The
first, the only one he had been permitted to marry in a church, was
old as or rather older than himself; she was very dark and was getting
wrinkles, and was the mother of several grown-up sons and daughters,
some married. The others were of various ages, the youngest two about
thirty; and these were twin sisters, both named Ascension, for they
were both born on Ascension Day. So much alike were these Ascensions
in face and figure that one day, when I was a big boy, I went into the
house and finding one of the sisters there began relating something,
when she was called out. Presently she came back, as I thought, and I
went on with my story just where I had left off, and only when I saw
the look of surprise and inquiry on her face did I discover that I was
now talking to the other sister.
How was this man with six wives regarded by his neighbours? He was
esteemed and beloved above most men in his position. If any person was
in trouble or distress, or suffering from a wound or some secret
malady, he would go to Don Evaristo for advice and assistance and for
such remedies as he knew; and if he was sick unto death he would send
for Don Evaristo to come to him to write down his last will and
testament. For Don Evaristo knew his letters and had the reputation of
a learned man among the gauchos.
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