The Comrade. (Winnfield, La.) 1890-1914, 1910-03-25

streets WGlG LuAOA6Su sE-l
making their way to the church. "a.
yetano and his wife, ready at an early
hour, brought the baby over Tor me
to see. She had never worn SHOES
before and could scarcely walk. Inc
satin dress was hot and uncom1ort-
able, the big hat was with difficulty
kept on her head. But Cayetano was
happy. In his eyes the child and her
Rnery were perfect. Taking Peplta
in his arms he proudly led the way.
Behind him came Adriana and the
godmother who had been with the
baby at her christening.
In time, without my knowing it, the
little Filipino had begun to HI
place in the house. ! came to accept
the sight of the playing child, the pat
ter Of the bare feet on the hard hoof'
and the "Buenos dias, sonora" as one
accepts flowers or green trees-not
felt until they are absent.
Then came the morning when tne
baby was not to be seen in che kitch-
en- or on the porch. where IS re-
pita?" l asked Cayetano. "she has
fever this morning" he replied. !
left her at home with her mother. !
knew how dangerous these tropical
fevers are to young children and
bringing some medicine, told him to
go home and give it to her. y Will
go over this afternoon" said, ana
if she is sick we will send for doc
tor"
But that afternoon guests came
and was occupied until late in the
evening. When asked Cayetano how
Pepita seemed he replied that the
medicine had helped her and she was
sleeping. So did not go to the
house.
Early the next morning I heard a
knock at my door. When opened y
Cayetano stood before me. Sonora,
he said, speaking slowly and with
some hesitation, "the ninita is dead
May stay at home with her to.day?'
Shocked beyond words and amazed al
the calmness of the man, | STAN
mered, eyes" l felt half-enraged a.
the parent who could quietly say
"The ninita is dead"
All morning I wandered about thu
house, restless, with a pricking con
science. / tried to occupy mysel
with other things. But there KEEP
rising before me the small, dusky tig
( ure playing in the sand with the poo
toys, mutely following me with he
big, black eyes.
In the afternoon heard the must
Of stringed instruments in the stree
below. Looking from the window,
saw little procession passing By
Following the musicians were fou
bareheaded, barefooted Filipino!
They carried between them, on tW
bamboo poles, a small wooden box.
was gaily painted and decorated wit
fanciful figures in silver paper. 4
the head hung a long bow Of pin
ribbon:
| Behind the box came several Won
! en- clad in black, stolid and si-al
/ putting at long cigars. In the rec
/ was one man, his transparent ju
4 shirt hanging long and loose over b
l black trousers. He walked in tre1
i bling, aimless way, his eyes fixed (
i the ground.
= The next morning Cayetano was
IL his place, just as quiet, just Il
II humble and faithful as ever. He we
le on with his work, showing no OF
as ward sign Of grief. I Stunned t
tx kitchen, where the silence and Ca,
IL tano's calmness oppressed me. ] W
az almost angry with the man that
er said nothing and shed no tears, VIII
rs my own throat was swelling a
nd aching.
l stepped out on the porch. The
he stood the box Of white sand. In
- was little garden made Of site
he and feathers and from the cen
tly waved small, faded fag--all just
ny 1t had been left two days befo
OF .Cayetano," / cried, irritably, ~
Ter don't you take this box downstafr
Eyes, sonora" he said, and quie
he carried it away. ss
ut AS the days wore on. there ca
ye. into Cayetano' $ eyes q look t
"a haunted me- It was an expression
our dumb longing and despair. His T
ng, became thin and haggard. When
out spoke It was with an effort, as if
) thoughts. were with difficulty "
his drawn from a region far away.
ler-5 seldom left the house, except to
rat home at night. When not at "
vas she sat on the porch where the
of sand had been---so silent, SO "
of. an inanimate thing that. even
lite servants rarely spoke to him.
ON The sight Of this dumb grief be
ley- to wear on me. III only the ]
Ter would weep, or make some soun
and / said to myself ything but
a. silence and that look in his ey
But after a time began to be nery
shell often as II sat In the sala it see