
manly arm OF her husband. aged 20
years. was about her In an instant.
The sisters Of the young woman were
sustained by the ready arms OF the
students. and there we were until Mar
celino opened the door of the coach on
the top side and let us out. Van Huy-
ten had slid off. book still In hand.
spectacles awry, into the mud. We ail
laughed on realizing that 20 bones
We're broken. The bridegroom. looking
as mature as possible. exclaimed. "rer-
eances del viajew incidents of the
Journey. II took all the men of the
party to aid MarcelinO and his Indian
lad. hut In an hour We had the wheel
on. The mules meantime were ! -;
gull. they were used to II ell. an, =, -
hapr Welcomed L as giyIpe teg' a