The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-08-07

When the play was oyer at last,
the curtain came together and the
actors responded to the frantic ep-
plause again and again, but when
ever Morelos bowed his eyes looked
straight and hard into ,Josefina's.
openly and without pretense.
TWAS not sunset YET, mot time to
be locked up for the night, SO the
conyicts' own band took itself out
to the central court, ascended the
band stand and began to play. The
others lounged around in the after
noon sun, their red frazadas show
ing in fine color against their gray
garb and the gray of the masonry
walls.
Josefina was alone upon bench,
listening to the music ostensibly. A
ray of sunlight was on her brown
hair; her shawl had fallen back
from her shoulders, because the day
was warm. The band was playing
the ''Lorelei=" Mc-e!cs 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, hnt ncw
he looked the very type of some
seigneur of the Valois court or cf a
grandec of conquering Spain. He
was dressed in black velvet, his slip
pers were, high heeled, 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 long line. The ancestors
of Morales had been princes of the
land much ere the Spanish had
come. He took JosefIla's fingers
for short moment, then sat beside
her on the bench. He might have
been tho courtier he looked, but she
bore no resemblance to lady Of
palaces. She was only 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.
'Haye you praise tor me?" he
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? ct
poisoned my uncle like that, you
know"
She bowed her head. ssPobre-
cito," she murmured again.
seBut I shall be free tomorrow,
and I shall be 81"
There was no reply.
Pepita, will you be my novia
then?"
/. 1t is always sweet word-"si"-
but now it was sweeter than the low
twitter of any mocking bird. They
sat III silence, and presently she lift
ed her eyes slowly, heavily, full up
to his. /,
There was rustic in the patio.
The convicts were forming into line
at the openings of their respective
corridors. 1t was sundown. More
los stood up. "For the last time,"
he said, and added, 'until tomor-
row." Then he fell into line.
The band took up Ella Colon
drina," and the wall went up to the
daffodil 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.
Josefina 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
snuf1ing 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 q clash, and the
great bell changed three times
Argonaut.