The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-07

ciful Mother of Jesus" she cried, let me
 die--let me die like the bird with the
 broken wing"
 That evening there was a dance in
 Loreta. The long hall was dimly light
 ed with smoking lamps hung about the wall. In one corner the orchestra, com
 posed of violin and a guitar. were try 1 ing to make themselves heard above the : shuffing of many feet. There were American miners in flannel shirts, with their hair still wet from the brush There
 were the dark-skinned Mexicans in their
 elaborate, tight-fitting trousers. There were the shapeless forms of the Mexi- can mountain women. And fitting about
 among them like a bird on the wing was Carmencta.
 After the first paroxysms of grief had
 passed her pride had come to her aid
 She was the daughter of Gabriel Rod riqueZ and had the proud blood of Spain
 in her veins No one must know that
 she had been sighted by an American.
 After time Carmencita was asked to
 sing. Laughingly she took the guitar
 that was proffered her and lightly touched the strings. What is your
 pleasure, my frends?' she asked mer- rily.
 Sing 'Carmela,' suggested some one. 1t was a woman's voice. Carmencita was
 startled. It was the song that Bentley
 liked so well. A second she hesitated. It was his favorite, but she would sing it-she would show them that she did not care, that she was not afraid Everybody was listening. They had all | heard Carmenclta sing before, but never like this. There was an uncomfortable quiet in the room as soft and piercing sweet came the words: Recuerda Carmen encantadora, A toda hora sempre de mi
 Then something arose in the throat of Carmencita which choked her further ut terance. Her voice broke. Quick | thought, but not too quick to escape de- l tection, she snapped one of the cords of | the guitar.
 "Lastima' she exclaimed. See, 1 have broken string. Is it not unfortu nate, senors, and the song but half com | pleted?
 1 A woman laughed spltefully. It was the same woman who had asked her to ] sing "Carmela' Carmencita laid her l guitar on the chair beside her and stood | up. She was very pale. I q cannot sing any more for you to- night, my friends" she said. Tt is late | and l am not well. It is the heat An other time and l will sing for you all the songs I know-all except 'Carmela, :" | she faltered. "Do not ask me to sing ! that-ts such a foolish little song" and | she smiled pitifully. Then calling her old nurse to her she bade them goodnight. | At the door two Americans stood aside | to let her pass. "The cussed sucker hey
 quit his nibbling at Carmencita's hook" :, said Shorty Dobbs sadly to his com panion.
 Aye the whale were too big for sic a , tiny fisher lass" replied Mackenzie, and | swore softly to himself
 1 It was again a hot day in August. Ten years had passed since Carmencita had
 never married. Her father had died and | sine no longer acted as barmaid; there | was another girl behind the bar at the Early Morning" Carmencta only came 1 in when 1t pleased her, to speak to her ! old friends.
 1 Dr. Hartman looked worried as he en- tered the cantina and asked the girl to | call her mistress. He sat down at his | customed table in the corner with frown | on his usually pleasant face. He had a i delicate mission to perform and he knew | not how to go about it. He looked up | as she came across the room. Ten years l had changed her but little. Her eyes were soft, little sad perhaps. but beauti- | ful, and her teeth were as white as the orange blossoms in the patti. She was still | a very beautiful woman. "Buenos dias, Senor Doctor." she said, giving him her hand. tIow did you pass | the slesta, 1t was so warm?" 'Very wellf thank you, l dreamed of you"
 "Senor, you are too old to be so silly. It l is only permitted to the young to be so
 foolish. But listen. ] have a new wine