“You had better sleep a little, Maria. General Houston is coming to dinner.”
“That is understood. When I spoke last to him, I was a woman broken-hearted. To-night I will thank him for all that he has done. Ah, Roberto! His words to-day went to my, soul—I thought of my Juan—I thought of the vision he showed me—I wondered if he knew—if he saw—and heard—” she leaned her head upon her husband’s breast, and he kissed away the sorrowful rain.
“He was so sweet! so beautiful! Oh, Roberto!”
“He was God’s greatest gift to us. Maria! dear. Maria! I love you for, all the children you have given me; BUT MOST OF ALL, FOR JUAN!”
FOOTNOTES:
1 ([return])
[ Little dear.]
2 ([return])
[ The loadstone in the bosom is a charm against evil; the bringer of good fortune.]