ASLEEP WITH A CORPSE. 



CAPT. W. R. HAMILTON, U. S. A. 



Some years ago, while stationed on the 

 Southwestern frontier just across from Mex- 

 ico, before the railroad had invaded that then 

 desolate country, a party from Fort X went 

 over into old Mexico to attend an annual 

 fair that brought into the Mexican village all 

 the people' of the province. The fair lasted 

 several days, and included bull fights, chick- 

 en fights, bear fights, and numerous shows. 



The village was about 2 days' horseback 

 journey over the border. The party from 

 the Fort consisted of Captain R — , Captain 

 H— , and Lieutenant J — , with James Niven 

 and Michael Sullivan, 2 soldiers whom they 

 took as servants. A half breed guide, named 

 Manuel, was engaged to pilot them. By the 

 end of the second day, they arrived at the 

 Mexican village where the fair had already 

 commenced. On reaching the one inn of 

 the place, a long, low, shambling, one-story 

 adobe structure, not very clean, they found it 

 full of Mexican hidalgos, with their depend- 

 ants. Not a bed was to be had. The Mex- 

 ican landlord was profuse in his apologies, 

 but nothing moved him to find a sleeping 

 place, until a liberal gift of American money 

 made him think that if the Senores Amer- 

 icanos would all sleep in his apartment, al- 

 lowing his also to sleep there, he could ac- 

 commodate them. But what was to be done 

 with their servants? Manuel was all right. 

 He had acquaintances in the village and 

 could easily look after himself; but with 

 Niven and Sullivan it was different. The 

 landlord finally arranged for them in the 

 house of his cousin, who lived across the 

 street. With awe in his lowered voice and 

 many upturnings and rollings of his eyes, he 

 stated that his cousin Bridgita had died early 

 that day, and was to be buried the day fol- 

 lowing; that her daughter, Pepita, was en- 

 gaged to a young fellow of the place, one 

 Juan Suarez by name, and that Juan and 

 Pepita were to sit up with the body that 

 night. Therefore he asked the 2 Americanos 

 to enter the house quietly, go into the right 

 room, sleep quietly, and come out in the 

 morning without any curiosity as to the in- 

 mates or other rooms in the house. He ex- 

 plained that the house had but 2 rooms, both 

 fronting on the street and opening each by 

 its own door, though there was a door be- 

 tween the 2 rooms. Niven and Sullivan 

 were to have the room on the right. 



The party then started on their rounds 

 through the village, the officers in one di- 

 rection and Niven and Sullivan in another. 

 The 2 privates made their way in the bright 

 starlight among the various booths, with 

 their flaming torches and their simple Mexi- 

 can articles for sale. The plaza was crowded 



with Mexican gallants in gorgeous array of 

 large sombreros, gay colored scarfs, jingling 

 spurs, and silver trappings. The music of 

 guitars and mandolins floated dreamily on 

 the delicious night air, mingling with the 

 sounds of gay and happy voices, while the 

 bright eyes of Mexican senoritas caused the 

 hearts of our 2 gallants to flutter. A fasci- 

 nating little Mexican girl prevailed on them 

 to buy a glass of aguardiente. They soon 

 followed it by another and still others till 

 Niven, feeling it was getting the better of 

 him, started for his lodging place. He was 

 sober enough to find it. Entering the door 

 on the right he climbed into the huge old- 

 fashioned bed and was soon fast asleep. 



The charms of the little Mexican were so 

 powerful over Sullivan that his one glass 

 grew to many, and he lingered until the late- 

 ness of the hour caused the booths to be 

 closed and the streets to be deserted. Then 

 reeling along and singing in a maudlin way 

 an old Irish song, he found his way to 

 the house, but his brain was so befogged 

 chat he entered the door on the left. Seeing 

 a bed in the darkness and something lying 

 on it, he naturally took the latter for his 

 friend, and climbing in he was soon in a 

 drunken slumber. 



Pepita and Juan had stayed with the corpse 

 till the moon arose, when Juan had prevailed 

 on his sweetheart to go outside for a walk, of 

 only a minute or 2. Once outside, the night 

 was so delicious that the time had slipped 

 away till the deserted streets told them it was 

 time to return. In their absence the breeze 

 had blown out the feeble light of the slender 

 taper they had left. On entering they found 

 the room in darkness. Pepita's first thought 

 was to light the taper, but alarmed at the 

 enormity of her offence in leaving her watch, 

 and the going out of the light, she began 

 to tell her beads in a hurried, muttered tone. 



Juan was just sufficiently intoxicated to 

 think it a good time to press his suit for 

 marriage at an early date. Seizing Pepita 

 by the waist, he exclaimed, " Ah, senorita 

 mia, if your madre, the saints bless her, 

 could rise from her bed now, she would 

 bless our marriage and tell you to come to 

 me quick." 



" No, no, Juan, do not speak so of the 

 dead. It is not right, the holy father says. 

 The dead cannot rise." 



" Yes, chera mia, but at times they can. 

 Father Antonio has said so; and he said it is 

 on nights like this, when the air is still, and 

 the only sound heard is that of the guitar in 

 the distance or the bird in the thicket, mak- 

 ing love to his mate, when the moonlight 

 glorifies all around, that they arise and " 



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