"'Yes; I had saved through all my troubles a little store of gold in
a belt around my waist. It was not much, but I have more than doubled
it; and as soon as I can, I intend leaving Mexico, and beginning life
again among civilized human beings.'"
Elizabeth was weeping bitterly, but she said, "I am glad you have told
me this, Richard. Ah, my brave brother! You showed in your extremity
the race from which you sprung! Sydney's deed was no greater than
yours! That 'Dead Man's Journey,' Richard, redeems all to me. I am
proud of Antony at last. I freely forgive him every hour of sorrow
he has caused me. His picture shall be hung next his father's, and
I will have all else forgotten but this one deed. He gave his last
drink of water to the boy perishing at his side; he begged for him
when his own store failed, he supported him when he could scarcely
walk himself, and had tears and righteous anger for the wrongs of
others; but for his own sufferings no word of complaint! After this,
Richard, I do not fear what else you have to tell me. Did he die in
Mexico?"
"No; he was very unhappy in the country, and he longed to leave it.
As the weather grew warmer his weakness and suffering increased; but
it was a hard thing for him to admit that he was seriously ill. At
last he was unable to attend to his business, and I persuaded him to
close his office. I shall never forget his face as he turned the key
in it; I think he felt then that life for him was over. I had remained
in Mexico for some weeks entirely on his account, and I now suggested,
as he had no business cares, a journey home by way of Texas. I really
believed that the rare, fine air of the prairies would do him good;
and I was sure if we could reach Phyllis, he would at least die among
friends. When I made the proposal he was eager as a child for it.
He did not want to delay an hour. He remembered the ethereal, vivifying
airs of Western Texas, and was quite sure if he could only breathe
them again he would be well in a short time. He was carried in a litter
to Vera Cruz, and then taken by sea to Brownsville. And really the
journey seemed to greatly revive him, and I could not help joining
in his belief that Phyllis and Western Texas would save him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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