Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1901-10-09

after act. but JOsefina found il alb
sorbrng. She sat with parted lips
and earnest eyes watching Morelos
strldIng about the tiny stage utter
ing noble sentiments and terrible
maledictions and acting out an
adaptation of the story of his own
ife, win beautiful lack Of false deli
cacy. There was a scene Of realism
to be experienced in seeing Morelos
pour poison into the cup of the
sleeping old man who had wronged
him that Is lacking in many PLAYS.
MOrelos threw himself into the role
with an art heightened by expert
ence. Josefna watched him, and
her breath came IN gasps.
at was so that he killed his cruel
old uncle, was it not?" she asked
the intendente.
at seems So" he answered her.
And she whispered from time to
time, "Pobrecito, pobrecito." 1t
was plain that her sympathy, as that
Of the audience, was with the muir
derer.
When the play was over at last,
the curtain came together and the
actors responded 10 the frantic ap-
plause again and again. but when
ever MOrclos bowed his ewes looked
straight and hard into Josefna's.
openly and without pretensc.
1t WAS not sunset vet, not time 10
be locked mp for the night. so the
convicts' own band took itself out
to the central court. assembled the
band stand and began % play. The
others loWged around in the after
noon sun. their r, J frazadas show
ing in fine color against their gray
garb and the gray OF the masonry
walls
Josetina was alone upon a bench,
listening 10 the music ostensiblv. 4
ray of sunlight was ON her brown
hair; her shawl had fallen back
from her shoulders. because the dav
was warm. The band was PLAYING
the "Lorcloi." Morclos came up 10
her. He was handsome at the best
of times, even when he wore the
gray uniform with his own fine
linen showing from under, but now
he looked the very type of some
seigneur Of the Nalois court or of 4
grandee of conqucring Spain. He
was dressed in black velvet. his slip
pers were high hecled. and his stock
ings were silk. A frill of lace fell
over each hand, and his hands were
beautiful ones, white and tapering
and small-the hands of long lei
sure and a long line. The ancestors
of Morelos had been princes of the
land much ere the Spanish had
come. He took Joselina's fingers
for short moment. then sat beside
her on the bench. lie might have
been the courtier he looked, but she
bore no resemblance to q lady of
palaces. She was only a pretty
enough little Mexican girl. NatchO.
however, ranked her beauty far
above that of Anna Held in blue
feathered hat or Our Lady in a conf
cal skirt.
"Have you praise for me?7 be
asked.
Her admiration could only find
expression in look and a quivering
sigh.
He leaned closer to her. What
though all the carcel did see? I
poisoned my uncle like that, YOU
know"
She bowed her head. "Pobre-
cito," she murmured again.
"But | shall be free tomorrow,
and l shall be 21."
There was no reply.
'Pepita, will You be my novia
them"
1t is always a sweet word-"sT'-
but now it was sweeter than the low
twitter of any hooking bird. They
sat in silence, and presently she lift
ed her eyes slowly, heavily, full up
to his.
There was a rustic in the patio.
The convicts were forming into line
at the openings of their respective
corridors. 1t was shutdown. More
los stood up. For the last time, -
he said, and added, until tomor-
row." Then he fell into line.
The band took up la Colon
drina," and the wall went up to the
datfodil sky infinitely pathetic and
sad. The gray figures, red blanket
ed, went each one into his damp
stone cell; the gratings were closed
upon them and the keys turned.
Josefna followed the intendente
down the main corridor and through
the double gates. There came to
her, echoing through the vaults,
the swell and fall of the music, the
Ehuflling of feet on cement floors
and the rasping of the big KEYS in
the locks, the key which was being
turned on Morelos for the last
time. The guards called as they
passed out, the inner and outer
gates shut with a clash, and the
great bell changed three tines