MayDayEv

ByNi
ckJoaqui
n

Theol dpeopl ehador der edt hatt hedanci ngshoul dst opatt eno’ clockbuti twasal most
mi dnightbef oret hecar riagescamef ili
ngupt hedepar tingguest s, whi let hegi rlswhower e
stayingwer eprompt lyher dedupst airstot hebedr ooms, they oungmengat her ingar oundt o
wisht hem agoodni ghtandl ament ingt hei rascentwi thmocksi gnsandmoani ng,procl ai
mi ng
themsel vesdi sconsol at ebutst r
ai ghtwaygoi ngof ftof inisht hepunchandt hebr andyt hough
theywer equi t
edr unkal r
eadyandsi mpl ybur stingwi thwi ldspi ri
t s,mer ri
ment ,ar r
oganceand
audaci ty,fort heywer ey oungbucksnewl yar ri
v edf rom Eur ope; thebal lhadbeeni nthei rhonor ;
andt heyhadwal tzedandpol ka-edandbr aggedandswagger edandf lir
tedal l nightandwher ein
nomoodt osl eepy et --
no, caramba, notont hi
smoi stt ropicev e!notont hi smy sti
cMayev e!--
witht heni ghtst il
l y oungandsoseduct ivet hati twasmadnessnott ogoout ,nott ogof orth---
andser enadet henei ghbor s!cr i
edone; andswi mi nt hePasi d!cr iedanot her ;andgat herf ireflies!
cri
edat hird—wher eupont her ear oseagr eatcl amorf orcoat sandcapes, forhat sandcanes,
andt heywer eacoupl eofst r
eet-lampsf l
icker edandal astcar ri
ager at t
ledawayupont he
cobbl eswhi lethebl indbl ackhousesmut teredhush- hush, thei rtileroof sl oomi nglikesi nister
chessboar dsagai nstawi l
eskymur kywi thcl ouds, sav ewher eanev il youngmoonpr owl ed
abouti nacor nerorwher eamur der ouswi ndwhi rl
ed, whi st li
ngandwhi ning, smel l
i
ngnowoft he
seaandnowoft hesummeror char dsandwaf ti
ngunbear ablechi ldhoodf ragr ancesorr i
pe
guav ast ot hey oungment roopingsoupr oar i
ousl ydownt hest reett hatt hegi rl
swhower e
desiringupst airsint hebedr oomscat eredscr eami ngt ot hewi ndows, crowdedgi ggli
ngatt he
windows, butwer esoonsi ghingamor ousl yov erthosey oungmenbawl i
ngbel ow; overt hose
wickedy oungmenandt hei rhandsomeappar el, t
heirpr oudf lashi ngey es, andt heirelegant
must achessobl ackandv ividint hemoonl ightt hatt hegi rlswer equi ter av ishedwi thlov e, and
begancr y
ingt ooneanot herhowcar efreewer emenbuthowawf ultobeagi rlandwhatahor ri
d,
hor r
idwor lditwas, ti
ll oldAnast asi apl uckedt hem of fbyt heearort hepi gtailandchasest hem
offtobed- --whilef rom upt hest reetcamet hecl acket y-clackoft hewat chman’ sboot sont he
cobbl eandt hecl ang- cl angofhi sl ant ernagai nsthi sknee, andt hemi ght yr ollofhi sgr eatv oice
boomi ngt hrought heni ght ,"Guar diaser no- o-o!Al asdocehandado- o-o.

Andi twasMayagai n,
saidtheoldAnast asi
a.Itwasthefir
stdayofMayandwi t
cheswer e
abroadi nthenight,
shesaid--f
oritwasani ghtofdivi
nati
on,andni ghtoflov
er s,
andt hosewho
caredmi ghtpeerintoami r
rorandwoul dtherebeholdthefaceofwhoev eri
twast heywere
fat
edt omar ry
, sai
dtheoldAnast asiaasshehobbl eaboutpi ckingupthepiledcrinoli
nesand
fol
dingupshawl sandraki
ngsl i
pper sincornerwhilethegirl
sclimbingintofourgreatposter-
bedst hatoverwhelmedther oom beganshr i
ekingwit
hterror,scrambli
ngov ereachot herand
i
mpl oringtheoldwomannott ofrightenthem.

"
Enough,
enough,
Anast
asi
a!Wewantt
osl
eep!
"

"
Goscar
etheboy
sinst
ead,
youol
dwi
tch!
"
"
Shei
snotawi
tch,
shei
samaga.Shei
samaga.Shewasbor
nofChr
ist
masEv
e!"

"
St.Anast
asi
a,v
irgi
nandmar
tyr
."

"
Huh?I
mpossi
ble!Shehasconquer
edsev
enhusbands!Ar
eyouav
irgi
n,Anast
asi
a?"

"
No,
butIam sev
ent
imesamar
tyrbecauseofy
ougi
rl
s!"

"
Letherpr
ophesy
,letherpr
ophesy
!Whom wi
l
lImar
ry,
oldgy
psy
?Come,
tel
lme.
"

"
Youmayl
ear
ninami
rr
ori
fyouar
enotaf
rai
d."

"
Iam notaf
rai
d,Iwi
l
lgo,
"cr
iedt
hey
oungcousi
nAgueda,
jumpi
ngupi
nbed.

"
Girl
s,gi
rl
s--
-wearemakingt
oomuchnoi se!Mymotherwi
llhearandwi
l
lcomeandpi
nchusal
l.
Agueda,
li
edown!Andy ouAnastasi
a,Icommandyoutoshutyourmout
handgoaway!
""
Your
mothert
oldmet ost
ayhereall
night
,mygr andl
ady
!"

"
AndIwil
lnotl
iedown!
"cr
iedt
her
ebel
l
iousAgueda,
leapi
ngt
othef
loor
."St
ay,
oldwoman.Tel
l
mewhatIhavetodo.
"

"
Tel
lher
!Tel
lher
!"chi
medt
heot
hergi
rl
s.

Theoldwomandr oppedt
heclothesshehadgather
edandapproachedandfixedherey eson
thegir
l."
Youmusttakeacandle,
"sheinstr
uct
ed,"
andgoint
oar oom t
hatisdar kandthathasa
mirr
orinitandy
oumustbeal oneintheroom.Gouptothemir
rorandclosey oureyesandshy:

Mirr
or,mi r
ror,showtomehi m whosewomanIwil
lbe.I
fal
lgoesright
, j
ustaboveyourl
eft
shoulderwillappeart
hefaceofthemanyouwil
lmarry.
"Asil
ence.Then: "
Andhatifal
ldoesnot
goright?"askedAgueda."Ah,t
hentheLor
dhavemercyonyou!""Why.""Becausey
oumaysee- -
theDev i
l
!

Thegi r
lsscr eamedandcl utchedoneanot her,shiv
er ing."Butwhatnonsense!"cr
iedAgueda.
"Thi
si st heyear1847.Therear enodevilany more!"Nev erthel
essshehadt ur
nedpal e."
But
wher ecoul dIgo,hugh?Yes, Iknow!Downt othesal a.Ithasthatbi
gmi r
rorandnoonei sthere
now. ""
No, Agueda,no!Iti
samor t
alsi
n!Youwi l
lseet hedevil
!
""Idonotcare!Iam notafrai
d!I
will
go! ""Oh, y
ouwi ckedgir
l!Oh,youmadgi r
l!""
Ifyoudonotcomet obed,Agueda, Iwil
lcallmy
mot her.""AndifyoudoIwi llt
ellherwhocamet ov isityouattheconventlastMar ch.Come,old
woman- --gi
vemet hatcandle.Igo.""
Ohgirls--
-gi
vemet hatcandl
e,Igo.
"

ButAguedahadal readyslippedoutside;wasalreadyt i
ptoeingacrossthehal l
;herfeetbar
eand
herdarkhairfal
li
ngdownhershoul dersandst r
eami nginthewi ndasshef l
eddownt hest
air
s,
theli
ghtedcandlesputter
ingi nonehandwhi lewiththeot hershepul l
edupherwhi t
egownf rom
herankles.Shepausedbr eathlessi
nt hedoorwayt othesalaandherhear tfai
ledher.Shetri
ed
toimaginetheroom fil
l
edagai nwi t
hlight
s,laughter,whirl
i
ngcoupl es,andthej ol
l
yjerkymusic
ofthefi
ddlers.But,
oh,itwasadar kden,awei r
dcav ernfort hewi
ndowshadbeencl osedand
t
hef
urni
tur
est
ackedupagai
nstt
hewal
l
s.Shecr
ossedher
sel
fandst
eppedi
nsi
de.

Themi rr
orhungont hewal lbefor eher;abiganti
quemi rr
orwi t
hagol dframecarvedintoleaves
andflowersandmy steri
ouscur licues.Shesawher selfapproachingfear
full
yini
t:asmal lwhi
le
ghostthatthedar knessbodi edfor t
h---
butnotwil
lingly,notcompl et
ely,f
orhereyesandhai r
weresodar kthatt hef aceappr oachi nginthemir
rorseemedonl yamaskt hatfl
oatedforward;a
bri
ghtmaskwi thtwohol esgapi ngi nit
,blownfor
war dbyt hewhitecloudofhergown.Butwhen
shestoodbef orethemi rrorshel if
tedthecandlelev elwithherchinandt hedeadmaskbl oomed
i
ntoherlivi
ngf ace.

Sheclosedherey esandwhi sper

edthei
ncant
ati
on.Whenshehadfi
nishedsuchaterr
ortook
holdofherthatshefeltunabletomove,
unablet
oopenhereyesandthoughtshewouldstand
ther
eforever,
enchanted.Butsheheardastepbehi
ndher
,andasmotheredgiggl
e,andinstant
ly
openedherey es.

"Andwhatdi dy ousee, Mama?Oh, whatwasi t?"ButDonaAguedahadf orgot t

ent hel i
tt
legi r
lon
herlap: shewasst aringpasst hecur lyheadnest li
ngatherbr eastandseei ngher selfinthebi g
mirrorhangi nginther oom.I twast hesamer oom andt hesamemi rroroutt hef aceshenow
sawi ni twasanol df ace---
ahar d,bitter,vengef ul face, framedi ngr ay i
nghai r,andsosadl y
alt
ered, sosadl ydi
fferentfrom thatot herfacel ikeawhi temask, thatf reshy oungf acelikea
puremaskt hanshehadbr oughtbef oret hismi rroronewi l
dMayDaymi dnighty earsandy ears
ago...."Butwhatwasi tMama?Ohpl easegoon!Whatdi dyousee? "DonaAguedal ookeddown
atherdaught erbutherf acedidnotsof tent houghherey esfilledwi tht ear s."Isawt hedev i
l."
shesai dbitterl
y.Thechi ldblanched." Thedev il
,Mama?Oh. .
.Oh. ..
"" Yes, myl ove.Iopenedmy
eyesandt hereinthemi r
ror,smi l
ingatmeov ermyl eftshoul der ,wast hef aceoft hedev il
.
"" Oh,
mypoorl it
tl
eMama!Andwer ey ouv er yfri
ght ened? "" Youcani magi ne.Andt hatiswhygood
l
itt
legi rlsdonotl ooki ntomi rr
orsexceptwhent hei rmot herst el
l t
hem.Youmustst opt his
naught yhabi t
,darl
ing,ofadmi ringy our selfinev erymi rroryoupass-ory oumayseesomet hing
fri
ghtf ulsomeday .""Butthedev i
l,Mama- --whatdi dhel ookl ike? ""Wel l,letmesee. .
.hehascur l
y
hairandascaronhi scheek- --
""Liket hescarofPapa? ""Well, yes.Butt hi soft hedev i
lwasa
scarofsi n,whilethatofy ourPapai sascarofhonor .Orsohesay s.""Goonaboutt hedev il
."
"Well,hehadmust aches. ""Li
ket hoseofPapa? ""Oh, no.Thoseofy ourPapaar edirtyand
grayingandsmel lhorribl
yoft obacco, whi l
et heseoft hedev ilwer ev er
ybl ackandel egant--oh,
howel egant !
""Anddi dhespeakt oyou, Mama? ""Yes…Yes, hespoket ome, "saidDonaAgueda.
Andbowi nghergr ayinghead; shewept .

"Charmslikeyourshav enoneedf oracandle,fairone,"hehadsai d,smili

ngatherinthemirror
andsteppingbackt ogiveheral owmocki ngbow.Shehadwhi r
ledaroundandglaredathim
andhehadbur sti
ntolaughter."ButIremembery ou!"hecr ied."Youar eAgueda,whom Ilef
ta
mereinfantandcamehomet ofindat r
emendousbeaut y,andIdancedawal tzwithyoubuty ou
wouldnotgivemet hepolka.""Letmepass, "shemut t
eredf iercely
,forhewasbar ri
ngtheway .
"ButIwanttodancet hepolkawi thyou,fai
rone,"hesai d.Sot heyst oodbeforet
hemi rr
or;t
heir
panti
ngbreatht heonlysoundi nt hedarkroom; thecandl eshiningbet weenthem andfli
ngi
ng
thei
rshadowst ot hewal l.Andy oungBadoyMont i
y a( whohadcr epthomev er ydrunkt opass
outqui etl
yinbed)suddenl yfoundhi mselfcoldsoberandv erymuchawakeandr eadyf or
anything.Hisey esspar kledandt hescaronhi sf acegl eamedscar let."Letmepass! "shecried
again,inav oiceoff ury
, buthegr aspedherbyt hewr ist."No, "hesmi l
ed." Notunt ilwehav e
danced. ""Gotot hedev i
l!""Whatat emperhasmyser rana! ""Iam noty ourser rana!""Whose,
then?SomeoneIknow?SomeoneIhav eoff
endedgr iev ousl y
?Becausey out reatme, y
outreat
allmyf ri
endsl i
key ourmor t
al enemies.""
Andwhynot ?"shedemanded, j
erkingherwr i
staway
andf l
ashi nghert eethinhi sface."Oh, howIdet esty ou, youpompousy oungmen!Yougot o
Europeandy oucomebackel egantlordsandwepoorgi rl
sar etoot amet opl easey ou.Wehav e
nogr acel i
kethePar isi
ennes, wehav enof ir
eliket heSev il
lians,andwehav enosal t
,nosalt,no
salt
!Ai e,howy ouwear yme, howy oubor eme, youf ast idiousmen! ""Come, come- --howdoy ou
knowaboutus? "

"Iwasnotadmi r
ingmy self,sir!""Youwer eadmi ringt hemoonper haps? ""Oh! "shegasped, and
bur stint
ot ears.Thecandl edr oppedf rom herhandandshecov eredherf aceandsobbed
piteously.Thecandl ehadgoneoutandt heyst oodi ndar kness,andy oungBadoywas
consci ence-stri
cken." Oh, donotcr y
, l
ittl
eone! "Oh, pl easef orgi
v eme!Pl easedonotcr y!But
whatabr uteIam!Iwasdr unk, l
it
tleone, Iwasdr unkandknewnotwhatIsai d."Hegropedand
foundherhandandt ouchedi tt ohi slips.Sheshudder edi nherwhi tegown." Letmego, "she
moaned, andt uggedf eebl y."No.Sayy ouf orgivemef i
rst.Sayy oufor giveme, Agueda."But
i
nst eadshepul ledhi shandt ohermout handbi tit-bi tsoshar plyint heknuckl esthathecr ied
wi t
hpai nandl ashedcutwi thhi sot herhand- -lashedoutandhi ttheai r,forshewasgone, she
hadf l
ed,andhehear dt her ust l
ingofherski r
tsupt hest airsashef ur i
ousl ysuckedhi sbl eeding
fingers.Cruel thought sr acedt hroughhi shead: hewoul dgoandt el
l hismot herandmakeher
turnt hesav agegi rloutoft hehouse- -
orhewoul dgohi msel ft
ot hegi rl
’sroom anddr agherout
ofbedandsl ap, sl
ap, slaphersi l
l
yf ace!Butatt hesamet i
mehewast hinkingt hattheywer eall
goingt oAnt ipoloint hemor ningandwasal readypl anni nghowhewoul dmaneuv erhimsel fint
o
thesameboatwi t
hher .Oh, hewoul dhav ehisr evenge, hewoul dmakeherpay ,t
hatlit
tl
ehar l
ot!
Sheshoul dsuf ferfort his,het houghtgr eedil
y, l
icki nghi sbleedingknuckl es.But -
--
Judas!He
remember edherbar eshoul ders: goldi nhercandl elightanddel i
catelyf urred.Hesawt hemobi le
i
nsol enceofherneck, andhert autbr east ssteadyi nt hef l
uidgown.SonofaTur k,butshewas
quiteenchant i
ng!Howcoul dshet hinkshehadnof i
reorgr ace?Andnosal t?Anar robashehad
ofi t!

".
..Nol ackofsaltinthechr i
sm Att hemomentoft hybapt i
sm!"Hesangal oudi nt
hedar kroom
andsuddenl yreali
zedt hathehadf all
enmadl yi
nlovewit hher.Heachedi nt
enselytoseeher
again---
atonce!---
totouchherhandsandherhai r
;tohearherhar shvoice.Her antothewindow
andf l
ungopent hecasement sandt hebeautyofthenightst r
uckhi m backlikeablow.Itwas
May ,itwassummer ,andhewasy oung---y
oung!-
--
anddel ir
iouslyinlove.Suchahappi ness
welledupwi thi
nhi mthatt hetearsspur tedfr
om hiseyes.Buthedi dnotforgiveher-
-no!He
woul dstil
lmakeherpay ,hewoul dst i
ll
hav ehi
srevenge,het houghtv i
ciousl
y ,
andkissedhis
woundedf i
ngers.Butwhatani ghtithadbeen!"Iwillneverforget hi
snight!hethoughtaloudin
anawedvoi
ce,standi
ngbythewindowi
nthedar
kr oom,
thet
ear
sinhi
sey
esandt
hewi
ndi
nhi
s
hai
randhi
sbleedingknuckl
espr
essedt
ohismouth.

But ,alas, thehear tf orgets;thehear tisdi stracted;andMayt imepasses; summerl ends; the
stormsbr eakov erther ot-ti
peor char dsandt hehear tgr owsol d;whi l
et hehour s, t
heday s,the
mont hs, andt hey ear spi l
eupandpi leup, til
lthemi ndbecomest oocr owded, tooconf used:
dustgat her si nit;cobwebsmul ti
ply;thewal lsdarkenandf all i
nt or ui
nanddecay ;thememor y
per i
shed. ..andt herecameat imewhenDonBadoyMont iyawal kedhomet hroughaMayDay
mi dnightwi thoutr emember i
ng, wit
houtev encar i
ngt or emember ;beingmer elyconcer nedi n
feeli
nghi swayacr osst hest reetwi thhiscane; hisey eshav inggr ownqui tedi m andhi slegs
uncer tain--forhewasol d; hewasov ersixty ;
hewasav er yst oppedandshi v
er edol dmanwi th
whi t
ehai randmust achescomi nghomef r
om asecr etmeet i
ngofconspi rators; hi
smi ndst il
l
resoundi ngwi tht hespeechesandhi spat ri
othear tst il
lexul tantashepi ckedhi swayupt he
stepst ot hef rontdoorandi nsideintot hesl umber ingdar knessoft hehouse; whol l
y
unconsci ousoft heMayni ght ,
til
lonhi swaydownt hehal l,chanci ngtogl ancei ntot hesal a,he
shudder ed, hest opped, hisbloodr ancol d- -forhehadseenaf acei nthemi rrort here---aghost l
y
candl elightf acewi tht heey escl osedandt helipsmov i
ng, af acet hathesuddenl yfel thehad
beent her ebef oret houghi twasaf ul lminut esbef oret hel ostmemor ycamef lowing, came
ti
dingback, soov erfloodingt heact ualmomentandsoswi ftl
ywashi ngawayt hepi ledhour sand
day sandmont hsandy earst hathewasl eftsuddenl yy oungagai n;hewasagayy oungbuck
again, latelycamef rom Eur ope; hehadbeendanci ngal l night ;hewasv erydr unk; hesst epped
i
nt hedoor way ;hesawaf acei nthedar k; hecal l
edout ...andt hel adst andingbef oret hemi r
ror
(foritwasal adi nani ghtgoj umpedwi thf ri
ghtandal mostdr oppedhi scandl e,butl ooki ng
aroundandseei ngt heol dman, l
aughedoutwi threliefandcamer unning.

"OhGrandpa, howy oufri

ght enedme.DonBadoyhadt ur
nedverypal
e."
Soitwasy ou,youyoung
bandit
!Andwhati sallt
his,hey?Whatar eyoudoi ngdownhereatthi
shour?""Not
hing,Grandpa.
Iwasonly..
.Iam onl y.
..
"" Yes,youarethegreatSeñoronlyandhowdeli
ghtedIam tomakey our
acquaint
ance, SeñorOnly!Buti fIbr
eakthi
scaneony ourheadyoumagawi shyouwer e
someoneel se,Sir!
""I
twasj ustf ool
i
shness,Grandpa.Theytol
dmeIwoul dseemywi fe."

"Wi
fe?Whatwif
e?""
Mine.Theboy
satschool
saidIwouldseeheri
fIl
ookedi
nami
rr
ort
oni
ght
andsai
d:Mir
ror
,mir
rorshowtomeherwhoseloverIwi
l
lbe.

DonBadoycackl edruefull
y.Hetooktheboybythehair,pul
ledhim al
ongintot
heroom, sat
downonachai r
,anddr ewtheboybetweenhisknees."Now, putyourcanedownthefloor
,son,
andletustal
kt hi
sov er.Soyouwanty ourwi
feal
ready,hey?Youwantt oseeherinadvance,hey
?
Butsoy ouknowt hatthesearewickedgamesandt hatwickedboy swhoplaythem ar
ein
dangerofseeinghorrors?

"
Wel
l
,theboy
sdi
dwar
nmeImi
ghtseeawi
tchi
nst
ead.
"

"Exact
ly!Awitchsohorr
ibl
eyoumaydi
eoffr
ight
.Andshewi
l
lbewi
tchy
ou,
shewi
l
ltor
tur
eyou,
shewilleaty
ourheartanddri
nky
ourbl
ood!
"
"
Oh,
comenowGr
andpa.Thi
sis1890.Ther
ear
enowi
tchesany
mor
e."

"
Oh-
ho,
myy
oungVol
tai
re!Andwhati
fIt
ell
yout
hatImy
sel
fhav
eseenawi
tch.

"
You?Wher
e?

"Ri
ghtinthi
sroom l
andr
ighti
nthatmi
rr
or,
"sai
dtheol
dman,
andhi
spl
ayf
ulv
oicehadt
urned
savage.

"
When,
Grandpa?
"

"
Notsolongago.WhenIwasabi tol
derthanyou.Oh,Iwasav ai
nfell
owandthoughIwas
f
eeli
ngverysi
ckthatnightandmerel
ywant edtoli
edownsomewher eanddieIcoul
dnotpass
t
hatdoorwayofcoursewithoutst
oppi
ngt oseeinthemirr
orwhatIlookedl
i
kewhendy i
ng.But
whenIpokedmyheadi nwhatshouldIseei nt
hemi r
rorbut
..
.but
..
."

"
Thewi
tch?
"

"
Exact
ly!
"

"
Andt
henshebewi
tchy
ou,
Grandpa!
"

"
Shebewi
tchedmeandshet
ort
uredme.l
Sheat
emyhear
tanddr
ankmybl
ood.
"sai
dtheol
d
manbi
tt
erl
y.

"
Oh,
mypoorl
i
ttl
eGr
andpa!Whyhav
eyounev
ert
oldme!Andshev
eryhor
ri
ble?

"Hor
ribl
e?God, no--
-shewast hemostbeauti
ful
creatur
eIhaveeverseen!Hereyeswere
somewhatlikey our
sbutherhairwaslikebl
ackwatersandhergol
denshoulderswerebare.My
God,shewasenchant ing!ButIshoul
dhaveknown--
-Ishoul
dhaveknownev enthen-
--
thedark
andfatalcr
eatureshewas! "

Asi
l
ence.Then:
"Whatahor
ri
dmi
rr
ort
hisi
s,Gr
andpa,
"whi
sper
edt
heboy
.

"
Whatmakesy
ousl
ayt
hat
,hey
?"

"
Wel l
,yousawt
hiswit
chini
t.AndMamaoncetoldmethatGrandmaoncetol
dherthat
Grandmaoncesawthedevi
linthi
smi
rr
or.Wasitoft
hescarethatGr
andmadied?
"

DonBadoyst art
ed.Foramomenthehadf orgottenthatshewasdead, t
hatshehadper ished--
-
thepoorAgueda; t
hattheywereatpeaceatl ast,thetwooft hem, hertir
edbodyatr est;her
brokenbodysetf reeatlastfr
om thebr utalpranksoft heearth--
-f
rom thetrapofaMayni ght
;
from thesnareofsummer ;f
rom theterri
blesilvernetsofthemoon.Shehadbeenamer eheap
ofwhi tehai
randbonesi ntheend: awhi mper i
ngwi theredconsumpt i
ve,l
ashingoutwi t
hher
crueltongue;hereyeli
kelivecoals;herfacelikeashes. .
.Now, nothing-
--nothi
ngsav eaname
onast one;
saveast oneinagr av
eyar d-
--
nothing!wasl eftofthey ounggirlwhohadf lamedso
vivi
dlyinami rr
oronewi l
dMayDaymi dnight,l
ong, l
ongago.
Andr emember i
nghowshehadsobbedsopi teousl y;r
emember inghowshehadbi ttenhi shand
andf l
edandhowhehadsungal oudi nthedar kroom andsur prisedhishearti nthei nstantof
fall
inginl ove:suchagr i
eftoreuphi sthroatandey esthathef eltashamedbef oret heboy ;
pushedt heboyaway ;
stoodupandl ookedout --
--l
ookedoutupont hemedi ev alshadowsoft he
foul str
eetwher eacoupl eofst reet -l
ampsf l
i
cker edandal astcar ri
agewasr attl
ingawayupon
thecobbl es, whilet heblindblackhousesmut teredhush- hush, theirti
ledroofsl oomi ngl i
ke
sinisterchessboar dsagai nstawi ldskymur kywi thclouds, savewher eanev iloldmoonpr owled
abouti nacor nerorwher eamur der ouswi ndwhi rl
ed,whist l
ingandwhi ni
ng, smel l
ingnowoft he
seaandnowoft hesummeror char dsandwaf ti
ngunbear ablet hewindow; thebowedol dman
sobbi ngsobi tterlyatt hewi ndow; thetearsst reami ngdownhi scheeksandt hewi ndi nhi shair
andonehandpr essedt ohismout h---
whilefrom upt hestr eetcamet heclacket y-
clackoft he
wat chman’ sboot sont hecobbl es, andthecl ang- clangofhi slant er
nagainsthi sknee, andt he
mi ghtyrollofhi sv oiceboomi ngt hrought heni ght :

"
Guar
diaser
eno-
o-o!Al
asdocehandado-
o-o!
"