" But it was momentary--he quelled the passion
with a fierce and savage energy, as he said sternly, "Promise! promise!"
I did so, and I fulfilled it.
The day broke. I took the jewels and miniature from his neck, as he led
the way with the firm step of a hero, in ascending the long gibbet. The
halters were adjusted, when he stepped towards the side I was on, as far
as the rope would let him, "Dexa me verla--dexa me verla, una vez mas!"
I held up the miniature. He looked--he glared intensely at it. "Adios,
Maria, seas feliz mi querida, feliz--feliz Maria--adios--adios--Maria
Mar".
The rope severed thy name from his lips, sweet girl; but not until it
also severed his soul from his body, and sent him to his tremendous
account--young in years, but old in wickedness--to answer at that
tribunal, where we must all appear, to the God who made him, and whose
gifts he had so fearfully abused, for thy broken heart and early death,
amongst the other scarlet atrocities of his short but ill spent life.
The signal had been given--the lumbering flap of the long drop was
heard, and five--and--twenty human beings were wavering in the sea
breeze in the agonies of death! The other eighteen suffered on the same
spot the week following; and for long after, this fearful and bloody
example struck terror into the Cuba fishermen.
"Strange now, that the majority--ahem--of my beauties and favourites
through life have been called Mary.
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