The kingdom of the 'White woman' a sketch . In the city of the dead richtombs and monuments mark the sleepingplaces of the wealthy—long rows of un-marked graves—those where the poor are 152 The Kingdont of the cast in uncoffined. Near one of these theman has paused, and placing his burden onthe ground, bends for a moment in—let ushope, if not prayer, at least he departs swiftly, while the old dogcomes slowly forward and lies down besidethe dead. The afternoon shadows growlonger and longer ; still he lies there. Hismournful eyes gaze outward past the shrineand its countless wor
The kingdom of the 'White woman' a sketch . In the city of the dead richtombs and monuments mark the sleepingplaces of the wealthy—long rows of un-marked graves—those where the poor are 152 The Kingdont of the cast in uncoffined. Near one of these theman has paused, and placing his burden onthe ground, bends for a moment in—let ushope, if not prayer, at least he departs swiftly, while the old dogcomes slowly forward and lies down besidethe dead. The afternoon shadows growlonger and longer ; still he lies there. Hismournful eyes gaze outward past the shrineand its countless worshipers ; past the long?dusty highway, down which was so latelyborne his dead companion; past the cityand her lakes and the groves of the Ala-meda, where he has played with the childin her short life-time, to the point where thesetting sun has turned the snowy cones ofthe great mountains into gold. Amidst allthat glory is he looking for the spirit of hisdead playmate ? The silent form beforehim seems almost touched into life by the. X ]]liiic IJoniaii. 153 benediction of departing day. Then thenight falJs suddenly. As we return homeward, sounds of bois-terous merriment greet our ears, and we seethrough the portals of the house a group ofpeople across whose faces the flickering lightof a fire casts grotesque shadows. Amongstthem is the father of the dead child. With hiscompanions he holds high carnival, becausethe Virgin has taken her unto herself. Sohe untwists the end of the well-filled pulqueskin, which is enthroned on a table besidehim, and allows each in turn to take longdraughts of the nauseous liquid, after everyone of which their faces become more andmore besotted in expression. To such useis being put the money that we gave for hercoffin. 154 The Kingdom of the CHAPTER XXXIV. I REMEMBER being one day in thecemetery at Havana—not the CampSanto, but the new cemetery out near theGovernor Generals Palace, when up drovean elegant hearse, followed by a victoria,in whi
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